Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
U2, “WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”
Eve
I partially dried my hair, put on a pink sweat suit, and grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to eat on my way to Kyle’s. Just as I opened the door, my parents and Gabby were opening the screen door.
“Oh. Are you sure you’re feeling better?” Mom asked.
I didn’t make eye contact with her. I just nodded, squeezing past them.
Gabby cleared her throat, and I shot her a scowl.
“Anne said you don’t need to spend the night. Once Josh is asleep, you can come home.”
“Yeah, I’ll see,” I said.
“There’s no place for you to sleep except for the sofa,” she added as I walked toward the fence.
When I arrived, Josh was in his jammies, running around the kitchen as Clifford chased him.
“Eve!” Josh ran to me with Clifford right behind him.
“Oof!” I grunted. He nearly knocked me over, hugging my waist. I picked him up and avoided eye contact with Anne and Fred. “Ready to read a book?” I asked, kissing his pink cheek.
“Thanks for doing this,” Fred said. “He’s taken quite the liking to you.”
“Yeah, well, I spend a lot of time with Mr. Munchkin.” I quickly headed toward the stairs.
“Shh!” Josh held his little finger to his lips when I set him down. “Daddy’s sleeping.”
I couldn’t safely carry him up the stairs. I needed to hold the handrail just for good measure. Giving him a smile, I nodded before following his lead.
“You need to go potty before we read a book,” I whispered.
Josh hurried into the bathroom, partially shutting the door, but not before Clifford squeezed in behind him.
That dog was his shadow. And I was grateful that my dad had stopped pestering me to find him a different home.
I listened for Anne and Fred before cracking open Kyle’s door. The lights were out, and he was on his back with his injured arm in the sling, hugged to his stomach. He didn’t speak or move, so I assumed he was asleep. When the toilet flushed, I closed the door.
Josh bolted toward his bedroom.
“Wash your—” I gave up, not caring if he washed his hands.
“This one,” Josh said, holding up a book.
I nodded toward his bed and tucked him in before sitting beside him. He hugged my waist and stared at each page. Halfway through, he fell asleep. I set the book on the nightstand and shut off the light. As I slid out of bed, Josh stirred and reached for me, so I squeezed into his single bed along with Clifford at our feet, hugged him to me, and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, I slipped out of Josh’s room and tiptoed down the stairs with Clifford. “Oh!” I startled, walking into the kitchen and letting Clifford out back to go potty. “Good morning.” I quickly combed my fingers through my hair. “I didn’t think anyone else was up.”
“Good morning. We weren’t sure you’d stay. Sleeping in a single bed with Josh couldn’t have been comfortable,” Anne said, sipping a cup of coffee. “Kyle made it clear last night that he doesn’t want us to stay or his parents to come help him. So …” She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “We’re leaving after Josh gets up. Your parents promised to keep an eye on things. Kyle shouldn’t be driving, but since it’s his left arm that’s injured, he thinks he’ll be fine. That man is stubborn to a fault.”
I couldn’t say much. Everyone thought the same thing about me.
“We really can’t thank you enough for all you've done for Kyle and Josh. You’re very mature for your age,” Fred said, glancing up from the newspaper.
With a tight smile, I nodded. “Josh is irresistible. I adore him.” I twisted my lips. “Kyle is nice too. He taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow.”
And he built me a new hut.
Too bad I was his bad decision.
“He won’t be shooting that bow anytime soon,” Fred mumbled.
Anne eyed him with a frown. “Because he saved your friend.”
“Morning,” Kyle’s gravelly voice sounded behind me.
I swallowed before glancing over my shoulder. His jogging shorts hung low on his waist, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. His gaze flitted between me and his brother.
“How are you feeling?” Anne asked.
Kyle winced while reaching for a glass.
“Let me help—” Anne started to say.
“I got it,” he mumbled, setting it in the sink and then turning on the faucet.
