Page 96 of Cruel King

When we reach that spot, he takes my hand in his and looks down into my eyes. In the moonlight, he looks beautiful, just like he did that snowy December day when we first kissed all those years ago.

“I’m sorry.”

Confused what he’s apologizing for, I say, “For what? Dinner was lovely. You don’t tend to say much usually, so if you’re sorry about that, it’s okay. I talk enough for both of us.”

He hangs his head and doesn’t speak for a long moment before he finally says, “For what I did that chased Theo away. I’m sorry, Ava.”

I know he’s trying to make amends, so I reach for his other hand and smile up at him when he looks down at me. “Theo was always going to go. It was just a matter of when.”

I’ve never said that out loud, but in my heart, I’ve always known it was true. Maybe he would have asked me to come with him, but I’m not sure of that. All I know is Theo was never going to stay here for me.

I expect Matthias to say something else or maybe apologize again, but instead, he dips his head until it’s level with mine and presses a soft kiss onto my lips. It’s so gentle and sweet, and something ignites inside me. I kiss him back, thinking something more might happen, but he merely takes my hand and begins walking toward my house.

He says nothing more, and although I want to fill the silence because that’s how I am, I force myself to remain quiet too. I don’t know what’s going on, but he just kissed me for the first time in what feels like forever.

When we reach my house, he stops at the end of the sidewalk like he did earlier when he came down to ask me to dinner. I’m not sure what to do, so I ask him, “Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow? Say about the same time as tonight?”

“I’d like that. Seven it is.”

I expect him to kiss me again, at least a little peck to say goodnight, but he leaves without doing anything. I watch him slowly walk back up the road to his house, unsure what just happened.

And not being able to think of anything else but kissing him again.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT

Matthias

For the past hour,I’ve silently beaten up on myself wishing I was the kind of man who has the charm my brothers have. Other than telling Ava her pasta primavera is delicious, I haven’t said much more. She doesn’t seem to mind, but I do. I want to dazzle her with great conversation so she remembers this night as great from start to finish.

I’m failing miserably at that, though.

“My father loves his new place. He wants me to come visit this winter. I told him I’d love to, but I have to admit I’m not looking forward to the drive,” Ava says as she begins to clear the table.

“You can use the King Industries company jet. Just tell me when you’re planning on going, and I’ll make sure it’s ready to go.”

She stops on the other side of the table and looks at me strangely for a long moment. “I didn’t know you had a company plane. Did your father always have it too?”

Nodding, I smile. “As long as I remember.”

Confused, she shakes her head. “Then why did your parents always drive everywhere when you all went on vacation?”

“Because my mother hated flying. I thought everyone knew that.”

“I had no idea.” She hesitates as she moves to walk toward the kitchen and says, “Oh, now I remember. I did know that. Theo complained about it when you all drove to Florida that one year.”

Her mention of his name makes the conversation come to a screeching halt, and she quickly hurries out of the dining room toward the kitchen. I’d hoped we could start over without talking about him, but I know now that’s not possible.

I follow her into the kitchen and find her loading the dishwasher. I don’t know how to start this conversation because it’s the last thing I want to discuss tonight or any time, for that matter. It has to happen, though.

Ava doesn’t turn around to face me but says in a low voice, “I didn’t mean to make things uncomfortable by mentioning his name.”

“I think we need to talk about it.”

Shaking her head, she sighs. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

My heart sinks at how sad she sounds. She still loves him. I’ve just been fooling myself by believing I could ever be something to her.

“You should have gone to him,” I say, hating every word as it leaves my mouth. But I can’t stop now. I have to say what I’ve been afraid of this whole time. “I’m sure if one of you gave in, you could be happy.”