House Of Obsidian: Flawed Love Part 8

I stay back, feeling like a fish out of water.

"We brought our new friend Mali along," Belle says to her husband, who I can now see fully.

He's gorgeous. He's big and broad, with a face very similar to Rainer's, only his is far more rugged. He's got scarring, a slightly crooked nose, and shorter dark hair, but his eyes are the same shade of brown that tricks you into thinking they're black. He doesn't have as many tattoos as Rainer, but he's extremely good looking.

"This is my husband, Max." Belle smiles. "Max, this is Mali."

I step forward and stretch out a hand. "Nice to meet you."

He shakes my hand and flashes me a grin. "You too."

I avoid looking to Rainer, but I don't miss the fact that he's stopped talking.

"Mali," he says and I flick my eyes to him.

"Oh, hey Rainer."

Yeah, that sounded real convincing.

He studies me, and it's taking everything inside me not to stare at his bare, broad chest. I want to study the tattoos there; I just want to reach over and curl myself around him. Instead, I hold his gaze, focusing on his big, brown eyes.

"Didn't know you knew the girls."

"I met them the other night," I say casually. "They invited me. Sorry, I didn't realize it was a problem."

His eyes skitter down to my short dress. "It's not," he says.

I s.h.i.+ver. Then I fidget and look towards Max. "It's a really nice club you have here."

He stares at Rainer, then at me, and grins. "Yeah, it is."

I smile and sip my drink nervously.

"When does the fight start?" Ash asks.

"In about fifteen minutes. You girls have time for another drink," Max says.

"I'll get some more. You girls coming?" Belle asks.

"Sure," I squeak.

"Actually," Rainer says, standing so I can see his big, beautiful body, "can I have a word, Mali?"

He wants a word. With me? Why?

"Sure," I say.

"I'll get you a drink." Belle nods, grinning at both of us.

Pippa watches us curiously, and the other girls try to give me subtle thumbs up that aren't so subtle. Good G.o.d. Rainer walks towards the back of the lockers and into a small office-like s.p.a.ce. I step in and he closes the door behind me.

"Please don't ask if I came here with them to see you, because I didn't. I didn't even know they knew you and-"

He spins around and studies me. "I didn't think that."

"Right," I say, looking at my hands. "So why are we in here?"

He studies me. "I was a d.i.c.k the other night."

I stare at him, shocked. "No you weren't."

"I f.u.c.kin' was, Mali. I f.u.c.ked you and pretty much threw you out of my car."

I shrug. "No offence, Rainer, but I thought that was what we agreed."

He narrows his eyes. "You're seriously okay with it?"

No. Absolutely not.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Most chicks just . . . they don't . . . I get constant phone calls and they follow me everywhere. It's usually not worth the ha.s.sle."

I shrug. "I'm not most chicks. I want friends, I like being f.u.c.ked-it's simple. Are you willing to give me those things, Rainer?"

I'm such a liar. A horrible liar.

He studies me and I start to fidget. "I don't have many friends."

I smile broadly. "Well, then there's always room for one more."

"Situations like these . . . they go bad. Don't you know that?"

"They only go bad when someone falls in love. Believe me when I say that won't happen."

Because I'm already in love. I've been in love since I was just seventeen.

"People always say that," he points out, rubbing his chin.

"You're right, they do. Look, Rainer, we had fun, and I'm more than happy to keep it that way." Liar. Liar. Liar. "But we have the same friends, so we're going to run into each other. I'm always up for new friends."

His eyes meet mine. "Yeah, I guess I am too."

"Then it's sorted."

His eyes narrow and he seems to become transfixed with my face, enough that I turn away. "I'd swear I've seen your face before."

I swallow and shrug stiffly. "Maybe I just look like someone you know."

He seems to snap out of it. "Probably. I don't remember much about my childhood."

He doesn't? That's odd.

"How come? Did you have an accident or something?"

He looks away. "Or something."

My curiously is nagging at me, but I let it go.

"Rainer, time to fight," Max calls.

"Right," Rainer mutters. "Well, I'll catch you later."

"I'll be the one in the red, if you decide on making friends." I wink at him and turn, walking out. "Good luck, Rainer."

My heart aches, but I stride out with my shoulders back.

I'll be strong, even if it kills me.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THEN a MALI

"So what do you like to do, Emily?" Jack asks as we drink our sodas and nibble on fries.

"Honestly, I don't get much time to do anything these days. I'm so busy with school and study that it seems I never get time to enjoy life." I smile.

He grins. Gosh, he's so handsome. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

"What do you do for fun?"

He leans close. "Can you keep a secret?"

I beam. "Absolutely."

"I paint."

My eyes widen. "You do? What do you paint?"

"Mostly landscape, but I love it."

"That's impressive," I say, nodding my approval. "How long have you been doing it?"

"Since I was seven, but most people don't know. It would kill my reputation."

I frown. "I don't see why. I think it's really amazing."

He chuckles. "Yeah, well, my jock friends wouldn't think so."

"Who cares what they think." I shrug, sipping my drink.

He laughs. "If only life were so simple."

"Right?"

He takes a bite of his burger and his eyes scan over my face. "So you're friends with Rainer, yeah?"

I blink in surprise. "Ah, sure, yeah."

"I didn't think someone like him had many friends."

"Someone like him?"

He puts a hand up. "Not in a bad way," he says quickly. "I just mean he seems so . . . difficult to get along with."

"He can be, but we get along. I can't really explain why."

"Have you been friends long?"

So many questions. Strange.

"About four years now. Do you know him?"

He shrugs. "I used to. Not now."

"He's a good guy."

His eyes flash but he seems to force a smile. "Sure, of course. Do you live near him or something? I see you ride to school with him."

I have no idea why he wants to know so much about Rainer, but it's interesting that Rainer has a problem with him, and he seems to have a lot of questions about Rainer.

"Yeah, he lives two doors down. It's how we became friends."

He nods. "Awesome," he pauses as we finish our food. "Do you want to go?"

"Sure." I smile, standing.