Anne and Fred exchanged tiny eye rolls, and I let Clifford inside.
“Might be time to take something for the pain,” Fred suggested.
“Makes me too drowsy,” Kyle said before drinking the entire glass of water.
“I think resting is a good idea,” Fred replied, narrowing his eyes.
“I have a child. Sleeping during the day isn’t a good idea. I don’t need to close my eyes to rest.”
“Well, as soon as Josh wakes, we’re taking off.” Anne put her coffee mug into the dishwasher.
I wanted to slowly back away and run out the front door. The tension was thick.
“Thanks for visiting. He’s enjoyed having you here,” Kyle said.
“I fear our visit is what caused your accident,” Fred said. “Had we not visited, I wouldn’t have suggested Peter and I go hunting with you.”
“Bones heal.” Kyle set his glass on the counter.
“Let’s finish packing, honey.” Fred pushed back in his chair. “Josh should be up soon.”
Anne followed him to the stairs.
I waited a few seconds before risking a glance in Kyle’s direction.
“Eve,” he said.
That was it. Just my name accompanied by an indistinguishable look.
Was he angry that I was there?
Waiting for me to explain myself?
Expecting an apology for being his poor decision?
“Mr. Collins,” I said, keeping a neutral expression.
His head slowly cocked to the side. “Are you done pouting?”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Maybe.”
“You think I act like a child, but let’s remember that I’m eighteen. You’re stubbornly refusing help from your family. You’re twenty-eight. You have a son. You should know better. So what’s your excuse?”
“I’m not stubbornly refusing anything. I simply don’t need their help.”
“Are you sure? Because last I heard, you’ve been making poor decisions .”
“I was referencing the past. You took it personally and ran off before I could explain.”
“Oh, that’s right. I’m not a poor decision. I’m the woman you’re testing—trying to decide if I’m worth the trouble that our relationship will cause.”
“It’s not just me, Eve.”
I shrugged. “Josh loves me. Anne and Fred thought he loved them, but last night, it was me who he wanted when you couldn’t put him to bed. You don’t have an issue with kicking your family out. So what is it? My family? The teachers at the school? Are you secretly embarrassed to be with me? I get it. I’m ten years younger. Devil’s Head thrives on gossip. Just stop lying to me.”
“Fine. Tell them about us when they come back downstairs,” he said.
“Me?” I narrowed my eyes. “Why me?”
“Because you want everyone to know. So tell them.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and tipped my chin up. “Fine. I will.”
“Okay,” he said, turning to fill a mug with coffee.
My confidence felt overinflated, like at any moment, it could pop and vanish into nothing.
“Eve!” Josh ran toward me in his dinosaur jammies.
“Morning, cutie.” I hugged him just as Fred and Anne reached the bottom of the stairs with their bags.
Gulp .
“Well, we’re taking off,” Fred announced.
My gaze shot to Kyle. He sipped his coffee with his backside leaning against the counter.
“Bye, honey. Take care of yourself, and don’t be too prideful to call if you need anything,” Anne said, giving Kyle a side hug.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Love you, brother.” Fred gave him the same awkward one-arm hug.
“Love you too,” Kyle replied. “Oh, Eve has something she wants to tell you.”
My heart slammed against my rib cage, and my mouth dried up like a late July drought.
Fred and Anne looked at me expectantly while Josh hugged Kyle.
It was a test. He didn’t think I’d tell them. But what if I did? Would he admit that he loved me too?
I had the chance to build the fence. Be brave. Risk everything for love like my sister Sarah did. But she knew she had someone’s love. Kyle hadn’t given me that. So I stood among his family with my heart on the verge of being exposed, open for anyone to step on it.
And that pissed me off.
He needed to love me more.
More than his need to avoid a scandal.
More than his need to appease my father.
More than I loved him.
Grandma Bonnie told me to find a man who I loved with my whole heart but who loved me just a little bit more.
