Page 82 of Finding Kyler
“Courtney.” His loud sigh hints at exasperation. “Not now.”
“Or not ever?” I don’t need to see her face to imagine the angry look on it.
“We’ll talk this weekend.”
Ky flattens his back against the wall, holding me flush against his body when they appear at the bottom of the stairs. His hand moves to my hair, and his fingers weave in and out of the thick strands.
“I love you,” Courtney states breathlessly. I clamp my lips shut, muzzling my disgust. Kyler tightens his hold on me, and his entire body is one solid, stress-laden mass of pent-up rage. My face is pressed into his neck, and his scent is driving me insane with desire, so I don’t hear James’ reply, if there is one. The door snicks shut and footsteps ascend the stairs as James disappears into his office.
I lean back and stare at Ky. All manner of emotions is skittering across his face. I cup his face, asking the most universally stupid question ever. “Are you okay?”
Squeezing his eyes shut, he shakes his head. When he reopens them, his gaze has transformed. Prickles spring up all over my skin. Ky moves me to the side and purposefully storms toward the front door. My eyes pop wide as I dash after him.
Courtney is reversing the car when I step outside. She curls her hand around the gear stick, preparing to leave, when she notices Ky making a beeline for her. Ky’s poisonous glare is enough to give the game away. A smug smile dances across her lips as she primly tucks her hair behind her ears. I wrap my hand around his biceps, urging him back inside. “Don’t. You’re playing right into her hands.” She’s enjoying this, and I don’t want to give her the satisfaction.
His fists are clenched so tightly the skin on his knuckles blanches white. “She’s trying to destroy my family.”
I plant myself in front of him, forcing him to focus on me. “This isn’t the way to fight back.” I gently place one hand on his chest. “Let her go. Come back inside.”
Courtney’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “Say hi to Addison,” she calls out gleefully as she shoves the car into gear and screeches off down the driveway.
“Ky.” I wave a hand in front of his face as he stares, dazed, after the departing car. “Please come back inside.”
His gaze is fixated on Courtney, and there’s deadly precision in his eyes. “She’s lucky she’s a woman. That I can’t lay a hand on her.”
He lets me pull him back into the house. James is at the bottom of the stairs with a frozen look on his face. Kyler drops my hand and lunges at his father, thrusting his fist in his face. James doesn’t fight back at first, and Kyler continues to land blows on his face and torso. I spring into action, wrapping my arms around his waist and tugging him back. “Stop, Ky.” He tries to shake me free, but I keep my arms locked firmly around his body.
“Kyler. Please.” James holds up a hand. “I can explain.”
“You disgust me.” I feel the fight leave his body, and I remove my hold on him. Kyler steps back, leaning against the balustrade. “You promised you were going to end things. But that was a lie, wasn’t it, Dad? You have no intention of finishing with her. Are you going to leave Mom for her?”
James climbs to his feet and faces his son. “No. I’ll never leave your mom. I’ll make this right, but you need to let me do this my way. There are things you aren’t privy to, and believe me or not, I’m doing what I can to protect this family.”
Ky’s jaw flexes in and out, and I can tell he’s close to breaking point. “I meant what I said earlier. If you don’t tell Mom, I will. I’m not going to stand by and watch you turn her into a joke. How many other employees has Courtney told about your affair? How many people work side by side with Mom every day knowing her husband is fucking her assistant?” His voice raises a few octaves until he’s yelling. “Have you given her any consideration at all?”
“Of course, I’ve thought about your mother!” He rakes a hand through his hair. “I’m not proud of myself.”
“It all makes sense now.” Ky flicks his hand in the air. “The hair, and the clothes, going out every night, acting like you’re young, free, and single again. Did she put you up to it, or are you stupid enough to think that it’d be enough to keep a slut like Courtney interested when you’re past your sell by date?”
“That’s enough, Ky. I know I’m in the wrong here, but I’m still your father, and this is my house. You will act respectfully or not speak at all.” James surreptitiously nods in my direction.
“This is Mom’s house. You haven’t worked a day in your life. And like I told you before, I’ll give you respect if you ever earn it. But until then”—he puts his face right into his dad’s—“you don’t get to tell me what to do.” He grabs his jacket and storms outside, rattling the door in his wake.
“I bet you regret moving here now,” James says quietly.
“It’s not like I had much choice,” I answer honestly.
“I’ve ruined my relationship with all of them.” He hangs his head in shame, and as I look at his sorry ass, anger starts to boil inside me.
“Get over yourself, James.” His head jerks up at my stern tone. “I’m not going to indulge your self-pity. You made this mess, and it’s up to you to fix it.”
“I’m trying.”
I step toward him until we’re toe-to-toe. “No. You’re not. We heard you arranging to meet her this weekend. Ky was right. You have no intention of ending things with her. At least be honest with yourself.” I let him see every ounce of disgust on my face, and at least he has the decency to look ashamed. “Do you still love Alex?”
“Of course, I do! She’s the one who’s turned her back on me.” A pained look flits across his features.
“I don’t need to know the intimate details, and I’m hardly an expert, but honesty is the cornerstone of trust. You can’t have one without the other. If you’re not being honest, then the trust is gone too. Is that why Alex looks so sad all the time?”
