Chapter Twenty-One

I ended up going in to work because I was nervous and sad around Adrian. I felt like I should be wearing a neon sign that shouted: I cheated! I cheated! I walked into Lissa's apartment and knew I would have to be extra careful. There was no way I was telling her that I had cheated…but I knew that she would know there was something wrong with me just by the look on my face.

As much was confirmed as soon as I stepped into the kitchen, where she was making dinner. As she peeled a potato, she looked up and immediately noted something was wrong. Being Lissa, though, she didn't say anything immediately.

"Hey, Rose," she said lightly, looking back at the potato. "How's Arianna?"

I smiled. "She's better. Her head hurts a little bit, but she's fine."

Lissa nodded and finished the potato. "That's great. What's Adrian up to?"

"Watching Arianna and being lazy. He's so good at that."

Lissa laughed and glanced into the living room, where Trent sat playing with a couple of his toys. He was doing well today, no crying like usual when I came over. He thought it wasn't fair for him to have me over, and not Arianna.

"Is there something up with you guys?" she asked innocently, going to the sink and washing the potatoes off in water and tossing them back in the bowl one by one. I leaned against the counter, arms crossed over my chest, and sighed.

"A little bit. But I really don't want to talk about it, Liss," I said softly, staring at the floor. I watched her perfect feet move over the tile as gracefully as a ballerina should be. Too bad that wasn't the career path she had even considered.

I felt surprise burn through the bond, but I ignored it. I didn't need her nagging right now. Running a hand through my hair, I watched the light bounce off of it as it fell back to rest against my collar bone.

She took up the knife again and began to dice the potatoes, careful of her fingers. I glanced up and watched her slender hands cut, and winced as her wrist turned to show a particularly bad scar where she had cut herself going through some bad times back when we were in high school. I felt my fingers move over my own wrist, wondering if Dimitri could ever push me to that limit. I wondered how badly it hurt.

Shaking my head, I swallowed, feeling a little sick to my stomach. No cutting. Arianna needed me healthy and ALIVE. Cutting could get you killed. One little slip, and you were a goner.

Christian walked into the kitchen from the bedroom, a white towel hung over his neck, his jet black hair mussed and wet from a shower. He ignored me and went to Lissa, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing just below her ear. Lissa smiled and laughed, pushing him back.

"Don't make me throw a potato at you!" she threatened, and tossed the cut up potatoes in the water she had ready in a pot on the stove. She turned up the heat on the burner, and then turned back to me, smiling. "I'm done for now, Rose."

I nodded, and we went to the living room, where Trent was still playing. I sat down on the far end of the couch, and Lissa sat on the other end, hugging her knees. I played idly with my pants leg.

"Seriously, Rose. Something is up. Can you at least give me a hint to what it has to do with?"

I sighed loudly, not looking at her, and mumbled Adrian's name under my breath.

She heard me anyway. "Oh…did you two have a fight?" She scooped up Trent, who was wanting to sit on her lap. He gave a happy laugh and settled in.

I shook my head. "No… He doesn't actually know that anything is wrong in between me and him."

"Is it the engagement?" she asked worriedly, and I looked up, surprised.

"No, I love him. It's just some stuff that has been going on on my side of the relationship. Just… a lot of stuff."

She nodded, and looked down at Trent. Her long eyelashes brushed her cheeks as she did so, making her look so much more gorgeous. She smiled at her son and tapped one finger on the tip of his nose, making a funny face. He giggled loudly and tapped her nose, wiggling away when she tried to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Is it Dimitri, Rose?" she finally asked quietly. I bit my lip, tears already springing to my eyes. Damn, when did I get so weak?

I nodded.

"What about him…" she said, and then looked up again sharply. "Rose, no… You didn't!"

She could read me too well. I should have known.

"Didn't what?" I didn't look at her as I said it, knowing she would see the guilt.

"Rose…."

I buried my head in my hands. "Just don't tell him yet, okay? I'm going to tell him…"

She was quiet for a moment, and then moved over to sit beside me, resting her head on my shoulder. Her smooth hair fell down my shoulder, pale against my skin. "I won't, Rose. But you need to tell him soon. Waiting will just make it worse."

I nodded again. "I know."