Chapter 19
KYLIE
Lily welcomed me home with open arms and had already ordered lunch as a celebration. She took one look at me in Luc’s shorts and T-shirt and shook her head.
“Good thing you didn’t stop in at your parents’ house. Come on, let’s get some clothes that fit you.”
“Hey, at least I showered.”
“Hopefully with him—I saw him, Ky. Sorry, but I had to peek. That man is fine.”
Not needing Lily’s assessment of Luc, I already knew firsthand how fine a specimen Luc was.
“He’s going to bring a housewarming present by later tonight.”
“Ooh, christening the new bed. We’ve got decent insulation. So noise won’t carry unless you’re a screamer.” She winked and led me down the hall.
I followed her into her bedroom, and she opened her closet to me once again. I could get used to unfettered access to Lily’s closet.
“Thanks.”
“I’m only doing this so you give me the scoop. Tell me everything.”
I shuffled through her clothes and found a pair of high-waisted jean shorts that would be comfortable enough to work in as I moved.
“I met him on the flight back from school.”
“Yeah, I figured that, Ky, but what’s his story?”
“He’s the head coach for the Minutemen, Luc Lecompte,” I explained as I changed with my back to her. By the time I had turned around, Lily had already looked Luc up and slowly digested the same information I had found.
“I didn’t peg you for someone who went for older men, but damn, I see it. It’s a little convenient that your sister is starting something with Sam.”
Lily zeroed in on my main reason for keeping this relationship, or situationship, quiet. I refused to do anything that could potentially hinder Kelsey’s happiness.
“I don’t plan to tell my family about it,” I said as I turned my back to Lily, slipped the shorts over my hips, and tucked in Luc’s shirt. It was loose enough to cover that I didn’t have a bra on until I slipped into my room at my parents’ house.
A quick glance at my wrists showed that this morning’s play session had left faint marks.
I rubbed them gently and flashed back to the memories of this morning.
My face flushed, and my heartbeat picked up its pace.
I made a mental note that bracelets might be a good investment, especially if we planned to up our intensity.
“Did he ask you not to? Because if he did, that’s a huge red flag,” Lily asked, her concerned question quickly doused the fire ignited by my memories.
“No, he didn’t. But it sounds like he had such a nasty divorce that he never wants to go through it again.
Whatever happens with us, there’s an eventual expiration date.
He never wants to get married again, but I eventually do want to, so why bring our parents and family into something that we know will never be permanent? ”
“This was your idea?” Lily asked with a concerned look on her face.
“Yes.”
“I think it’s weird.”
“Don’t hold back!” I laughed, and Lily rolled her eyes.
“I never do, and that’s why you come to me.”
I nodded and checked the time. “My bed should be here shortly. Once it is delivered and set up, we can ride over to get the rest of my things.”
“Your dad said we can use his truck, right?”
“My dad won’t let us drive it, but he and my mother will help.”
Lily nodded, and we returned to the kitchen, where we picked at the food she had ordered while waiting for the furniture delivery to arrive.
“So, the sex was good?” Lily asked cautiously.
She was the only one I had ever confided in about what I had assumed to be a sexual dysfunction.
My sisters all heard exaggerated tales of my exploits, and all of those stories had me leading a very satisfying and active sex life.
After last night, those stories weren’t a lie.
“Yeah,” I said breathlessly. And just that question triggered the instant replay as it flashed through my mind.
Lily’s soft smile came easily. “That’s awesome. Now you need to figure out how to protect your heart and not get attached.”
We were interrupted by the furniture delivery, and while I was happy I escaped the conversation, I knew Lily wouldn’t let it ride forever. She would probably come right out and question Luc when he stopped by later.
I had accurately estimated the time it would take to move, yes, I had gotten rid of most of my belongings from my college years, but I also planned to leave my childhood bedroom looking like I was returning any minute. Thank God my parents weren’t pushing for me to leave the room empty.
By late afternoon, Lily and I sipped our first glasses of champagne while we relaxed on the sofa. My mother and father joined us for a quick celebratory drink before heading out for dinner.
“Have you all met Sam?” Lily asked.
“We have,” my mother answered. “It all seems a bit surreal, and I can’t lie, I worry about Kelsey and Crew.”
“Did you show him your hunting rifles yet, Mr Colette?” Lily asked my father.
Dad shrugged, “I didn’t, but I doubt he’d be intimidated. I worry about all my daughters, and I worry even more with Crew in the mix here. But from what I’ve seen, he’s genuine. But Kelsey is way out of her league.”
“If it makes you feel better, Sam has kept a low profile since he joined the team,” Lily said in an attempt to reassure.
“The jury is out. But I hope, for everyone’s sake, that this works out and no one gets hurt,” Dad said.
And there it was, the main reason my family would never meet Luc. They had enough to worry about with Kelsey; I wouldn’t add to their fears.
I smiled when I saw several texts from Luc.
Luc: It’s going to be a long day.
Luc: Thanks for keeping me up all night.
Lily caught me as I read the texts and followed with a smirk. At some point, I would worry about protecting my feelings, but for now, I planned to soak in everything Luc could give me.
Me: Thanks to my parents, I’m all moved in.
Luc: I can’t wait to see your minimalism in action.
Luc: Can I have your e-mail?
Me: Kylie.Colette@
Me: What are you sending?
Luc: A list of questions. I don’t think we should play too hard without covering the basics first.
Luc: Are your wrists okay? Still feel good about last night?
Me: And this morning?
Luc: Uh-huh.
Me: Yes. I feel great about it. But it’s short-sleeve season; my wrists might need something to cover the marks.
Luc: I’ll try not to leave marks next time.
Luc: I have to run, but check your e-mail if you have some downtime. I won’t be able to recheck my phone until after the game.
Me: Okay. Should I look for you in the dugout or bullpen?
Luc: Dugout. And Cannon is pitching tonight if you’re watching.
Lily watched as I texted but refrained from commenting in front of my parents. The banner on my phone indicated an e-mail from Luc had been received, which I made the mistake of opening. I quickly closed it. Nope, I wasn’t going to complete a BDSM questionnaire with my parents in the room.
“Whelp, I’ve got to get to Kelsey’s to watch Crew; if I’m lucky, he’ll sleep, and I can watch the game,” my father said.
“And I plan to do absolutely nothing and then fall asleep at a normal time tonight. I can pretend to live like the rest of the world with a normal sleep schedule.”
With Mom’s schedule, Dad often helped out with Crew.
Mom either worked overnight or spent the few nights off from work trying not to feel like a zombie.
Most nurses switched to day shifts once they had seniority, but my mother did not, even when the shift had been offered.
She claimed that more babies were born in the middle of the night, but I suspected she liked working the overnights more than she let on.
And yes, her schedule had caused more than a few arguments between my parents.
The women in my family were known for their stubbornness.
My mother refused to move to the day shift because it would be easier, Kelsey took the hard road with Crew, Kendra never asked for help, and me?
I walked blindly into relationships with no potential.
Actually, not blindly. It was clear as day that this thing with Luc would end up hurting me.
And yes, Luc might as well have held up a banner that screamed, “I’m going to break you!” But while being broken might hurt, I was tired of not feeling anything.
I kissed and hugged both my parents, then walked them out before rejoining Lily on the couch. I plopped down, only then realizing how exhausted I was, and fell asleep while Lily watched reality television.