Page 11 of The Twisted Beats

“Just because you’ve moved on doesn’t mean the pain isn’t there. Just look at what the run-in with Zara Blackthorn did to you.”

“I’m not sure I see your point.”

I brush Livianna’s hair behind her shoulder and caress her neck. “You told me you dated someone who was in the entertainment industry and that he had to travel a lot. You said it created problems because people got involved, tabloids ran stories, and you couldn’t reach him half the time.”

“What’s that got to do with us?”

“I’m going to Malaysia, and it’s on the other side of the world. We’ll be in opposite time zones. You have a fall collection you’re working on. And I’ll be buried in meetings, paperwork, and possible litigation.”

“So?”

“There are bound to be stories about both of us in the news. We have no clue what spin they’ll take, but you can rest assured that the gossip columns will try to make something out of nothing. And most importantly, when are we going to find time to connect?”

Her eyes roam around my face like she’s seeking a rebuttal to my explanation even when she knows I’m right.

She leans into my palm where I’m massaging her neck. “Can we try?”

My stomach hardens. “We can, but I won’t hold you back. You’re young. If you meet someone, you should explore your feelings for them with no guilt or worry about doing something wrong.”

She pulls away from me and removes my hand. “Is that what you plan on doing?”

“Livianna, I’ll be working sixteen to twenty hours a day. When do you think I’ll have the space to meet someone when it will be nearly impossible to speak to the only woman I want?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure there will be times you’ll be able to push work aside and have your own fun. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up finding a colleague attractive.” Her suspicious tone tells me everything I need to know.

Trying to make this work with her while I’m across theworld will end with her doubting me and destroying the trusting foundation we’ve built. I need her to understand that reality.

“Listen to yourself,mon trésor. You’re already looking for my deception, and I’m sitting right in front of you. Imagine a month from now, when I’m on the other side of the earth, how your mind will play tricks on you, making you believe I’m being deceitful or unfaithful.”

“But—”

“No. We both know it’ll happen, and I don’t want to ruin the likelihood of making it back to one another. If our trust is broken, we’ll never have another chance.”

Her eyes gloss over, but she blinks rapidly to distract either me or herself from the agony of my truth. “Jax, does this mean we’re over?”

Chapter Three

LIVIANNA

Two & A Half Weeks Before Now

The Night I Needed Him To Break Me.

There’s a line between surrender and self-destruction. And tonight, I stop caring where it is.

Iswallow my tears. There’s no way I’ll break in front of Jax if he says we’re through. No one will ever see that weak little girl again.

He runs his hand over my knee, leaning toward me. “I don’t know if we’re done. You tell me.”

“I’m the one who asked if we could try.”

“That’s not what I mean. We both know while I’m away, it will be best if we take a step back. That way, if something comes up, neither of us will feel deceived or betrayed.”

“Are you saying I’m going to lose you?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. My feelings for you won’t change.”

Why is he doing this?