Page 133 of What Comes Around

He nodded, but his eyes searched my face like he didn’t quite believe me.

Another pause. His fingers tapped once against his knee, hesitant.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

I didn’t answer, but he took my silence as permission.

“I’ve been hearing things,” his voice was careful. “Are you… with Knox?”

I glanced down at my hands in my lap. When I looked back up, he was staring at my left hand. At the diamond ring on my finger.

He went still.

I drew in a slow breath. “Yes,” I said.

Nick didn’t look at my face. He was still staring at the ring, like he couldn’t look away.

“You’re engaged?” he asked hoarsely.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.

“I was hoping that wasn’t true,” he said quietly.

I frowned. “Why?”

He let out a humorless breath and leaned forward slightly, his forearms resting on his knees.

“I kept an eye on you,” he admitted.

“You what?”

He met my gaze. “I knew you weren’t dating anyone,” he said. “Not seriously. Not casually. Nothing.”

I stared at him, stunned. “You were watching me?”

“I wasn’t stalking you,” he said quickly. “I just… made sure you were okay. Made sure no one hurt you.”

Titan shifted beside me, pressing closer.

Nick continued, his voice rougher now.

“I thought you needed time,” he said. “After everything. After what Apple did.”

His jaw clenched.

“She ruined everything,” he added. “I’m sure of it now. She drugged me that night. And the pregnancy…” He shook his head. “She was never pregnant.”

I cut in before he could continue.

“Were you celibate?”

Nick blinked, thrown off. “What?”

“If you were waiting for me,” I said. “Were you celibate?”

He hesitated. Thought about it. His jaw shifted.

“No,” he said carefully. “But I didn’t have anything serious with anyone.”