KILLIAN

 

“Killian? Aren’t you coming back to bed?”

Meghan. Voracious. Pleasing. Beautiful.

Boring.

“No.” I squinted at the acrylic piece in my hand. It was from my latest board burr puzzle. 2483 false assemblies but only one way to solve it.

She got up. Her slim arms came over my shoulders. “Isn’t there something I can tempt you with?” She pressed her surgically-enhanced tits against my back and cooed in my ear, going on and on about how she couldn’t wait to suck my big fat cock again. How it made her so wet.

Sure.

I shrugged her off me. “I said no.”

She rounded the coffee table, swinging her blond hair, full pink pout on display. “Killian, you’re this close to hurting my feelings.”

“I don’t care.” Taking the piece and sliding it into another, I took a bit of pleasure knowing it was the right move.

“Fine then. How about you don’t call me the next time your dick gets hard?”

“Consider it set in stone.” Studying the puzzle, I ran through my next options. It was difficult to concentrate. Not because of Meghan’s irritating presence, but because I kept thinking about Grandfather and worse—Mom.

I hated it when he brought her up. I knew Grandfather thought I was a fuck up. I agreed with him considering it was a purposeful action on my part. But no way would Mom think badly of me. She’d understand.

“You’re one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever seen, Killian. Don’t ever forget that. Promise me.”

I leaned back and closed my eyes.

Sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to break my promise to you.

Mom loved me and Timmy more than she loved herself. She loved us both so much she delayed getting chemo just so we wouldn’t know how bad off she was. Just so we wouldn’t worry over Christmas.

Fuck. This was why I hated Grandfather bringing her up.

“Good then. That’s more like it,” Meghan shoved her way onto my lap, scattering my thoughts as well as several puzzle pieces on the floor with her foot.

Instantly tossing her off me, I yelled, “Idiot! I wasn’t telling you my dick was stone. I was telling you it was set in stone that I’d never call you again. Now get the fuck out, you clumsy bitch!”

She scrambled off the couch, screaming how much of an asshole I was and that I was fucked in the head and everyone knew it. The only reason anyone would ever want to be with me past a night was because I was loaded.

Surprise me. Tell me something I didn’t already know.

“I don’t care how hot you are, Killian! You’re a fucking prick!”

“Yeah, yeah. Get your shit and see your way out. The concierge will have a cab ready.”

She stood there, mouth open as if she couldn’t quite believe what I said.

Believe it. I’ve said worse and will prove it if you keep pushing me.

Meghan stomped around, yanking her clothes off the floor and throwing them on her body. She was dressed in a minute flat. “Don’t you ever call me again, Killian, I mean it!”

“We already went over this. It’s done.”

“You’re damned right it’s done. I’m breaking up with you, jerk!”

We weren’t even dating. But if it made her feel better…

“Uh huh. I’m heartbroken. Now leave.”

She let out a scream that sounded like someone stepped on a cat’s tail. Good thing she was successful in modeling and not trying to be a singer. Meghan opened and slammed my bedroom door shut. I let out a sigh.

Blessed silence.

Finally.

This was what I needed. Being left alone. No expectations to give what I couldn’t. No need to impress when I was bound to fail.

Just me and my thoughts.

I got down to pick up the pieces that clumsy tangle of legs knocked off the table. Holding up an acrylic rectangle, I wondered if I’d already reached the pinnacle of my life.

Playing games with people and things because there was no other way to make my mark in the world. No way to interact except out of spite.

“You’re one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever seen, Killian…”

And that was the problem. Sweet boys got knocked to the ground, stomped on, and left behind.

It was better to be the way I was now—even if it kept everyone away.