30. Sloan #3
Oh yikes. She had never even considered the insurance aspect.
“And your family can’t help? Aren’t Liddy and Elle pretty well off? They might be able to lend you the money.”
He studied her, his expression dark. “Well, for that matter, why not just break the NDA and get your father to foot the bill for whatever financial penalty you face?”
Ugh. Fair. “I get your point.”
“I don’t have a lot,” he said wearily. “But I still have my pride. Sort of.”
She reached for his hand. “Of course you do. Kyle . . . you’re one of the most honest, honorable men I’ve ever met. You should be proud of that.” She squeezed his hand, her heart swelling.
He was more than that, really. And everything she wanted to say to him, she couldn’t.
Given how much she’d put him through—that he was finally talking about—how did he not hate her? He should hate her.
But even when he’d had a pretty woman flirting with him the night before, he’d been concerned about Sloan’s comfort.
Instead of staying with family or friends until his new apartment became available, he’d chosen to stay with Sloan because she would have had to find a stranger to help pay for the house.
Rather than berating Sloan’s new job, he’d brought his darling niece to be part of my new journey.
No matter the hits, no matter the hurt, this man keeps giving of himself graciously. With humor. With patience. And she knew it was only a matter of time where her heart would lose a battle.
Because, the truth was, she was falling in love with him all over again.
Or maybe she’d never really never stopped. Maybe she’d pushed what she felt for him into somewhere in her heart and mind that she did everything that was too difficult to think of—like Mom’s death and what her father had done afterward.
But now that Kyle was part of her life again, the truth was undeniable.
Her voice was raw as she said, “I deeply regret having hurt you when we were younger. I wish I could take everything I did back, I really do. And I’m sorry for having involved you in January.
I regret it, too, because you got hurt again.
Maybe it would have been better for me to just go it alone, but I was scared—”
“You don’t have to regret that.” He cleared his throat, holding her gaze steadily. “I know it was crazy, but it brought us back to being friends again, right? So that’s something.”
“But you’re clearly resentful. You think I ruined your life.”
“No, no.” He pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.
“No, I just was irritated. And mostly at myself. Seeing Tara crying about that damned stuffed animal and knowing Elle was disappointed with me, because she specifically told me to keep a close eye on it—I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. ”
The sound of his heart beating softly against her cheek, the scent of him, provided a soothing balm she didn’t believe she deserved. “No, we needed to talk. I want you to tell me when you’re mad at me, when something has been bugging you. Please. I need your honesty.”
He sighed slowly. “All right. But you have to promise me you’ll do the same.”
“I promise.” She pulled away and scanned his handsome face.
God, I’m such a simp for this man.
This hadn’t been at all what she’d been imagining on the car ride home, but it had been necessary. More important than reconnecting with him physically, if she was honest.
It was right for them and who they were to each other now.
Maybe not what she hoped for, but being only friends with him was better than not being in his life.
“I’ll let you go to sleep,” she said. Disappointment was a bit of a salty bitch, even if she understood how this was how things should have happened tonight. “Good night.”
“Good night, Sloan.”
She went back to her room, unsurprised to find the dogs already on her bed. “Scoot it,” she said with a shake of her head, snapping her fingers.
They didn’t budge. Or even lift their heads.
Damn dogs.
After attempting to move them without success for a full minute, she sighed. Shoving them over as much as she could, she climbed under the covers.
She reached up to her lamp and turned off the light as a knock sounded at her door. “Come in,” she called.
“Sorry,” Kyle said, stepping inside. “I left my pillow here last night.”
He started toward the bed and her heart squeezed at the sight of him. Then, before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “You can stay if you want.”
Kyle faltered in his step. “You . . .” He looked over his shoulder toward the open door. “You want me to stay here again?”
Yes.
“If you want,” she said. “I know it’s silly, but I sleep better with you around.”
That much is true.
But you’re ridiculous for asking.
Kyle watched her for several moments and then nodded. “Okay.”
She smiled to herself as he shut the door.
It might not be a smart idea, and this arrangement could end badly, but Kyle seemed all right with it. Unaffected.
She needed to remember that.
And if Kyle could handle this and just being friends, then she could too.
No matter what I feel for him.