Chapter Seven

Mikael parked in front of her house.

They were silent for a long time. Ever since they left the restaurant, to be precise. It wasn't that what he did scared her or anything, it was something else. Something she couldn't put her finger on.

After a beat, he said, "I'm sorry about what happened. I lost my mind when he spoke to you that way. I know I shouldn't have done it but it was stronger than me. I can't describe the feeling."

Kiera placed her hand on his arm. "Don't apologize."

It was odd to her that they were only talking about the incident after they left the restaurant. When the red-faced man left, they were escorted to their seats and apart from the occasional glance from strangers, it was almost as if nothing had happened. They talked about random topics throughout the night and she got to know a little bit more about him. But even though they spent three hours in each other's company, he was still a complete stranger to her. They didn't talk about what the man said to her (which was essentially nothing harmful) so she didn't know why he wanted to touch on the subject now that he was dropping her off.

Mikael turned toward her. In the darkness of the car, his eyes still glowed. It was almost unnatural. "I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me," he said. "I'm not an aggressive person."

"I know," she said, although she didn't. Essentially, she didn't know a thing about him and the reality of that hit her like a ton of bricks when she beheld the man's discolored face.

"Still," he said unconvinced, "I feel I should explain myself to you. Seeing your face after he said those words and how he walked into you awakened this feeling in me. It was instinctual, I had no control over it. I felt I had to attack him but only because I wanted to defend you."

"I get it," she said, unable to keep the smile from her lips. She was deeply flattered by his words. "I don't judge you, Mikael. We met like that, remember? You saved me from harm."

He visibly relaxed. His eyes softened somehow and a small sigh escaped his lips. "Okay," was all he said.

"Okay," she said.

They held each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity and the air around them thickened. Her chest was rising and falling with every breath she took. His eyes glowed brighter. She was leaning in and he was too. His warm breath fanned her face and she closed her eyes for a second. His lips were hovering above hers when she reopened them and she felt it in her gut that he was going to kiss her. She prepared herself for the sweet moment. And then his lips touched her cheek and she sagged with disappointment but her heart was still contented by the fact that his lips had touched at least one part of her.

Mikael said, "Good night, Kiera. I'll see you on Saturday."

"Good night," she said in a low voice. She exited the car. Her cheek was burning. She fumbled with the keys, her hands were trembling. The remote was lying right at the bottom, beneath everything she kept in her bag. He was backing out of the space when she walked past the gate. She turned around in hopes to see him but the headlights practically blinded her. He hooted lightly and then sped down the street.

Kiera rubbed her arms as she watched him round the corner. She felt cold, suddenly. She knew she couldn't stay outside for too long.

Her thoughts were on Mikael as she made her way inside her home. There was a small smile on her lips. She touched her cheek as she opened the front door. She felt like a teenager who had been kissed for the first time. The best part about it all was how kind and respectful he was. He never made it seem like he wanted to take her to bed. There was chemistry between them but he didn't emphasize it. He kept the conversation light and general, like he wanted to get to know her but only on the surface. He was taking baby steps. She appreciated it. Her relationship with Jared was so different. He took her to bed right after their date and then he asked her out. With Mikael, it was almost as if she was falling in love for the first time.

She saw Simone standing in the doorway. Her presence made her halt. It wasn't late—it was a few minutes past nine—but seeing her awake and fully dressed at such a time was slightly shocking. "Is something wrong?" she asked right away.

Simone gulped. "You have a visitor. I didn't want to call you because I knew you wouldn't want to be disturbed."

The word made her brain freeze for a few beats. Visitor? She never had visitors. Not during the day and especially not at night. Perhaps Simone was confused. No, it couldn't be. That was a mean thought. "Who is it, Simone?" she asked instead.

"Jared," she answered. "He's in the kitchen with Kane."

Her breath caught in her throat. Her grip on the straps of her bag tightened. "Why did you let him in, Simone? Why didn't you leave him outside like the animal he is?"

She shrugged lightly but her eyes were filled with concern. "This is your house, Kiera. I know that I have lived here for a long time and my son was born here, but I know my place. He is your visitor, not mine. As I said, I didn't want to disturb you. It would ruin your night and you were so happy when you left."

Her eyes filled with tears. She gulped them down and looked down at the floor. "You're right, it would have ruined my night. I'm sorry, Simone, I don't want you to think that this is your fault. And please, this is your home, too. You practically own it."

