Page 15 of Tempted By Shadow
But right now, in this moment, I’m happy. Genuinely, stupidly happy in a way I haven’t been since before Vegas. Maybe ever.
Shadow is the best part of my day.
Which is why I notice immediately when something changes.
It’s a Thursday night. He’s been quiet all evening — not his usual quiet, not the comfortable silence we’ve settled into. This is different. Distant. He’s been staring at his plate instead of eating, giving me one-word answers, not meeting my eyes.
“Hey.” I reach across the table and touch his hand. “What’s going on with you?”
He pulls his hand away. Not fast, not aggressive — just a withdrawal. Like he can’t stand to be touched right now.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.” I set down my fork. “You’ve been weird all night. Talk to me.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. I watch his jaw work, watch him fight with himself about something I can’t see. When he finally speaks, his voice is flat.
“We need to stop.”
The words don’t make sense at first. “Stop what?”
“This.” He gestures between us. “Us. Whatever this is. It has to stop.”
My stomach drops. “What are you talking about?”
“I can’t do this anymore, Naomi.” He looks at me then, and his eyes are hollow. Empty in a way I’ve never seen. “The lying. The sneaking around. Every time King looks at me, I feel like I’m going to throw up. He trusts me. He saved my life. And I’m repaying him by fucking his sister behind his back.”
“So tell him.” The words come out sharp. Defensive. “If the lying is what’s killing you, then stop lying. Tell King about us.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’ll kill me.” Shadow’s laugh is bitter and hollow. “Or worse — he’ll look at me like I’m exactly what I was before he found me. A piece of shit who can’t even be trusted. A fuckup who ruins everything good in his life.”
“That’s not—”
“I owe him everything.” His voice cracks. “Everything, Naomi. My life. My future. The patch — the only thing I’ve ever wanted that I might actually deserve. And I’m throwing it all away for—”
He stops. But I hear what he doesn’t say.
For you.
He’s throwing it all away for me. And he’s decided I’m not worth it.
“So that’s it?” I’m proud of how steady my voice sounds. How calm. Like my heart isn’t shattering inside my chest. “You’re choosing the patch over me.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It’s exactly that simple.” I push back from the table and stand. My legs are shaking but I refuse to let him see. “Tyler chose drugs. You’re choosing the club. I’m the woman men leave when something more important comes along. I get it. I fucking get it.”
“Naomi—”
“Get out.”
“Please, just listen—”
“I said get out.” My voice breaks on the last word, and I hate myself for it. “You made your choice. Now leave.”