He had my entire heart, but I didn’t know if I had a single beat of his.
I cleared my throat. “I wanted to thank you for the kind things you’ve said about me, for trusting me with Josh, and for keeping me in the loop after Kyle’s accident.”
They smiled. Kyle dropped his gaze to the floor, lips twisted, as Josh rummaged through the cabinet for a cereal box.
“You’re welcome. We’ll call to check in when we get to our next stop,” Fred said, and they headed to the front door.
Kyle gently pushed off the counter to follow them.
Tears filled my eyes, and I quickly blinked them back. I was so scared of loving him too much and losing my heart to someone who didn’t know if he wanted it.
He stopped on his way to the door and inspected me while I curled my lips between my teeth to keep them from quivering, but I kept my gaze on him, wishing he could see and feel everything I wanted to say.
“Baby,” he whispered. “I only have one good arm, but I’ll carry you.”
Emotions beyond anything I had ever experienced bubbled over, and I blinked an endless stream of tears.
He stepped past me as I frantically wiped my face before Josh saw me crying.
“I love her,” Kyle said.
I couldn’t turn around because the tears wouldn’t stop. My heart swelled into my throat, making it impossible to breathe.
“Sorry, what?” Anne said casually, as though she really didn’t hear him.
“I’m in love with Eve.”
Josh, bless his heart, padded into the living room, turned on cartoons, and sat on the sofa with an open cereal box. He was oblivious to the epic confession ten feet behind me at the front door.
Fred released a nervous chuckle. “What are you talking about? Eve … as in Eve behind you? Is this a joke?”
“It’s not a joke. It just happened. Chemistry. Kismet. Fate. God’s will. Whatever. Eve is generous. Funny and nurturing. She has a young and wild heart with an old soul. To know her really is to love her. And the joy she brings to both Josh and me is immeasurable. Maybe I don’t know where this is going, and I haven’t said anything to her family yet, but she deserves a bold, selfless love. And if I’m honest, my feelings for her can’t be contained any longer. So if you have a problem with this, then you don’t know me, and you certainly don’t know Eve. But I know she’s worthy of the very best in life, and I think I’m at least worthy of a little luck.”
I gave up on controlling my tears, so I turned.
Anne’s eyes instantly filled with emotion when she saw me. But Fred kept his focus on Kyle.
“Have you been,” Fred cleared his throat, “ respectful toward her.”
Sex.
Fred wanted to know if we’d had sex.
“I’m afraid that’s personal,” Kyle said.
Fred clenched his teeth. “It’s not right,” he whispered, slowly shaking his head.
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t feel wrong either,” Kyle replied.
My heart dripped from my chest into a messy pool of liquid at my feet. Kyle melted it with his words. He put Daniel LaRusso and Pete “Maverick” Mitchell to shame.
“May God forgive you both,” Fred said, opening the door.
Anne eyed me a little longer, as if she needed to know if I was all right.
I shuffled my feet to Kyle and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my cheek on his bare back. Seconds later, the door clicked shut. Turning my head, I pressed my lips to his spine, dotting slow kisses along his skin.
“I’m sorry. I?—”
“Don’t,” he said, turning and wrapping his good arm around me and kissing the top of my head. “Don’t apologize.”
“You love me,” I whispered.
“So much.”
Josh giggled at his cartoons.
“I have to go,” I said, pulling away and looking for my shoes. I found them by the door and slid my feet into them.
“Where are you going? If you’re telling your parents, I want to be?—”
“I’m not telling them. Not yet.” I opened the door.
“Eve?”
“Huh?” I glanced back at him.
He stood idle and expressionless.
“What?” I asked.
Still, nothing.
I smiled, stepping back into the house and lifting onto my toes to kiss him. He grinned in the middle of the kiss.
“I’m going to give you a sponge bath after Josh is in bed later,” I murmured over his mouth.
“Damn right you are.” He beamed.