Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) by Riann C. Miller Page A

went out to lunch at a wing shop that has a full bar. After our lunch was over, we decided to stay and have a few drinks.
    I shrug. “The list of people who’d love to exact revenge on Damian is endless. As far as he’s concerned, he can never use enough caution when it comes to my safety.”
    I stir the ice around in my drink, embarrassed to be talking freely about my life with someone who isn’t involved in my world.
    “My parents fought all the time.” My earnest eyes shoot up to his, eager for any information he’s willing to share about his past.
    “As a kid, you really don’t care why your parents are fighting...you just want them to stop. Now that I’m older, I know it was mainly because my dad was a cheating bastard who couldn’t hold down a job to save his life.” My chest tightens as I listen to him. I can see the pain in his eyes and hear them in his words. “Still, I think my childhood sounds like a picnic compared to yours.” Kiran tries to laugh off his comment, but we both know what he said was anything but funny.
    “Everyone is dealt a hand in life, some more depressing than others, but at the end of the day, what we make out of the life we’re given shows our true character.”
    Kiran’s eyes soften and he nods his head. “Look at yourself for an instant. It doesn’t matter that you don’t have a college degree. It doesn’t matter that you struggled to make something of yourself. It doesn’t matter that you work for your friend. What does matter is you’re not a deadbeat like the man that raised you. Even if it’s your best friend that signs your paychecks, you still get up every day and earn one and that’s more than a lot of people can say.”
    Kiran’s eyes flash and he holds my stare. “That’s what I told myself growing up. That no matter what happened in life, I’d never be like him.” His face dims even more.
    “Which also explains your lack of relationships,” I add with a chuckle. “If you’re not dating someone then you couldn’t possibly cheat on them.”
    Kiran’s jaw ticks and his shoulders tense as he looks down at the table. Apparently, talking about his past isn’t something he enjoys, which makes two of us.
    “Women came and went with Damian. I only met one woman who was around for a few years, but I don’t think he was faithful to her. She was nice and sweet but for some reason, Damian kept her a safe distance from me.” I sigh. “I think maybe I was hungry for the idea of a mother figure. He probably saw that and knew she wouldn’t be around long.”
    Kiran nods his head in understanding. “We’re quite the pair, huh?”
    Kiran gives me a shy smile. “I guess we’ve been educated on what not to do,” he adds as the waiter brings the check over. I reach for my purse as Kiran growls. “Don’t you dare. I enjoyed our lunch, but if you even try to pay for it, I’ll ...” he trails off, staring at me.
    I nod my head and smile. Kiran places a card on our ticket and the waiter leaves. “Thank you. I had a good time and I hope we can do this again.” I watch him for a sign that this wasn’t our one and only date.
    “Isabelle, I don’t know how long you’ll be in town. I don’t know if my fear of relationships will kick in at any moment, but I do know that when I’m around you, I feel different. I feel something I’ve never felt before, and if you’re willing to...then I’d like to explore whatever this is for however long it lasts.”
    If I were staying in Kiran’s world, I would be heartbroken listening to his comment. The idea that he thinks whatever we might share already has an expiration date is depressing, but the reality is, it does. I could leave at any moment or I could be here another month, but the one thing I’m positive of is I won’t be here forever.
    “Okay. I’d like that.”
    “And no more cell phone boy. Not until we both agree that whatever this is over,” he firmly states as his eyes thin.
    I nod my head. Kiran