Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
But it had broken so brutally.
Was she going to let Kyle’s fear break them, too?
“Give me the chance to show you why you should,” Kyle prompted. “I’m willing to take the chance that you never forgive me, that you use me for sex and walk away. I’m willing to take the chance because I’m going to do things right this time. I let you tug the tiger’s tail. I kept my mouth shut and let you deal with her when all I wanted to do was hang up and go on the run.”
“That’s no way to live a life.” She had to get out of the limbo she found herself in. They couldn’t go on this way.
“Am I doing the right thing?” His head came down to rest against her forehead. “I stayed away because I worried I wasn’t ready, that I was toxic. I know it was my relationship with her that was toxic, but it infected me. I don’t want it to infect you. I love you.”
Julia was a virus, and he was worried he would pass on the pain to her. “I have to think about it. But I can do this.”
She wrapped her arms around his chest and felt a shudder go through him.
He’d run from more than her. He’d run from anyone who could give him comfort, who could hold him and show him the world wasn’t completely trash. She’d been surrounded by friends and family—his family. He’d been alone.
“You’re a dumbass,” she whispered.
He held her tighter. “I know.”
There was another knock and Kyle stepped back, taking a long steadying breath. “That should be reinforcements. I know I upended your life, but I swear I’m going to make it right. Starting tonight. We might be in lockdown, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. Come on in.”
The door opened and Hutch and Noelle were there. Hutch had the big bag he used to cart around board games. Noelle was carrying a tote bag that likely contained whatever she’d baked this week.
“We brought game night to you,” Hutch announced. “I’m planning on leaving Cards Against Humanity cards tucked away all over this office so Big Tag can find some of the most rancid phrases he’s ever seen at random times.”
“And I’m going to leave him lemon tea cakes as an apology,” Noelle explained.
A big blond god of a man walked in, carrying way too many pizza boxes. Well, it would be too many if he wasn’t here.
“Boomer.” She hadn’t seen him in a couple of days, and she’d missed the big guy.
“Hey, Mae. Lou won first place at her science fair. I’m supposed to thank you for all the help.” Boomer nodded Kyle’s way. “Dude, I thought you were still alive. Your funeral was fun. Sad you missed it. Welcome back, man.”
Kyle leaned over. “I’m going to go and help Drake and Taylor, but I thought you would enjoy a game night. Sorry about the pizza. It’s kind of the easiest food to get when you’re hiding from assassins. Also when you have to feed a Boomer.”
“You’re not staying?”
“I want you to have fun. I want you to forget about all the crap for a while, and I don’t think you can do that with me around.”
Maybe it was the talk with Kai earlier or finally facing Julia and realizing that while she was dangerous, she was also pathetic. She wasn’t some glamorous force of nature. She was a woman who’d been manipulated by her father and twisted into something vile. Julia had probably been born a narcissist, and if she’d been raised normally, she would have been a crappy mom and wife and that would have been the end of it. What her stepfather had done had taken that deep-down instinct to always center herself and turned it malignant.
Kyle was a dumbass who should have gone into therapy but instead he’d fallen into a toxic relationship and there but for the grace of god…
“Why don’t we take a night off?” She couldn’t pretend like things were normal if he wasn’t here. “Go and ask Drake and Taylor if they want to play. Do we have anything that will play seven?”
Hutch started pulling out his games. “Maddie and Deke will be by soon, so it’s nine. I thought we could split up and play two. Deke is bringing beer. He’s excited about pranking Big Tag’s office too. We’re never allowed in here alone. It’s like we’re in Dad’s bedroom.”
“Especially given how Ian and Charlotte spend so much of their time in here,” Noelle said with a shake of her head. “I was up here once waiting on Hutch and I was going to bring Ian some cupcakes I’d made. I should not have opened that door.”
Maybe Ian and Charlotte should still be her relationship goals.
“Are you sure?” Kyle asked, but there was an eager expression on his face.