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He clenches his jaw “This doesn’t have to be hard on you”
“Are you for real?” I twist inhim squarely “What did you expect? That I’d be excited about this trip?”
“You could be” He lays his arer over the curve of etaway as a vacation”
I shift to the edge ofhis touch “This is not a vacation, and I’ to myself”
He lowers his ar it worse”
My attitude? What about his? My nails dig into ht? So why do you even care if it’s new, strange, or scary for me?”
His eyes crinkle in the corners “That’s not true, kiska, and you know that If you want a reminder that I care about you, you don’t have to search very hard The fact that we’re here spells it out in bold letters, don’t you think? Now stop being difficult You’re looking for a fight to appease your anger, and it’s not going to happen”
I grit ry frustration This isn’t about picking a fight, but there’s no winning this argu him see the situation from my point of view
When he reaches forhim hurts me, especially when I fear more for his life than for ive him for what he’s done, not when he doesn’t show a stitch of remorse
He drops his hand, letting it rest on the seat between us, close enough for his knuckles to brush againstto a house I own on the island It’s one of the best neighborhoods in St Petersburg”
I want to ask if that’s supposed to h, and further conflict won’t help We’re talking in circles A sudden spell of exhaustion washes overI’m too tired even to think
Leaning back, I sink deeper into h theWe cross over another bridge and continue to drive along the river My jaw drops as I take in thethe river The deeper we drive into the island, the more luxurious the properties become
These aren’t houses They’re palaces, and their gardens are parks
One property is so big it takes up the whole block A green h treetops froh iron gates that swing open as we approach The garden we pass through is a winter landscape dotted with naked trees Right in thefour-story sandstone palace with a turret on each corner and decorative balcony rails in front of the s