Page 21 of Losing Kyler
“You think she’s going to dump you because of everything that’s going on with the fam?” My brows nudge up.
He shrugs. “I know I probably would.”
I poke his ribs with my elbow. “Give the girl some credit. If she didn’t dump you today, I’d say you’re fine on that score.”
Lines crease his forehead as he thinks about that. “Hhm. Maybe you’re right.” He looks at me strangely.
“What?”
“I, uh, I owe you an apology.” He looks embarrassed.
“For what?”
“For the way I behaved in Nantucket.”
Understanding washes over me. When Keaton had discovered Ky and I kissing, he hadn’t taken the news of our relationship well. He’d been distinctly frosty in the following days. “You already apologized. Besides, you were perfectly entitled to react as you did.”
“That’s the thing,” he says, turning into me so our knees brush. “I shouldn’t have reacted all judgy like that. I’m ashamed that I was so closed off. I didn’t think that was the kind of person I am. I don’t want to be like that.”
Not that it matters, at the moment, because Ky and I may be over before we’ve even begun, but my natural curiosity is piqued. “Whydidyou react like that?”
He tilts his chin up until he’s eyeballing me. “This is going to sound so immature but … I was jealous.” My eyes pop wide. “Hells, not like that!! That didn’t come out right.” He laughs nervously. “I thought we were friends, and I liked that we’d bonded in a way you hadn’t with my brothers.” His cheeks stain a darker shade of red. “Then you started spending more time with Ky, and I was already annoyed over that because I wasn’t seeing as much of you. When I realized why, and what was going on between you, I … I was hurt and upset. I thought it meant that you wouldn’t have time to hang with me anymore.”
He drops his head, clearly ashamed, but I’m glad he got that off his chest. I close the gap between us and pull him into my arms, hugging him to death. “Oh, Keaton. You little idiot.” I muss up his hair. “I’ll always make time for you, and I won’t ever forget how much you helped me settle in. You will always have a very special place in my heart.” I kiss the top of his head before pulling back. His blushing is out of control, and it’s so sweet. I love that he still has this fresh-faced innocence about him and a heart brimming with goodness. It’s a vast contrast to Kent who is completely the other side of the spectrum and Keanu who is still a total enigma—I haven’t sussed out his personality yet. They may be triplets, but they couldn’t be any more different if they purposely tried.
I smile at him. “When I was growing up, I hated that I didn’t have any siblings or any other family to call my own. I had my parents driven demented asking for a baby brother or sister until my mum sat me down and explained she couldn’t have any more children.” An icy layer grabs a hold of my heart as the pleasantness of my memory is tainted with the knowledge of her deceit. But I force it aside, because this is about making Keaton feel better; this isn’t about me.
“When I imagined having a little brother, this is what I imagined it would be like.” I gesture between us. “You’re like the brother I always wished for, Keaton, and nothing or no one will ever change that.” My voice chokes as the words register in my brain. Keaton looks like he might burst with happiness.
Keaton isn’t justlikemy brother; he very well maybemy brother.
Blinding lights go off in my mind.Wow. I hadn’t thought of it like that before. I’ve been so consumed at the prospect of losing Kyler, and sick over what mum and James did, that I hadn’t even considered what I’d be gaining in this situation. It doesn’t lessen the blow, or ease the heartfelt pain, but it does help put certain things in perspective.
Mum may have given me my siblings after all—just not in the way she envisaged.
“What’s all this?” Ky strides into the kitchen like he owns it. Keaton is unloading the groceries while I’ve made a start on dinner.
“What’s it look like, ass face?” Keaton playfully shoves his brother. “Faye and I went shopping because there was nothing to eat in the house.”
“How did you pay for it?” Ky asks, leaning back against the counter.
I stir fresh basil into my homemade tomato sauce. “I put it on the card your mom gave me.”
He pulls a wad of notes out of his pocket, offering it to me. “Here. Does that cover it?”
I swat his hand away. “I don’t want your money. I covered it.” It’s not as if it’s my money I used anyway, so there’s no need to big-deal it.
He frowns again. “I’ll get another bankcard off Mom for groceries so you don’t have to use your own money in future.” I don’t bother arguing as I don’t have time, but it’s blatantly obvious that my views on money differ greatly from my cousins.
“About that.” I scoop the meatballs onto the tray and place them into the oven. “I don’t mind helping out short term, but I’m going to have swim practice most days after school from next week, and with my shifts in the diner and homework, it doesn’t leave much time for housework.” I stretch my stiff back as I straighten up. “I don’t mind helping out as much as I can, but I’m not going to be able to look after this entire house singlehandedly.”
“Of course, and no one expects you to. I’ll talk to Mom and see if she’s done anything to find a new housekeeper, and in the meantime, everyone can help out with chores.”
“Sounds good, thanks.” I busy myself removing a saucepan from the press and filling it with water. Anything to avoid looking at him. Not that it makes much of a difference because the usual tingly charge electrifies the space between us. You could lead me blindfolded into a room, and I’d be able to detect Ky’s presence in a heartbeat. So far, our plan to stay out of one another’s way isn’t working so smoothly. In a house this size, it should be doable, but his presence looms large, and there doesn’t seem to be any getting away from that.
“Where should I put this, sis?” Keaton asks, holding up a bag of rice. I almost choke on a cough, and Ky’s eyes dart wide in alarm.
“Over there.” I point at a cupboard on the left, and he scurries off to stow it away.
