Some of her pain faded at the shock of his words. Why did Miranda try to kill herself? What if she was just faking it?
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask, but Nik’s gaze suddenly narrowed on her and he said flatly, “Don’t disappoint me by being a bitch.”
Daria paled. She had always known that her time with Nik – especially the last few days – was like living in a glass house that could shatter at any moment.
Just one stone cast in her direction, and all of it would disappear. She had known that, but she had never imagined it would be Nik casting the stone.
“If you’ve nothing else to say...”
Daria knew she should have nothing to say. If she wanted to keep their arrangement the way it was, the smartest thing to do was let Nik go, graciously, and wait for him, just as graciously, to come back.
No texts, no phone calls, no demands.
Miranda was in the hospital. She was on suicide watch. The gracious thing to do was to let Nik be by his fiancée’s side.
But...she had never been gracious, had she? And she heard herself say, “Fridays are mine. You promised.” But what she really meant was - Please just tell me you’re coming back. That was all she wanted.
Nik couldn’t believe he was hearing such selfishness from Daria. Goddammit, why was he even surprised? She was the woman who had dated and dumped twenty-eight fucking men, the last man always richer than the other. That was the Daria he lusted for, and he had better remember it.
Throwing her a look of disgust, he said harshly, “I’m going.”
Daria caught him before he could turn away. “Nik—-”
He yanked his arm away. “Grow up, Daria,” Nik snapped. “Acting like a child’s only cute once or twice. If you do it all the time, it’s pathetic.” The way Daria flinched in front of him told Nik that he had been unnecessarily cruel, but he didn’t allow himself to apologize.
The past weeks, she already had too many things going for her, Nik told himself. It was only right she was taken down a peg or two. Daria had to remember that at the end of the day, the woman whose finger had his engagement ring was the one who mattered more to Nik.
Daria badly wanted to cry but even though she was convinced this time she had a right to, she still fought to keep her tears in check. Even if she did deserve to cry, she wouldn’t – not for this. She still had some pride left, dammit, and she was tired – so tired of being punished.
Nik’s phone started to ring.
Before he could answer it, she asked quietly, “Are you ever going to forgive me?”
Incredulity flashed in his eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me? You want to ask that now?”
“When can I ask it?” she burst out, “when you told me that I can’t ever speak of the past—-”
“Well, now’s definitely the fucking worst time,” Nik gritted back. “My fiancée’s in the hospital—-” He broke off, his struggle for restraint evident as he swung his gaze away from her.
She wanted to say more. She wanted him to say more. But instead she saw Nik reaching for his phone and answering it.
Her stomach curled, and she felt it, that sick, painful sense of certainty, of knowing her heart would crash.
“Miranda.” Nik’s tone was incredibly gentle. “You shouldn’t be on the phone, darling.” He had never talked to her like that. “There’s nothing for you to worry about. I want you to rest now, and when you wake up, I’ll be by your side.”
When he ended the call, Daria warned shakily, “If you go through that door, I won’t ever take you back.”
Nik didn’t answer.
As he walked past her, Daria panicked. “I mean it!” Her heart froze when Nik stilled just as he reached the doorway, his hand on the knob.
Without looking back, Nik said icily, “You’ve forgotten something apparently. Threats like that won’t work when you’re just a cunt.”
He stepped out before she could answer, but when he was outside her door, Nik was unable to move. Seconds passed before he realized dully that he was still here because he wanted...
He wanted to make sure he hadn’t hurt her too much.
As soon as the truth hit him, Nik forced himself to walk away.
Goddamn. Beautiful. Liar.
Why couldn’t he just fucking forget her?