Page 150 of Kaden & Keegan
Then they were in the kitchen, he and Keegan sitting in the small breakfast area while Bristol stood at the end of the table
“What’s different in here?” Keegan asked, looking around the space.
Bristol motioned behind her. “I’ve cleaned off the countertops.”
Sure enough, they were empty. Her toaster oven was no longer there, as well as whatever knickknacks he’d seen. He couldn’t remember what they were, but he did know there had been some.
“We’re using paper plates today,” she announced. “Because I’ve packed up all the dishes.”
That got their attention. At the same time, they said, “Packed?”
That glow dimmed momentarily as Bristol stared back at them. Kaden could see the uncertainty on her face even as she squared her shoulders.
“Perhaps I’ve jumped the gun,” she said quickly, her gaze swinging back and forth between them. “But I’ve donated the majority of my stuff to the church. I mean, the furniture and whatnot. I didn’t think we’d need it.”
We?
“I know I’ve been impossible this past month and definitely this past week and I am so sorry,” she continued. “Neither of you deserved that. I’d like to blame it on hormones, but we all know better than that. I was a coward.”
Kaden could only stare at her, her words, spoken in that raspy twang that he loved, bounced around in his head as he attempted to make sense of them.
“It took me screwin’ everything up to realize how much of a chicken I was being. And I don’t wanna be that girl.” She stood taller, straighter. “I’m strong, independent, and I don’t back down. At least not when it comes to the important things.”
Kaden realized he was holding his breath in anticipation.
“Considering the two of you are the most important things in my life, you deserve so much better.”
“Bristol, you—”
She held up her hand, cutting Keegan off before he could finish. Kaden held his tongue, too.
“And I want to be what you deserve,” she said softly. “I love you. Both of you. I probably have for a really long time now. First as friends, now as more. And I refuse to be the one to screw that up. If, you know, I haven’t done that already.”
“What are you sayin’?” Keegan asked, getting to his feet and stepping toward her.
Kaden feared he would crumple to the floor if he tried to stand, so he remained where he was.
“That I’m sorry. That I love you. That I want the three of us—” She paused to put her hand on her belly. “Fourof us … to share a life together. I’ve been stuck in the past for too long, scared to make a ripple in the pond. I’ve gotten so used to routine, to the mundane, I didn’t dare think there could be more for me out there. And then I met the two of you and I was”—Bristol smiled—“smitten.”
Kaden swallowed hard, stood, then took a tentative step toward her to see if he’d remain upright.
He did. That was good.
He took another. And another.
Bristol tipped her head back to maintain eye contact as they both approached her. “If the offer still stands, I’d like for us to move on with our lives. Together.”
“Everything?” Kaden asked.
Bristol nodded. “Everything. Movin’ in together, marriage if you want it.” She smiled shyly. “The whole nine yards.”
“Christ Almighty, woman,” Keegan groaned, pulling her into him as he hugged her tightly.
Kaden waited patiently while Keegan kissed her, a passionate endeavor that took far longer than Kaden wanted it to. But then his brother was stepping back and Kaden was stepping up to her. He pulled her into his arms, hugged her tightly, and let the emotion roll through him. He was shaking, he knew he was, and figured Bristol realized it too. But if she did, she didn’t say anything.
“I love you,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve always loved you.”
She made a sound, something like a half sob, half laugh, and he held her tighter, grateful when her arms banded around him.