Simone smiled kindly but she didn't say anything else. She was watching Kiera warily. Kiera, on the other hand, didn't know what to feel. Jared was in her kitchen, a few steps away. She would have to face him and talk to him after everything they went through. After everything he did to her. She could be a coward and ask Simone to tell him to leave but she knew Jared. He would go up to her room to look for her. He'd make himself right at home. She had to end it once and for all. She had to tell him to leave and never return. He was her burden, nobody else's.

She took a deep breath and straightened her spine. Despite the awful situation, she was glad that her thoughts were clear. Her head was in the right place and she only had Mikael to thank for it. He was the one who helped her get over Jared, even though they only spent a few hours together. If he had never entered her life, she would've been crawling to the kitchen. She would've prepared herself to give Jared whatever he asked for. And all he'd do would be take, and take, and take, as he had done for so many years. With Mikael, she finally got a taste of what was normal and respectful. He treated her fairly and he was twice the man Jared was.

Or thought he was.

Kane saw her before Jared. She looked at the back of his head and was surprised by what she felt, which was nothing at all. It was funny how a few days ago, she would've killed for such a moment.

Jared turned around to face her. His eyes lit up at the sight of her. "Kiera," he said.

She felt Simone come up behind her. It strengthened her resolve, knowing that she had two of her favorite people by her side. Kane never liked Jared and neither did Simone but they respected their decision. She hated that it took her so long to see what they saw. Jared took advantage of her fragility and her proverbial need for love and affection. He took her heart and he crushed it in his hand when he slept with that woman, and he was unapologetic about it too. She wondered what he wanted. No, why wonder? Why should she wonder when she could ask him outright?

So it was exactly what she did. "What are you doing here, Jared? I thought we agreed that it was all over between us. Or are you here for another reason?"

Jared looked uneasily back at Kane and then over her shoulder at Simone. His hazel eyes were filled with confusion. She almost felt pity for him. Almost. "Can we talk in private?"

She gestured around the kitchen. "This is private."

He furrowed his brows. "You know what I mean, Kiera."

"No, I don't. I don't know what you mean at all. Days ago you told me that being with me was a big waste of time and that you were glad to be rid of me. You ridiculed me and you compared me to that woman you were cheating on me with. Where is she? Why aren't you there with her? Why are you here?"

He once again looked at Kane and Simone. He was more bothered by their presence than her words, which was pretty significant. He said, "If we had some privacy, I could explain to you exactly what I'm doing here. It doesn't have to be like this. I know I hurt you."

"You don't know anything," she told him. Her teeth were gritted and her eyes were narrowed. A wave of anger was rising within her, not unlike the anger Mikael felt when the man bumped into her and spoke to her rudely. "You're used to fucking it all up and then coming back to me as if nothing happened, expecting a full pardon for your sins. Not this time, Jared. I'm sick of you and your disrespectful behavior. I deserve better. I am getting better treatment."

Kane's eyes widened a little and Jared's face changed completely. They weren't used to hearing her talk like that. She personally wasn't used to it. She didn't know where all the strength came from but she liked it. She was loving every second of it.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, his nostrils flaring. "We fight and you go running to some prick for comfort, is that what you're doing? It was a slight misunderstanding."

"It was a breakup," she said, astounded by his lies. How did she believe them for so long? She truly was lost. And desperate. And pathetic. It was the reason why Jared never respected her, she saw that now. How would he respect her when she didn't even respect herself?

"Kiera—" he began, but she interrupted him.

"You broke up with me. And don't you call him a prick, you don't know him. You've never met him. The only prick here is you. Get out of my house! I won't ask again!"

He stood from the stool and he nearly stumbled as he tried to approach her. It was pitiful. "Kiera, just hear me out. She was a mistake. She had me wrapped around her finger. I know it's something shitty to say but I want to be transparent with you as I always have been. I could've kept our affair a secret but lying to you was killing me, alright? It was poisoning me. But after I told you, it wasn't the same between us. You know why? It's because I realized that nobody else matters to me like you do. It was a mistake, one I'll regret for the rest of my life, even if you do take me back. We can work something out. I'm willing to work, Kiera. I'm willing to do anything you want me to."

"Are you?" she asked, ignoring everything else he said. "Are you really?"

"Yes," he said, relief flooding his expression.

"Get out, then," she barked. "Do me a favor and get the hell out of my sight!"