Page 228 of Nobody's Girl

“David, I fear you have never found the line between protection and unreasonable fears about her. She’s safe and with friends she trusts. This is an important day for her to share with those whom she’s grown up with. We have to allow her the space to have outside relationships and interests.”

“You know, I heard Kyle’s voice in the background, Eden. She’s with him,” David says.

“I know exactly who she’s with. We have no secrets between us. It’s impossible. She’s grown up with him and Laura and a lot more people she’d like to spend time with before it’s all over. Only I can stop her and I won’t,” I say as I pat him on the back. “Now, let’s get on that pit you have in the backyard. I’m dying to taste this barbecue your family raves about. Our Creator only knows how many people your daughter will invite back here to her graduation party.”

He lets out a laugh, then says, “You are something else, son. So secure. I wish I could feel like you do.”

I wish he could too. I wish everyone could.

CHAPTER 29

KYLE

Holy Shit! Would you look at her?

I’m outside my house, in the driveway, washing my truck, and Ally just passed by, driving that guy’s jag. The top’s down and her hair blows around her slightly. She looks so gorgeous I think I forgot to breathe.

Pulling the car into Laura’s driveway, three houses down from mine, she finds no cars there. Laura had to run to Alamogordo to get a dress for graduation and she won’t be home for a couple of hours.

Ally pulls back out and I’m sure she’ll pass right back by me, ignoring me.

I have to admit, I was a complete jackass.

She most likely hates me and I don’t blame her. My head has been messed up about what she’s done to me, but she didn’t deserve what I said to her. What Laura and I did was no one’s business but our own. I know now that I did it out of spite.

To my surprise, Ally rolls up and stops, waving me over. She calls out, “Wanna go for a ride, Kyle?”

I saunter up to her and lean on the door.  “Why, so you can go drop me off a cliff?”

The touch of her finger as she tweaks my nose sends warmth right through me. I take her hand and hold it to my cheek.

My God, how I’ve missed her!

She smiles at me and my insides melt. “I’m not going to drop you off anything, Kyle. Come on, let’s go to Trixie’s and get something to drink. I’m buying.”

Though hesitant about this, I decide to go with her. There’s something very different about her. A certain look in her eyes.

Sure, I’m still afraid she wants to get even with me. Maybe she’s going to poison my drink to try to give me the runs so I can’t go to graduation, but I find her very intriguing, so I’ll risk it.

“Okay, Al, I’ll go with you,” I say and let her hand go. I walk around the car to the passenger seat and slide in. “Damn, this is the softest leather I’ve ever felt.”

She looks over at me as she slides her Ray-Bans back on. “I know, right?”

My God, she’s gorgeous! How did I never see her in this way?

She takes off, making me lean all the way back into the seat with the force. “This thing has a lot of get up and go, girl. You sure you can handle it?” I ask. I think I want to tell her I’m sorry for telling her about me and Laura like I did.

She laughs and something in my heart pinches. I find I’ve missed hearing it. “I made it this far so I think I can handle it. So, tell me, Kyle.”

I look at her and wait for her to finish her obviously unfinished sentence, but she doesn’t. “Do you want to finish what you want me to tell you, Al?”

Giving me a quick glance, she looks back at the road. “I was finished. I want you to tell me.”

My hair must be messed up because she runs her hand through it, then leaves her hand on the headrest next to my head. I can smell the lavender scent lingering on her skin.

“I’m sorry, Ally. I should never have told you what I did. I know I can’t take the words or the hurt back, but if I could, I would.”

Her knuckles graze my face lightly as she smiles at me. “I forgive you, Kyle. So you really care for Laura. I can see it. She has issues with men, you know. You may get hurt.”