Page 147 of Fighting Chance

“Did you tell someone?”

Kieran’s tongue darts out, swiping along his bottom lip before he quickly dips his chin. The movement is short and quick, so subtle in fact that if I wasn’t watching him vehemently, I never would have caught it.

“And they didn’t do anything?”

A tear rolls down his cheek. He makes no move to wipe it away as he laughs, the sound jarring and blunt. “I was told that good boys need to act like men and not tell lies.”

Another tear rolls down his cheek, his heartbreak on full display.

“I put it to rest a long time ago, put those memories in a box and did my best to never look at them. I could accept not getting justice for my pain. I could…stomach it,” he says, but the grimace tells me he doesn’t believe what he’s saying.

Deep down, he’s still that little boy wishing someone would hear him.

He takes a shuddering breath. “But Emmy? My sweet girl? Where is her justice? Her mom is dead. She can’t be held accountable, can’t be punished for the horrific shit she put her through and…what? I’m supposed to just go on with my life and be okay with it all?”

“Never.”

He turns to me then, his eyes a storm of rough seas and turbulence. Of such raw pain it steals my breath.

“You keep doing what you are. Keep giving Emmy a voice, a safe home that will combat the memories of her early years, and continue to show her what it means to be loved.” Sighing, I relent, “The justice of it, though… You’re right Kieran you can’t get it for her. You can’t hold her mom responsible, and I’d be lying if I said I think you can get past that. There will probably be days where it eats you alive and others where you’re just grateful you have Emmy with you.”

“I hate that they’re never held responsible…that no one ever listens.”

“I listen.” I squeeze his hand. “I’ll always listen and believe you, Kieran.”

He blinks, surprise flickering there. “I haven’t even told you what happened though.”

“I don’t need to know to believe you. I know who you are, I know what type of man you are, and I know your character. You’d never lie, and whoever told you that you were a liar is despicable.”

“You called me a liar once.”

My eyes shutter close, lips thinning. “And I hate myself for it.”

His rough calloused fingers brush across my cheek, drawing my eyes open. “Hey, you didn’t know, it’s okay.”

“It’s not okay.” I hope he sees the truth in my eyes. “I knew you weren’t a liar, I just—” Biting my lip, I decide to confess, “When Bella started working for Grayson and they were doing the PR relationship, I kept an eye on the bunny sites…”

Kieran’s brows flick up. “That makes sense then.”

“You’re on there a lot, Kieran, and I hate to admit it, but I just believed it all. So when you told me you hadn’t been with anyone…I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. That was wrong.”

Shrugging, he runs his free hand through his hair. “I wouldn’t have believed me either. I promise, it’s fine, Layla.”

“It’s not, though. It hit a nerve that night and now I know why and I’m so sorry.”

The tension lining his shoulders seems to loosen, our hands remaining intertwined as he rubs his thumb back and forth along the back of my hand.

“Thank you for apologizing.” Groaning to himself, he murmurs, “Her therapist is going to have a field day when I call her tomorrow.” Rolling onto his side to face me fully, he lets go of our hands to brush a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. “Thank you…for staying and for talking through this all with me.” He offers a rueful smile. “Though, I have to be honest, sunshine, I’m feeling raw here. I’ve told you things no one knows. Care to even the playing field?”

Rolling onto my side with a smile stretched taut across my cheeks I tease. “Trying to coax another confession from my list?”

“Always,” he toys.

The heaviness of our conversation still lingers but it isn’t as thick as it was. Kieran has this way about him, this magical quality to turn even the darkest of moments into something light, and I don’t think he’s even aware of how special it is.

“Come on, sunshine, my heart just bled. Give me something to look forward to.”

Biting my bottom lip, I can’t hold back my grin. “I’ll give you something better.” Sitting up, I feel his gaze on me as I locate myphone. I quickly type out the text and hit send. A moment later, Kieran’s phone buzzes from somewhere in the living room.