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.My stomach was tied in knots by the time I reached Mike and Ginny.They both looked at me, concern written all over their faces.“Are you okay, Tristan?” Ginny asked softly.“You look a little pale.” She moved next to me and placed a hand on my arm.I wanted to pull her so close and bury my face in her hair, but I needed to appear as strong and as unruffled as my father did.That pissed me off more because I was nothing like him.“Let’s go.”“Is this about Va—”“I said let’s go, Mike,” I interrupted him before he could finish what he was saying.I didn’t want to hear that woman’s name anytime soon.“I’m sorry mate, but I need to get out of here.Are you coming with or will you find another ride home?”Mike stared at me for a few seconds then looked around the room as if debating what he should do.He nodded yes and I let out a sigh of relief.I knew Mike was my best mate, but all this talk of me needing to talk with my father had me questioning his mind on meds.I looked over at Ginny.“I’m sorry, baby.Mind if we cut this party short?” I cupped her cheek in my palm.“I’m just not in the mood for all of this anymore.”“No, not at all.I mean… I don’t mind.Let’s go.” I smiled at her, grateful that she didn’t ask me any questions just yet, because I didn’t have any answers.Chapter 13 — GinnyTristan was acting very strangely.The car ride from his parents’ estate to Mike’s apartment was awkward and tense.Mike tried to get Tristan to talk about what had happened, but something was clearly bothering him as he continued to answer in one word sentences.Mike gave me a worried look before giving up entirely and I wasn’t sure what to say either.I knew whatever had happened, had something to do with Tristan’s dad and his ex-fiancée Vanessa.I was curious, but afraid to ask.What if I didn’t like the answer? Maybe the whole thing about ignorance being bliss was true?Before we knew it, we were at Mike’s apartment.We sat for a moment, all of us unable or unwilling to break the silence.Tristan sighed then opened the car door and walked around to the passenger side.The interior lights illuminated everything and I could see Mike’s face, his brow furrowed as he looked at Tristan.“Honey, why don’t you just wait here while I take Mike inside really quick?” Tristan asked, peeking his head back into the car and glancing at me.His eyes were flat and completely devoid of any emotion.It was very unnerving; I’d never seen him like this.“Sure,” I answered quietly.“Night, Mike.”“G’night, Gin.I’ll see you again soon.Thanks for staying and talking to me at the party.It would have been a total bore without you.”I gave him a smile as Tristan helped him out of the car, closed the door and I was plunged into darkness.I wondered if I was in a good neighborhood.It was kind of spooky sitting in this expensive car all by myself.When they got to the door, Tristan glanced back at me and then disappeared inside.I hoped he didn’t take too long in there, because my mind started racing and it was scarier by the minute.I let out a sigh of relief when I saw him coming out the door.I wondered if they talked about whatever it was that was bothering Tristan.I figured he’d let me know when he was ready, because I wasn’t going to ask.When he got to the car, he didn’t even glance at me before climbing back into the driver’s seat and peeling away from the curb.My hopes of getting an explanation about all the drama dwindled as each minute went by.I figured the silence would continue even after we got inside and it was a major surprise when after the front door was shut, I found myself pushed against the wall, and his hands and lips all over my body.Tristan’s kisses were desperate and filthy.The kind of filthy that usually caught my panties on fire and made my heart stop.But, things were off somehow.Never before had things seemed so rushed, and the frantic pace felt more like fear and less about overwhelming need.I was sure I’d be kicking myself later, but I started to pull away from him.“Tris …Tristan,” I tried to speak but his lips kept trying to catch mine and the swipe of his tongue against my bottom lip was almost my undoing.I had to take a deep breath and gather myself.“Seriously, Tristan, wait.” He paused before pulling away.“What’s wrong? Why are we stopping?” He asked incredulously.His hair was sticking up from where my hands had been gripping the strands and his lips were plump and shiny with our saliva.I wanted to dive right back in and forget this whole terrible night had ever happened, but I knew I had to find out why his mood had changed.I put my hand in his and guided him over to the couch then pushed him down and sat beside him.“Tell me what happened, Tristan.” I closed my eyes for a moment then opened them to meet his gaze.I wasn’t surprised to see a flash of anger.I just hoped that it wasn’t for me.“I don’t know what you mean, Gin.”I shook my head.“You know exactly what I mean.You’re upset, I can see that.I just want to know why, so I can help.Isn’t that what friends are for?”Tristan’s eyes narrowed and he pulled back.I swallowed hard.“Friends? Really? That’s what you want to call us? Friends?”I was shocked by the hardness of his tone.I looked down at my hands that still gripped the front of his shirt.I forced myself to loosen my fingers and slid them down until my arms hung at my sides.“I…don’t know,” I answered honestly, still unable to meet his eyes.“I mean, we haven’t really talked about us, you started last week and— God, Tristan, you must know I care for you.” I looked up at him quickly.“You do know I care about you, right?”He stared, but not at me.I could tell his eyes focused on the wall above my head.It was like he couldn’t look at me or maybe he didn’t want to look at me.All I knew was the sweat dampened my back and I’d wished that I’d already changed my clothes, but I wasn’t about to move.Finally, his shoulders loosened and some of the tension seemed to bleed out of him.When he finally spoke, I could barely comprehend the words.“My father gave me an ultimatum tonight.”“An ultimatum?” I was confused.“An ultimatum about what? Do you have to get married or something?” My stomach plummeted as I said it.Maybe that’s what they had meant when they were talking about Vanessa.My stomach churned at the thought.“No, that’s not what it was about.” Tristan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.I felt like I was going to throw up and wondered what he was going to say.“Ok.”“He wants me to decide between…” Tristan hesitated again.“He wants me to choose between having you in my life or being a part of the family.”“Oh.” I didn’t know how I actually felt right then.“Wow.Okay.” My body froze and heart was about to explode.I knew whatever it was his father had said to him was bad, but I didn’t think it would be this.Family or me? How was that even a real competition?Tristan reached over and covered my hands with his, stroking me with his thumb.“Gin, baby, say something please.”“I don’t know what to say.” My voice was softer than I’d ever heard it before.I was almost afraid to speak, afraid to say anything at all.“Say anything!” He jumped up and paced the floor in front of me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]