The Best Kind of Forever (Riverside Reapers, #1)(80)
I cross my arms over my chest, doing my best to look sure of myself. “I can look after myself.”
“Clearly, you can’t.”
I wince like he’d just physically burned me. Honestly, that would probably be less painful than whatever heart-squeezing sensation is erupting behind the cage of my ribs.
Kit registers what he said a second too late, regret immediately shadowing his eyes. “Fuck, Faye. I didn’t mean that.”
Tears sear the backs of my eyes, and I swallow down the vomit threatening to spray the floor of Kit’s car. “No, you did. You’re right. I need to handle this. I’m not your problem.” I unbuckle my seat belt and reach for the door handle, but the little lock above it clicks down.
Kit knocks his head back against the headrest. “I didn’t…there’s…this is all a lot to process,” he confesses. “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you.”
All I do is nod, because now my mind is channel-surfing back to three hours ago when I thought I’d end the night with a kiss goodbye. The buzz from both the alcohol and adrenaline are starting to wear off, meaning I’ll have to consciously try to weather this torrential storm.
I don’t know what to say. I’m paralyzed again.
I suddenly feel Kit’s hand squeeze my palm, and it jolts me back to the present. The warmth of the gesture brings a comfort I haven’t known until now, not even when I’ve searched for it in other people.
“Look, Faye, when you called me…I’ve never been so afraid in my entire life. I was worried something bad had happened to you, and I was right. I need to know I’m keeping you safe, otherwise I’m going to lose my mind.” There’s a brokenness to his words that impales that failing organ in my chest.
Lose his mind? Does he really feel that way?
His fingers tighten around mine, almost painful enough for me to acknowledge it.
“If I go with you, you have to promise not to tell Hayes,” I murmur ashamedly, and I know I’m in no position to negotiate, but I refuse to burden my brother with all this drama.
“You’re seriously asking me to keep this big of a secret from your brother, who’s one of my best friends, and who I also happen to live with?” His barb, sharp and stinging, clings to my side and burrows into flesh and muscle.
He’s right: keeping a secret this catastrophic from my hotheaded brother isn’t going to end well. But the alternative is possibly seeing my brother in handcuffs as he’s being whisked away for aggravated battery.
I will get on my knees and beg this man if I have to. “Please, Kit. He never has to find out about this. He’ll kill that guy on some crazy vengeance trip.”
“You’re lucky I’m not going to kill that guy,” Kit growls.
Oh, I am. Hayes might have enough rage to fuel a small village, but Kit beats his already impressive strength with a six-foot-five body of pure muscle.
“I appreciate it, I do. And now I’m just asking you to keep a teensy, tiny secret.”
Kit sucks his teeth. “I’ll contemplate it if you at least let me get you under a roof. You’re half-soaked. The hotel is only ten minutes away.”
I have a feeling that’s the closest to an agreement I’m going to get from Kit, and considering he has the resolve and patience of a grizzly bear, I’m not looking to argue with him for the rest of the night.
“Okay,” I acquiesce. “But you have to promise to think about it.”
Kit brushes his pinky against his nose, then holds it out to me. “I promise.”
I hesitantly hook my pinky with his, letting myself get lost in the wilderness of his umber eyes. There’s warmth nestled in the inner rings, but with it comes a dash of concern.
Fuck, Faye! This could’ve all been avoided if you just focused on yourself, your career. If you stopped chasing after some guy to fill that hole in your heart.
I pull back, severing our arrangement. “I should’ve done something.”
“Stop,” Kit snarls, the intensity behind the command alone shaking me to the core. “This is not your fault. You need to understand that.”
Kit leans over the center console and hooks his forefinger under my chin, his thumb tracing the edge of my jawline. “This is his fault, okay? This is all on him. He took advantage of you. This small-dicked asshole took your freedom from you, your choice, and he’ll be paying for every second of it for the rest of his miserable life.”
“Why do you care so much?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
The first smile of the night surfaces over his extremely kissable lips. Extremely kissable, and extremely dangerous.
“Because we’re friends.”
Friends? I’ve never hated one word so much in my entire life.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to say a huge thank-you to my mother. If it wasn’t for you, my dream of writing would’ve never existed. You taught me that having a writing career was something I could accomplish. You’ve always supported my writing, helped me through the editing process, and provided me with the resources to publish my books. You’ve inspired me to chase after my dreams, and I love you with everything I have. Thank you, Mom.
And of course, a thank you to all the readers out there who have given my little debut novel a place to spread its wings! None of this would be possible without you.