Chapter 26 Kennedy #2
But maybe…maybe we needed to go back to the rules. They were a hefty reminder of what was at stake. This was the real world, and if there was one thing that always messed things up, it was mixing business with pleasure.
My chest tightened at the thought. I didn’t want to do it, but what other choice did we have? Whatever tension lingered in the air, I didn’t want it to be there any longer. Or worse, I didn’t want to lose the weird friendship we had—if you could even call it that.
“Henry,” I whispered as I placed my legs beneath me and faced him. “We need to talk about the rules.”
He stared at the TV that was playing a random sitcom, refusing to meet my gaze. “What about them?”
“I want to preface, I don’t regret what happened.” It’s the only thing I’ve managed to think about, was what I almost said. But that was beside the point. “I believe we can be adults and admit we had a need we wanted to scratch, so we acted on it.”
His laugh was short and held no humor. “Is that what we’re calling it? A scratch?”
“What else would you call it?” I snapped, then I shut my eyes with a sigh. This was already not going well. “We had a nice time tonight on our fake date, so why don’t we try to move—”
“You and that goddamn word,” he growled, his frustration evident.
“What?” I frowned.
Three beats passed, the only sounds filling the silence were the fake laughter from the sitcom and Henry’s heaving chest.
His eyes met mine. They were stormy. Wanting. Needing.
My core tightened, and the beat of my heart drummed in my throat. Wild and painful.
His hands found the back of my neck, and he collided our lips in a rough kiss.
I moaned at the possessive hold he had on me and the way his tongue grazed my bottom lip, demanding an entrance I so easily gave him.
He tasted malty and smoky, with a hint of the sour orange that was so indistinctively his.
I threaded my fingers through his perfectly styled hair and brought him closer to me, desperately trying to tether myself to the moment.
My lungs burned from the lack of oxygen, and my lips were numb from how aggressive we were being, like the kiss was meant to be punishing, and we needed it to hurt.
Dilated pupils met mine when he stopped the kiss abruptly.
“Does this fucking feel fake to you, Kennedy?” His breath was ragged, making his chest rise and fall in quick succession.
His hand traveled from my neck to the curve of my breast, all the way down to my hip, where he gripped.
“Because I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of pretending. ”
My breath hitched. “Henry—”
“No,” he said, roughly. “Let me finish.”
I nodded, giving him a silent go-ahead.
“We tried to play by your rules, but the truth is, everything changed since that night. And I tried to pretend I was fine to go back to how things were, but I can’t. Okay? Not anymore.”
Time moved painfully slow, and every thump of my heart drowned everything around me.
All I could focus on was him. The way his eyes pinned me in place with silent desperation.
The way his throat bobbed like this was excruciating.
And I supposed it was, considering how my body trembled with bone-deep fear and euphoria all at the same time. God, I wanted him. I so wanted him.
Was this it?
Was this the moment when everything would take the turn I hadn’t expected, but deep down wished for?
“I like how fearless you are. I like how you’re trying to make a difference in the world and show little girls that anything is possible.
” His fingertips traced the freckles on my cheeks.
“I like your freckles.” He traced my nose.
“I like the little lines that form at the top of your nose when you make a funny face.”
A wobbly laugh escaped me, but it quickly died when his thumb brushed my bottom lip softly.
“I like the strawberry-flavored lip gloss you wear that makes your lips look fuller.” He twirled a piece of my hair around his index finger.
“I like your curls.” His eyes met mine with a knowing smile.
“I’m fucking obsessed with your eyes and the intensity of them.
” Both of his hands cradled my face, forcing me to stare at him as he whispered, “I like all of you, Kennedy Jones. And I’m tired of pretending I don’t.
” His voice was thick and lacked control.
Like the words had been caged in his chest for far too long, and they had finally clawed their way out.
A million little fireflies danced across every one of my nerve endings, lighting me from the inside out.
Relief washed over me like the tide finally coming home to shore.
Another part of me, the one who was constantly scared, the one who pushed everyone away, questioned if this was truly a good thing.
I fiddled with my fingers and nibbled my bottom lip, trying to settle my nerves. “Are…are you sure about this?”
He huffed a laugh. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the day you walked through those arena doors three years ago.” The way he stared at me was like he was trying to pry my soul open and read me. “But I understand if you want to take things slow.”
My heart contracted in my chest. What could I possibly say to that? He read me so easily, without judgment. No one had ever known these parts of me, the insecure parts. And there was something about Henry… It was so easy to be myself. To not be scared.
I took a deep breath, mulling over my words. Did I want to try? Yes. But another part of me, the one I fought every day, was hesitant. I was engaged for three years, and I lost myself in the process. Could I take this sort of risk again? Was it even possible?
He’s not asking to marry you, for God’s sake. Just take it one day at a time, my brain whispered.
I mean, this was Henry. He was a lot of things, but he wasn’t Joe. He’d proven that over and over again.
“We can take it slow?” I asked, unsure.
He interlaced our hands together. The warmth of his skin against mine made my heart beat a bit too fast. It was incredible how he managed to be both comforting and thrilling. “Absolutely. We’ll keep it casual. Anything you want. But, please, give us a chance, yeah?”
I gave him a soft smile and nodded. Gosh, my heart wanted to explode from excitement and relief. This was good—amazing, even—and I was determined to take it one day at a time.
He let out a huge sigh of relief and draped one of his arms around me. I rested my head on his chest, letting the wild beats of his heart and the scent that had started to smell like home relax me.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For being so patient.”
“I never want to hear you thank me for doing the bare minimum, Kennedy. Or anyone else, for that matter. This isn’t me doing you a favor.
” He gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“This is me seeing you for all you’re worth and being more than willing to wait.
Even if this doesn’t go anywhere, never settle, okay? ”
His words hit something deep within me. It was like a huge, heavy rock was being lifted off my shoulders, letting me properly breathe and think for once. Was this how it felt to be seen for who I was? To be accepted with faults and all?
A watery laugh bubbled out of me. “Okay.”
“That’s my girl,” he rasped through a smile.
Without another word, we both stayed on the couch, sharing a blanket and watching silly sitcoms until I couldn’t fight the heaviness of my eyes and fell asleep with my head resting on his lap.