Page 49 of Bound Lies

I wait for Kieran to offer me his jacket, but it never comes because he’s back to being his usual asshole self.

By the time I’m sliding into the passenger seat of his car, I’m silently fuming.

I stare out the window as he pulls away from the curb, my fists clenched in my lap as I try to think of what went wrong.

I thought we were starting to enjoy ourselves, but then the moment dinner was over, Kieran’s personality switched faster than Dr. Jekyll when he turned into Mr. Hyde.

Was the whole charming act at dinner just that, an act? Did I say something wrong? Or am I just so repulsive to be around that Kieran can’t even bear to pretend to be into me for the entire evening?

If we can’t handle one dinner, how the hell are we going to survive a marriage?

I try to replay the conversations we shared in my head, trying to pinpoint whether I said something that could explain Kieran’s sudden change in personality, but I come up short.

I could just flat out ask him, but I also don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he’s gotten under my skin. So, we settle back into silence for the rest of the car ride home.

When we pull into his private parking garage and he kills the engine, I waste no time climbing out of the car and slamming the door shut harder than is necessary, but I want to make a point.

“You don’t have to slam the door like you’re trying to wake the dead.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, am I being too loud for your brooding silence?” I make a beeline for the elevator, hoping to take it up to the penthouse alone. But Kieran quickens his stride until he catches up to me.

Once again, a tense silence settles over us as we ride up to the top floor of the building.

I’m beyond furious and also humiliated. I spent hours getting ready for this evening in the hopes of showing Kieran that I’m invested in trying to make this relationship work because even though our marriage will be fake, that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t maybe try to be friends.

But I was stupid to think Kieran Sullivan was capable of such a thing as friendship.

As the doors slide open, my frustration finally bubbles over. “You know, I thought for a second that tonight might not be a total disaster.”

“Yeah? Well, you thought wrong.” He steps off the elevator without so much as a backwards glance.

That’s it.

I kick off my shoes, sending them in opposite directions, before stalking after him.

“You’re such an asshole, Kieran Sullivan.”

He whirls around so fast I almost slam right into his chest.

“Keep your voice down.”

“Why? Scared the neighbors will hear how miserable you are with your fake wife?”

His jaw clenches as he glares down at me.

“Oh, now you’re looking at me again?”

He frowns. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the fact that you clearly find me repulsive to look at unless it’s under dim restaurant lighting!” I take a deep breath, shaking my head. “For a moment tonight, I thought that we could almost be friends, but then you go back to acting like I’m some burden that you’ve been forced to babysit⁠—”

“Because that’s exactly what you are!”

I suck in a breath as Kieran’s words hit me like a slap to the face.

“I suggest you tell Ronan that I’m not worth the effort and send me back to my uncle to be married off to Sean. Because that’s starting to look better than having you pretend you’re doing me a favor by being a complete dick.”

I go to step past him, but he grabs my arm.