Page 178 of Forgotten Prejudice

“I’m going to come clean and tell him that we slept together,” I said, my body already tightening with anxiety and fear over Kai’s anticipated reaction.

Soren grabbed my hand, softly stroking my skin with his thumb, and I wondered when his touch turned this warm. After all, he used to be my winter.

“If it helps, I think he already knows.”

Soren was probably right. Kai wasn’t an idiot, and I was a lousy liar. He’d probably realized something was going on, and this awful dinner was his attempt to get back at Soren. It was petty and childish but suited Kai’s character.

“We’re not having kids, by the way. He brought up this crazy idea, and I—”

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Ashton. You have every right to want a family.”

But I want it with you, not him. That was the first thought that came into my head, and it scared me. It scared me because I wasn’t ready to break Kai’s heart, nor was I prepared to fall back in love with Soren. Although, I was afraid it was already too late for the latter.

“Maybe you should delay your flight by a few days? You’re not in any condition to travel.” I blatantly changed the subject, hoping it would ease the amount of guilt twisting my gut.

“I’ll be fine by Sunday.”

Disappointment took over me, and my heart sank because I’d hoped to have a few more days with him.

“Who will take care of you there if something happens?”

Soren laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. “If I need help, I’ll just give you a call.” He smiled, but it was all goofy and lazy, as if he was on the verge of dozing off again. I wanted to cover him up and let him sleep when he kept mumbling. “Just make sure my number isn’t blocked.”

“What do you mean?” I asked after I got up to tuck him under the blanket.

Soren yawned, burying his head in the pillow. “You know…” Another yawn. “Like it was back then.”

“When have I ever blocked your number?” I asked, my eyes narrowed down on him.

Soren half opened his eyes.

“What?” He sounded so confused, and I assumed he was so tired that he had no clue what he’d just mumbled.

“It’s nothing. Go to sleep.” I leaned close and kissed his forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Ready to move, Soren grabbed my hand, holding me close.

“Don’t fly away, little Sparrow. Stay with me,” he whispered ever so gently, his words falling to my ears like a prayer, coating my soul with the love I’d forgotten. Finally happy that he was telling me what he truly wanted, I didn’t leave; instead, I stripped down to my boxer briefs and climbed onto the bed with him.

I snuggled close to him, my arms wrapped around his already sleeping body. He was so warm and soft, the man I had loved for years, but only slightly different. As I closed my eyes and pressed my lips to his neck, gently kissing him, I knew that tomorrow, I’d have hard decisions to face.

I wasn’t even out of my truck when the front door to the house slammed open, and Kai came out running toward me.

“Where have you been?” he asked, both of his hands clenching the truck’s door as he leaned through the open window, not giving me any space.

With eyes heavy with sleep, I turned off the engine, still not looking at him. Since my head was flooded with thoughts, I’d barely had any sleep last night.

Kai opened the car door at the same time I unbuckled myself. “Give me some space to breathe,” I asked of him because he was practically in my face.

I climbed out of the truck, and of course, he was already onto me.

“Not until you tell me where the fuck you were, Ashy.”

I lifted my gaze from the ground to meet his furious face. His eyes were bloodshot red, with dark circles underneath them. Shit. He looked even worse than I did.

“I stayed with Soren after you nearly killed him,” I hissed with venom as I started to walk toward the house. On top of all the other crap I had to deal with, the weather was especially shitty today. It rained through the whole night, and judging by the dark clouds covering the sky, it was probably about to start pouring again.

“I didn’t poison him!” Kai shouted from behind me.

Jeez. He’d wake the whole house.