Page 74 of Finding Kyler
I start pacing. “Oh, well, that makes it all right then,” I sneer. “I take it Ky doesn’t know about this.”
“No, and he can’t.” He reaches out and takes my wrist. “Will you freaking stop!”
“You’re an ass.” I glare at him. “No, you’re much worse than that. I don’t think there is a strong enough word in the English language to describe what you are.”
“There is no insult you can level at me that I haven’t already thrown at myself. I was drunk off my ass when she pounced, and I know I should’ve tried harder to resist, but—”
I clamp my hand over his mouth. “Please spare me the sordid details.”
“I hate myself for it, and I wish I could take it back but I can’t.”
I start pacing again, my mind churning possibilities. “Why would she sleep with you when she’s trying to get Ky back? What is she up to?”
He takes my elbow and steers me out of the woods. “Walk and talk before Mom sends a search party out.”
“I can’t believe you’ve done this, Kal. You know you’re going to have to tell him.”
“No.” He shakes his head vehemently. “Absolutely not. It’ll kill him.”
Keaton appears on the patio, gesturing us forward with a flourish of his hands.
“Kal, he’s plotting revenge on her, and she’s clearly up to no good. This mess could get so much worse if he isn’t aware of the full facts. You can’t keep him in the dark.”
“Shit.” He turns a sickly shade of green. “You might be right.” He stops, grasping my arm. “But I need to think it through. Please promise me you won’t say anything to him. Not yet. Until I try and figure it out.”
“I won’t, but you have to promise me that youwilltell him.”
He nods, and we start walking again. “One other thing, is something going on with you and Lana?”
“Where’d you get that harebrained idea?” He looks perplexed.
“Call it intuition.”
“Well, your intuition needs some fine tuning. There is absolutely nothing going on with Lana and me.” His stride picks up, and I have to walk-jog to keep up with him, effectively ending further conversation.
Argumentative voices are waiting to greet us, and we both exchange guarded expressions. Alex is sitting stiffly on a leather recliner in the living room. Kent is staring moodily out the window, and Keaton’s foot taps nervously off the ground from his position on the couch. All three heads swivel in our direction. “What are they arguing over this time?” Kalvin asks, his gaze fixed on his mother.
She massages her temples. “Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t think they even need a reason anymore.” She brings a glass of wine to her lips.
Kalvin looks concerned. “Mom, I don’t think—”
She cuts him off dead. “I do not want or need a lecture from you, of all people, on the evils of drinking. It’s either do this”—she lifts her glass, swirling it in the air—“or go out there and bash their heads together.”
Kalvin’s jaw flexes. “Fine, bury your head in the sand. I’m going to find out what’s going on.”
I race after him. “Don’t get involved. Trust me.”
He whirls to face me. “You know what it is?”
“I…” I clam up.
Snarling, he strides with renewed purpose toward the lobby. I catch up with him as Kyler comes bounding down the mezzanine stairs with a face like thunder. Grabbing his jacket, he storms outside without looking at either one of us. The door slams violently in his wake. The telltale roar of an engine can be heard screeching down the driveway a minute later.
Kalvin starts climbing the stairs, two at a time, with a look of fierce determination on his face. Kaden blocks his path at the top. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“The hell it doesn’t!” Kalvin yells. “I’m part of this family too.”
“Son,” James says, appearing at Kaden’s back. “It’s only a silly argument.” He tugs at his ear in an obvious tell. “There’s no need to make a bigger deal of it. Let it go.”
