~LANA~
The tension in my chest was palpable now that my mate was present. It turned out that Isabella had a point in forcing me to come on this fake date managing to convince Apollo to tag along as well.
Derek notices my sudden shift in mood. “You seem a lot happier all of a sudden. And I must say, it makes you even more beautiful,” he remarks.
I hate that I’m only on this date to make Apollo jealous. Derek seems like a really sweet guy and even though he already knew that this date was a fake one, it still bothered me that I was practically using him to get a reaction out of my step–brother.
I tried to feign enjoyment in the conversation, but the moment I felt Apollo’s gaze on us, the hair at the back of my neck stood on end. This wasn’t good. My body was already on high alert.
“Thank you, Derek,” I reply, forcing a smile.
“Wow, your smile,” he continues. “You should smile more often; it really brings out your eyes.”
Was it wrong to be here with Derek while secretly wishing it was my step–brother showering me with compliments instead?
I did my best to ignore the fact that Apollo was walking in our direction. He was definitely coming over. The racing of my heart and the fact that my body was always aware of him looking was all the confirmation I needed.
He approaches us without a word, pulling out a chair and joining our table.
Derek looks taken aback, casting an uncertain glance at Apollo. “Excuse me, can’t you see I’m having dinner with this lovely young lady? Why are you interrupting us?”
I could see Apollo’s jaw tighten; he was clearly angry, not bothering to hide his feelings from me or Derek for that matter. He was usually better at controlling his emotions. For some reason, it felt like he was about to snap any minute now.
“I have eyes,” Apollo replies, his calm yet dangerous tone sending a shiver down my spine. “Lana, why don’t you tell this stranger who I am?”
Derek turns to me, confusion written all over his face. “You know this man, Lana?”
I shot Apollo a glare before redirecting my focus to Derek. “I do. Derek, this is my step–brother, Apollo.”
Apollo didn’t seem thrilled with how I referred to him as my step–brother. I doubted he wanted this stranger to know he was my mate..
“Step–brother?” Derek echoed. “Oh, nice to meet you, Apollo.”
My mate ignored him completely, fixing his gaze on me instead. “Do you remember what happened last night?” he asks, his tone suggesting he was reveling in my discomfort.
My eyes widened, and I felt my cheeks flush. Why would he bring that up in front of Derek? What was he trying to do?
“What are you doing?” I whisper, hoping Derek wouldn’t catch it.
“I’m just concerned,” Apollo said teasingly. “You woke up this morning with no memory of last night, and here you are on a date with a random guy.”
“I’m not exactly random,” Derek piped in, clearly offended. “Isabella introduced us.”
I tuned Derek out, my focus solely on Apollo and his irritating behavior.
“Nobody’s talking to you, Darren,” Apollo said dismissively.
“It’s Derek,” he corrected.
1/3
Chapter 47
I sensed Apollo had done that intentionally. Did this mean he had feelings for me, or was he simply trying to make sure I wasn’t happy with anyone elset
Should I try to flirt more openly with Derek and see how Apollo reacted? The temptation was there, especially with Isabella wiggling her eyebrows at me from across the room, clearly enjoying this little drama.
“Do you remember?” Apollo presses. “Because if you still don’t recall last night, I’m more than ready to recount every detail.”
No way.
He wouldn’t dare say those things in front of Derek.
Would he?
“I think I’m fine,” I snap back. “I remember.”
I had to say anything to stop Apollo from this madness. He couldn’t possibly be thinking of saying everything that happened last night to a stranger.
His eyes widen playfully. “Oh, so you do remember? Showing up at the hotel, then going to my car-”
“Apollo,” I interrupt, rising from my seat. “Can we talk outside, please?”
He looks both amused and annoyed, replying, “Why? I was just starting to have some fun.”
“Excuse me for a moment,” I say to Derek, before pulling Apollo up with me.
Seething inside, I almost had to drag him out of the restaurant. I could feel Isabella’s eyes on us, and I shot her an irritated glare; she was enjoying this far
too much.
Once we stepped outside, I let go of Apollo’s arm.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I demand. “Why are you even here?”
“I heard from Isabella that you are on a date and I just had to come and see for myself who you are out with.” He answers me. “Why? Do you have a problem with me being here?”
He was intentionally saying things to anger me. I had to try and stay calm despite the frustration within.
“Why are you causing such a scene?” I shot back. “You made it clear that you didn’t want to be with me. So why does it bother you if I’m out on a date with someone else?”
His jaw clenched. “How can you be on a date with someone else after spending the entire night in my arms?”
I narrow my eyes. “I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing. You can’t hold that against me, especially when you won’t even tell me about some girl your mother wants you to have dinner with!”
His nostrils flared. “Why are you so curious about her? You only met her once. Why does it matter?”
It hurts that he doesn’t realize by now how much his actions bother me. Even if he didn’t want to be with me, couldn’t he sympathy?
try to show a little
“Sometimes I don’t know how you could be this way to your own mate.” I snap. “All these years you brought multiple women over to the house without a care in the world with how it would affect me the day I realized who you truly were. And now, when all I want is some answers, you can’t even do that for me.”
I can see that my words are getting through to him.
“I just don’t understand why you need to know about her.” He tells me.
I can’t stop myself as I say in a broken voice, “Because it hurts to think of you with someone else–someone your mother actually likes and wants you to
20:24 Tue, 15 Jul
Chapter 47
be with. I am your mate, Apollo, and even if I act like your choices don’t bother me, that’s a lie, I just pretend to make you think it means nothing to me because that’s how you act toward me.”
AD
