Kellan
Chapter Twenty-Three
Although Layla was willing to let last night go with my apology, I was still beating myself up for it in the shower the next morning.
Hot water sluiced over my skin while I did some serious introspection.
She’d been absolutely correct in saying I’d fired my shot at Brandon with one goal in mind.
To make him feel like shit. And I’d used Layla’s illness to do it.
The only way to describe my reaction at finding my cousin talking to Layla was that I’d lost my head.
Expecting Layla to be asleep, I came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist. But she surprised me. Not only was she awake, but she was sitting on the edge of the bed in nothing but a red lacy tank top. When her lips curved up in a smile, instant lust hit me.
“You owe me a blow job,” she said matter-of-factly.
I chuckled. “I’m a little unclear how this came about, but I’m a man who always pays my debts.”
Rising to her knees, she crooked her finger to motion me closer. “From two weeks ago when you came out of the shower. There was mention of a rain check, and I’m cashing in.”
“Are you now?” I was within reach, which she took advantage of by hooking her fingers in the terry cloth and pulling me in front of her. Whoosh, she ridded me of the towel altogether.
“Damn, that feels good,” I hissed as soon as she gripped my quickly hardening length.
I could see the sexual confidence bloom in her eyes at my reaction. Before I knew what she was up to, she was down on her knees on the carpet. She teased me slowly, lavishing attention down my cock before mouthing the head. Jesus, this woman was incredible.
My urge to thrust in her mouth was strong, but I placed my hand gently on top of her head. She wasn’t having such caution, though, gripping my ass and taking me to the back of her throat while moving faster with her hand.
Then her tongue was on my balls. Holy fuck. A blow job from Layla was heaven on earth. But after a few minutes with her deep-throating me, as much as I wished I could last, there was no way that was happening. It felt too good.
“I’m going to come, baby. Oh, yeah—”
Suddenly, I pulled away from her, coming all over my hand and the floor instead of in her delicious mouth.
“What the hell?” Her look was priceless, as if I’d robbed her.
She had no idea how panicked I’d been. I helped her to her feet. “I’m sorry, but I remembered you telling me you might develop an aversion to whatever you taste on the Sunday before chemo, and I freaked out.”
Her laughter bubbled up as she cupped my face. “Didn’t want to take a chance I’d be off the taste for good, huh?”
I dropped a kiss to her lips. “Not a chance in hell.”
We were both smiling. Perhaps it was possible to have a sense of humor around cancer and chemo.
We were quiet during the truck ride back to Seattle. I glanced over to see her knitting something rectangular and gray. Patty had introduced her to someone who’d taught her the new skill a couple weeks ago.
“Whatcha making?”
“A scarf. A really uneven, somewhat ugly scarf. Just pretend to be surprised and touched when I give it to you for Christmas.”
“If you made it, I’ll wear it every day.”
“You’re sweet. Anyhow, I’m hoping to get better, so I can make little hats for the babies in the hospital. But Anita said I had to start with square and rectangle until I get more experience.”
I loved seeing her with something to occupy her time. It was even better it was for a positive cause. Something like that could take her mind off of cancer. Unlike me bringing it up last night. She seemed to have moved on, but I still felt terrible.
So, I was surprised when she broke the ice on the subject. “I’m curious what happened when you found Brandon and your ex together. What did he say at the time?”
My jaw ticked. Though I didn’t want to talk about it, I recognized it was the least I could do to make up for last night. “What could he say?”
“I’m asking if he apologized or maybe if he went on to date your ex-girlfriend. Was it a one-time thing, or did they rub it in your face and become a couple?”
My hand scrubbed over my face. “Why do you want to talk about the past?”
“Humor me. I’m curious. And if you’re over Carly, it shouldn’t be a big deal to talk about it.”
I sighed. “I’m long over her.” I meant that absolutely. “As for Brandon, he apologized for weeks after it happened. Told me he’d been drinking or some shit and that he’d woken up with her on top of him.”
“Is it plausible? You did say she didn’t seem sorry.”
“It’s ancient history.” And honestly, not one I entirely felt comfortable discussing with her.
Her gaze from the passenger side was intense. “Considering your reaction to your cousin talking to me at the wedding, I’d say it’s not. Was your heart broken?”
“A little. Maybe. But it was mostly my pride which took the brunt.”
“I think the betrayal of your cousin and losing his friendship was worse than losing your girlfriend.”
That had certainly cut deeper. You don’t break up a twenty-two-year-old relationship and not have it sting. We’d been best friends since birth. “I suppose it was.”
“This is the last time I’ll ever bring it up, but I will say that perhaps accepting his apology would be the first step to truly leave it in the past.”
She had a point. It felt petty to hang on to a grudge about a woman who wasn’t Layla.
I reached over and put my hand on her thigh.
“I’ll think about it.” It was the best I could offer.
Hell, I didn’t even know where to start.
My grudge had fueled my desire to achieve my goal of becoming my own man, motivating me to start my business from scratch and make something of it.
I’d held on to my anger for so long I wasn’t sure how to separate myself from it.
“Your brother is going with you tomorrow?” I asked. She had her second chemo appointment. Although I’d have preferred to go with her, I had a lot of work to make up after taking the long weekend off.
“Yes. He’ll be down in the morning. With my mom.”
My head turned quickly. “Seriously? When did that come about?”
“I thought about what you said about my mom dealing with my cancer in the only way she knew how. Perhaps being a part of my treatment might make her feel better. Might actually bring us closer. Or, on the flip side, I might end up wanting to throw her out of the hospital. Thankfully, Russ will be there to help if it gets too out of control.”
“Good. I bet being there will mean a lot to her. I’d like to come over tomorrow night?”
Although I knew she enjoyed her independence—which was another way of saying she didn’t want me to see her at her worst—I hoped we’d crossed a hurdle regarding that last night. The truth was I didn’t like her spending the nights by herself after chemo when nobody knew how her body might react.
“If you want. You have a long week ahead of you.”
“It’s longer when I don’t get to see you.” No truer words had ever been spoken.
The next day I called my sister first thing in the morning. I was hoping she could help me without making it a big deal.
“Hey, big brother, what’s up?”
“Hey yourself. Um, I have a favor to ask.”
Her tone showed her surprise. “From me?”
“Yes. From you.”
“Sorry I’m so shocked. It’s just that I’m the little sister, which means I don’t think you’ve ever asked for a favor from me.”
Hopefully, I wouldn’t regret this one. “Yeah, well, you’re all grown up now. But what I ask I’m hoping stays between us.”
“You have my promise. What is it?”
“Do you have Brandon’s phone number?”
Silence.
“Are you there?”
“Yep. Guess I’m in shock. I do have it.”
“Can you text it to me?”
“I’ll do it now. You’re going to call him?”
“I don’t know yet. So, I’d appreciate your discretion.”
“Okay. It’s coming through.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, and, Kellan?”
“Yes.”
“For the record, I really hope you do call him.”
Right. No pressure.