Page 107 of Moto
37
Reese
Ipace Kayla’s condo, crumbling one tiny piece at a time.
I have called and texted until my fingers bled with no reply. All I keep seeing is that devastated look in her eyes. The betrayal and the hurt. She’s right; I married her under false pretenses because I was afraid. I’m always afraid. Afraid of losing everything and becoming nothing. Without Kayla, I’m nothing. I feel the deterioration already setting in from just our brief separation.
I breathe her the way I breathe racing. The two have become one. A single entity.
A provisional piece of perfection.
But I know better than anyone, perfection doesn’t last. It’s a passing moment, a heartbeat in time.
A knock on the front door has me sprinting to answer it. “Kayla?”
“No, not Kayla.” Sam is standing on the other side. Arms crossed, a perturbed look on her face. “She didn’t show for lunch.”
She pushes past me into the condo. “Have any idea where she might be?”
“I don’t. But I wish I did.” I follow her into the kitchen.
“Trouble in paradise already?” she asks affronted.
I grind my teeth. “A bit of a lover’s quarrel,” I extend. The last thing I want is to get anyone else involved in my personal matters. At least until Kayla and I can smooth things over.If she ever comes back.I boot the niggling thought away.
“Isn’t this supposed to be the honeymoon phase?” It’s clear Sam isn’t happy about our shotgun wedding.
“We’re human. We fight.”
“Uh-huh,” she replies unconvinced. Sam’s resemblance to Kayla is uncanny. It’s like looking twenty years into the future.
“Do you have an opinion? Or are you just going to stand there and make passive-aggressive comments?”
Sam’s dark eyes sharpen. “Kayla ismyniece, and this isherhouse, so I can do whatever the hell I want. And if I feel like making passive-aggressive comments at the man she just up and married, I will.”
“Well, Kayla ismywife, which means I have all the same liberties. So if you don’t want to play nice, leave a note and get the hell out. Because I’m not going anywhere.” Look, I get she’s pissed. Sam’s animosity is warranted. She was never a fan of Kayla being in a relationship with me and Dev. But she has no idea what transpired between the three of us. No idea about the love we shared or the heartbreak Kayla endured. Sam raised her, and she feels entitled. I empathize. Now that I’m going to become a father, the responsibility is all I can think about. The protection and my duty to keep that child safe. And its mother.
But what’s done is done. So either accept it or keep walking. We’re married, and it’s going to stay that way.
I hope.
Before Sam can shoot back a catty response, a weary looking Kayla walks through the front door.
We both straighten for different reasons. Me, apprehensive, Sam, pissed off.
“Where have you been?” Sam demands right off the bat.
Kayla’s tired gaze jumps between us. “I . . . I was with Dev.”
Both Sam and I share the same bewildered look, again for different reasons.
“What is going on, Kayla? You are married now.” Her tone is accusing.
“It’s not what you think. I just needed to talk to someone.” She steals a look at me.
“You can talk to me.” Sam steps forward, her steely resolve wavering.
I just stand there, eyeing Kayla, my ailing heart shrinking rapidly. She was with Dev. Troublesome thoughts get the better of me. Now that she knows the truth, she’s running right back to him. I mask my despondency as my core combat response surfaces. I know how much she loves Dev. It may be more than she loves me. They’ve always had a stronger emotional connection. Regardless, I’m not letting her go. If Dev wants her, he’ll have to fight for her. She’s my wife, and that’s my child. And I don’t give up what’s mine so easily.
