I tap my foot in annoyance as he walks over to the front door and fiddles with the lock. I let out a loud huff. He must hear it because he turns around and faces me. I make a face as to say, “Satisfied?”
Asher walks toward me, his presence filling up the room, stopping on the opposite side of the small island of the kitchen. As he approaches, I can smell the leather of his jacket. Its not the same as salt and sea, but it’ll do.
We stand in silence; I vow I will not be the first to break it. He came here. He has to be the one to say something.
His chin tilts to the side as his ear leans in to hear the faint sound coming from my speaker. Before I can stop him, he reaches over and raises the volume and his brow rises in interest. The cello version of “Wonderwall” by Oasis is playing, confirmation for him that I have been listening in to his lessons.
I fold my arms across my chest, my foot resumes tapping, an act he finds amusing as the corner of his mouth curls up ever so slightly and than vanishes instantly.
“Who’s the guy?” He asks with a nod of his head toward the door. He’s referring to Mattie.
“None of your business.”
His square jaw protrudes with the clench of his jowls. I look away from him, gathering my bearings. I should let him think Mattie is someone to me. Make him suffer thinking I’m with someone else.
Who am I kidding? He doesn’t care.
I turn my head back to Asher, who is smoldering. It’s as if he thinks this is some kind of game.
A game I have no intention of playing.
“He’s my neighbor,” I say, clipping my words through my teeth. “And what does it matter to you? You already had me. Conquest accomplished. Wasn’t that the goal?” My throat burns as the words come out. I intended to say them to hurt him. Instead, they’re killing me.
His eyes are ablaze with indignation. I don’t think this is what he came here for but this is certainly where it’s going. “What exactly do you think my goal was?”
I bite back any emotion attempting to rise from me as I continue. I managed three weeks of decorum around him. I managed to be in the same building and not say a word when the hurt was sitting on my chest like a lead weight.
Turns out I can’t fight it anymore.
“Find a girl, trick her into pretending you’re some brooding boathand who needs saving, fuck her, and leave. Wasn’t that the goal . . . Alexander?”
Asher pushes off the island and runs his hand along the back of his neck. He paces a few steps and then turns back to me. His chest rises and falls with deep, hard breaths.
“I never once lied to you. I tell it like it is, I do what I want but I never manipulate the truth.” He moves toward me, severe and snappish. “Don’t act so innocent. You have no idea what I have been though. I had no idea what your intentions—”
“My intentions?” I cut him off. This time, it’s my turn to push away from the island. “What exactly do you think I was doing in Italy? Tell me!” Outrage and resentment rise in my chest.
Asher looks back at me, his breath heavy, his words controlled. “You knew exactly what you were doing.” His voice is filled with accusation but his eyes—his eyes are filled with something else.
I turn away from him for fear if I look at him for one more second I’ll fall down the rabbit hole. I fought too hard to be brought back down. I rose from the bed. I lifted the fork to my mouth. I got on a plane and came here to make a new start for my new life.
I am the diamond. I cannot be broken.