Page 67 of Finding Kyler
His attempt at humor dies an immediate death. “This isn’t remotely funny.”
He rocks back on his heels, looking at me with a more serious expression. “No. You’re right. It isn’t.”
I lean against the doorjamb.
“Can I come in?”
I straighten up. “Why?”
“I owe you an apology.” Earnest eyes meet mine, and while I’m suspicious of his motive, I step out of the way, granting him entry.
I walk into the bathroom and wet a facecloth. “Sit,” I command, gesturing toward the bed. He does as he’s told without argument. I bend over, gently probing his face with the tips of my fingers. He winces when I brush against his jaw. “That’s going to be the mother of all bruises.”
“Good.”
I stand up. “Good?”
He tips his chin up, and his beautiful blue eyes lock on mine. “Dad hates it when I fight, and Mom expects us to be pretty twenty-four-seven.”
Crouching down, I dab blood off his forehead. “So this was about your dad?” A muscle pops in his jaw, and I smooth a hand over it to ease the strain. Traces of blood stick to my skin.
“It wasn’t about my dad. Brad had that coming.”
I move the cloth down to his cheek, mopping up some dried blood. “Feel any better? Is Brad okay?”
His hand curls around my wrist. “Why do you care? Is there something between you?”
I gently press the cloth to his split lip as I respond to his question with one of my own. “What’s going on with you and Addison?”
He doesn’t shift eye contact as he speaks. “It’s not how it looks. I know she’s all over me—”
“Yourhands were all overher, earlier at the pool,” I viciously cut in.
His eyes soften as he gently tugs me down beside him. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
I look down at my feet. “You hurt me,” I whisper. “I don’t let just anyone touch me, and you…” I trail off as an invisible hand constricts my heart. Tears pool in my eyes, and it takes considerable willpower to hold myself intact. I will not cry in front of him.
He takes my hand in his. “And I was a total jerk. And I’m not going to insult your intelligence by saying it wasn’t done deliberately. It was”—I flinch and try to pull away from him but he clasps my hand more firmly, keeping me in place—“but not for the reasons you’re thinking. Addison is suspicious, and she can’t find out about us. I thought the best way of leading her off the scent was to be nasty to you. I’m really sorry, Faye. I didn’t want to hurt you. I tried to explain it earlier, but you wouldn’t hear me out. Please say you believe me and that you can you forgive me?”
Staring at his pleading expression, Idobelieve him. I know he’s telling me the truth. With the tender way he’s looking at me, it’d be so easy to get lost in his eyes. Even bloody and swollen, I’m irresistibly drawn to Ky. That unspeakable void in his soul calls out to me, as if we’ve been carved from the same cloth. An urge to envelop him in my arms is almost overpowering. No matter how much he’s hurt me, I can’t abandon him.
He needs me, as much as I need him.
He just doesn’t know it yet.
I zoom in on his lips, and my stomach does a funny twist. I want to kiss him more than I’ve ever wanted to kiss any boy before.How on earth am I supposed to stay away from him?
The answer isI can’t.
AndI don’twant to.
I draw a deep breath. “I can forgive you if you can forgive me.” Even though my kiss with Brad pales in comparison with Ky and Addison’s groping fest out by the pool, I can afford to be charitable now I know what was behind it. His method may have been all wrong, but the intent was honorable.
He circles his arm around my back, nudging me into his side. I rest my head on his shoulder. “I wanted to kill him for kissing you. Far worse than I wanted to kill him for sleeping with Addison.” His lips brush against my forehead, leaving a fiery imprint behind.
“It wasn’t his fault. I pretty much threw myself at him.”
He groans. “Don’t remind me, and that doesn’t really help.” He runs his fingers through my hair, and I close my eyes, relishing the tingly sensation.
