Chapter 11 #3
“Good to see you’re so secure.”
He chuckled. “Here.” He handed her a plate of omelet with a side of bacon and a pan-seared tomato. “Eat.”
Her mouth watered. “What are you having?”
“Mmm, I’m looking forward to a fruit smoothie. But without the milk.”
Her nose wrinkled. “You’re still on your liquid diet, huh?”
“It’s now only one liquid meal a day.”
“Oh. So the pasta last night…”
“Wasn’t one of them.”
And she’d spoiled his meal by falling asleep. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, it’s okay. I still ate it, and it was delicious, even if I do say so myself.”
She tasted the omelet. Mmm. “I’m not surprised. This is really tasty.”
He smiled. “I’m glad. It was made with love.”
Her heart skittered. He didn’t mean that. Not really.
She finished her meal, her insides lined with trepidation. How could Kyle be so sweet to her? She really needed to tell him about Bella.
Bella. She winced.
“What’s wrong?” he asked quickly.
“I, uh, just remembered something else I need to do.”
“Is there something I can help with?”
Yes. “No.” But maybe one day, after she’d owned up to the truth, if miracles did actually happen. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Not yet?” He watched her carefully. “I like the sound of that.”
She picked at the grapes, her weariness still strong. She should leave, but this… this time together felt reassuringly cozy. Like a door had opened to an alternative life, one she could’ve had perhaps, if she had just said no, instead of getting caught up in passion.
But life didn’t exist on maybes or what-ifs. She was too pragmatic for that. She drew in a deep breath, and—“Ew.”
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like my deodorant?”
She winced. “I smell.”
“Hmm, you don’t smell bad. You smell like me.”
Her cheeks heated. He was right. She’d always thought he smelled nice. Even when he was sweaty.
“But I could find you a fresh T-shirt, if that would make you feel more comfortable.”
“Yes, please.”
A minute later she was changing in his bathroom, exchanging her gross shirt from yesterday into something clean.
She drew in a breath, and held his T-shirt to her face.
Closed her eyes. Oh, it smelled like him.
She slipped it on, and even the extra softness felt like she was encased in him.
But she couldn’t afford to get carried away.
She still owed him the truth. Something she really needed to say.
Would say. But not when she still felt this tired.
She collected yesterday’s shirt and went back. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Happy to be of service.”
“I’ll, um, get it cleaned and return it to you.”
“Keep it. I’ve got plenty.”
She studied him. Should she confess it now? Maybe.
Then her phone rang. “That’s my ringtone. But I thought my phone was dead.”
“It was. I charged it.”
“Thanks.” She checked and saw it was an incoming call from her mom. Well, this would be fun. “Um, Mom?”
“Where are you?” Mom screeched. “I thought you were dead!”
She closed her eyes, shifted the phone slightly away from her ear. “I’m fine. Just overslept.”
There was a moment’s silence. Then, “You mean you’re not at the hospital?”
“No.” Her eyes caught Kyle’s. “I’m, uh, at a friend’s house.”
He smiled, and her heart took flight. But no. No, no. This was not a good idea. “I’m coming home soon.”
“Don’t you have a shift at work?”
She closed her eyes. “I overslept and missed it.”
“Genevieve, where are you?”
Why did she still feel like she was a naughty schoolgirl, getting in trouble from her mother, even though she was nearly twenty-nine years old? “Mom, I’ll be there soon.”
“I’ve got work starting in an hour, so you better be home before that.”
In that case, she’d make sure she was back after her mom had gone. That way she could surprise Bella by picking her up from Monique’s, and be asleep when Mom got back late tonight.
“See you in a bit.” She ended the call. Then put it on silent as, sure enough, Mom immediately called again.
“I’ll drive you,” Kyle said.
“It’s okay. I’m not in a rush.”
He smiled over the rim of his glass. “Your mom, huh?”
“Yes.” She rolled her eyes.
He chuckled. “Honestly, I always thought it a shame our mothers didn’t get on. They have so much in common.”
“Right?”
Both were controlling. Both had manipulation down to an art form. And even though Kyle’s mother scared her—and might still want to take Bella away—Kyle’s actions had showed he wouldn’t stand for that. Probably.
She sighed. “I should go.”
“I’ll drive you.”
But now she remembered that if he did then he’d know where she lived, and she really wasn’t okay with that. Especially now she’d seen his amazing apartment. “It’s okay.”
Disappointment creased his face, but he nodded. “Then I’ll walk you to the nearest metro stop.”
“Thanks.”
Twenty minutes later she was hugging him goodbye, then clambering onboard.
She took a window seat, her usual preferred position, and lifted a hand to wave again.
That had been strange. But also, good. And she was looking forward to seeing him again. And maybe—okay, definitely—finding the guts to risk it all and one day finally tell him the truth.