Ariana sits still until Nikhil is out of the apartment, and then she falls back on the bed, and unlocking her phone, she stares at it.

She begins to type, and every couple of seconds, she pauses as she begins to cry. Watching her struggle is fucking hard, and I don’t look away from the screen as Nikhil gets back into the car.

It takes her almost ten minutes before she sends the text.

Ariana: I’m good. Getting back into my old routine. Busy making a makeup tutorial and plan on visiting my mom later. How are you?

I shake my head as I type out a reply.

Demitri: Back at work. Are you making any progress with figuring out how you feel about me?

I send the message and watch as she reads it immediately. Again she breaks down, pressing her face into the covers, and then I hear her voice, muffled but clear enough to make out the words. ‘God, I can’t. This is too hard.’

She turns onto her back and takes a couple of deep breaths, using the back of her hand to wipe the tears from her face. Staring at the screen, she whispers, ‘I love you so much. I wish I had the chance to tell you that.’

My breathing slows as her words sink in.

I fucking knew it.

She types out a message, and when it comes through, I stare at the lie.

Ariana: Yeah, I’ve been thinking a lot. Being away from you has definitely given me the clarity I needed. It was all a spur-of-the-moment thing for me. Can we keep our relationship professional? Only contact me for business.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, then respond to her request.

Demitri: You do your thing, and I’ll do mine.

Keep running, Malyshka. I’m right behind you.

Chapter 32

ARIANA

It’s been a week since I’ve last heard from Demitri. The heartache grows with every passing day, and I miss him so much it’s hard to do anything.

If it weren’t for Nikhil checking on me every day, I’d probably just lie in bed until I died because there’s nothing to get up for.

But the fear that Nikhil might be giving Demitri updates about me makes me drag my exhausted body out of bed. Feeling completely drained, I shower and get myself ready enough so that I don’t look like a zombie.

Dressed in a pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a sweater, I pick up my phone and text Nikhil.

Ariana: I want to visit my mom.

He responds immediately.

Nikhil: I’m coming.

I tuck my phone in my pocket and walk to the kitchen. I take a bottle of water from the fridge and swallow a couple of sips.

The front door opens, and I glance at Nikhil. “Did you make an extra key for yourself?”

“Yes.” There’s no apology in his tone.

I just nod and follow him out of the apartment. As I climb into the passenger side of the SUV, my heart skips a beat when I smell Demitri’s woodsy aftershave. I take a deep breath, getting more of the scent, and it rips through my insides.