Page 234 of Nobody's Girl

“I helped David all afternoon with the meat. I was his official taste tester. Needless to say, I’m stuffed. It is good, isn’t it?” Eden answers.

That didn’t go badly at all. Maybe they can get along.

“Is Cody coming?” Ally asks Kyle.

A fork full of meat just went into his mouth so he can’t speak, so I answer for him. “He felt like a fifth wheel, so he went to the crazy party at Lou’s house. Kyle really should help him find a girlfriend.”

Kyle swallows finally and says, “No, Kyle shouldn’t. Cody is my friend, but he’s a bit of a bad boy. I know you girls don’t know this, but he goes down to Alamogordo almost every weekend and hooks up with random girls.”

Alyssa gasps. “You never told me that, Kyle.”

“Al, did you think I told you everything about his personal life? You certainly didn’t share secrets about this one here,” he says as he points at me with his steak knife.

I shoot him a look to let him know to shut up, but it does no good. “You could have let me in on some things, Ally. She could’ve used my advice at the very least. A couple of those guys needed a serious ass kicking,” he says and stuffs another bite of meat into his mouth.

Thank God he loves to eat more than talk. I thought he was about to talk about my bedroom experience right in front of Eden.

Alyssa blushes for some odd reason and turns her head. She’s acting so different.

Eden drums his fingers on the table. “Alyssa has told me she’s invited you two to our home this summer. I’d love for you to come. There’s so much to do in New Orleans,” he says, and I see Ally smile at him like he just gave us our own mansion.

“I wouldn’t miss the chance to get to see where Ally’s living. We’ll visit. I’ve promised her,” Kyle says, then shoves a forkful of beans in his mouth.

Eden’s eyes droop ever so slightly before he looks away. He’s trying so hard to accept whatever it is Kyle and Ally have. I have to say, he’s a special guy to even want Ally with her baggage.

I suppose I’m special too, accepting Kyle with his.

Kyle takes his last bite and drinks down a bottle of water, then turns his attention to Eden. “Dude, did Ally tell you what she did to the cop in Trixie’s earlier today?”

Eden’s eyes lock with Ally’s for a moment, then he looks back at Kyle. “She did. It was a bit reckless, don’t you think?” he asks Kyle.

Kyle makes a weird huffing sound. “More than a bit. I just about tore out of the booth, pushing past poor Laura to get to Ally before he did something horrible to her,” Kyle says, then wags his finger towards Ally. “He could have taken you to jail, young lady.”

Ally rolls her eyes. “That joke of an officer couldn’t have taken me to jail. He still needs to apologize to you. I’ll see him around again, I hope,” she says, and Eden shoots her another look.

Eden turns his attention back to Kyle. “I’m glad you were there to make sure she didn’t get herself in too deep. She said she had a very good time with all of you,” he says, then leans up, placing his elbows on the table and lacing his long fingers together. He looks at me. “I want you to know I’m not taking her from any of you. She’s free to visit and have visitors. I only wish to be a part of her life, not her entire world. There’s room for all of us.”

I see why she loves him. He’s perfect!

Kyle touches my leg, then I feel him squeeze my knee as he says, “I’m not going to sit here and act like I don’t believe you took her from me, because you did. What I do want to say is, I think it was meant to be. I have to admit Ally glows like I’ve never seen her do before. It’s because of you that she has a confidence about herself she never had before. It’s because of you that she has a gleam in her eye she never had before.”

Ally turns pink. “Cut it out. You’re making me blush.”

Kyle smiles. “I will not cut it out. I also want to say thank you to Eden. Without your intervention into our relationship, I would have never known how wonderful this girl right next to me is,” he says, and his arm wraps around my shoulders. “She is more exceptional than I ever realized. So thank you, Eden, for allowing me the freedom to find that out about her.”

Eden smiles and looks right into Kyle’s eyes. “I’m very happy to hear you say those things, Kyle. Laura is a wonderful girl and I do believe she’s needed you for some time. Perhaps nearly as much as Alyssa and I have needed each other. In the spirit of maintaining a long-lasting friendship with you both, I’d like to invite you to come with us to New Orleans for our wedding tomorrow. You can stay the whole weekend and see some of New Orleans. Our driver will take you anywhere you care to go.”

Kyle freezes for a few seconds, then turns to me. “Is that something you want to do, Laura?”

I nod. “It would make us all happy. Don’t you think?”

Kyle looks past me to Ally. “You really want me there, Al?”

“I do,” she answers.

I watch Kyle’s eyes begin to glisten. I believe he’s near tears. He blinks a few times, then laughs. “Better hold on to those two words, Al. You’ll be saying them a lot tomorrow. Of course we’ll come,” he says, then turns to Eden. “Thanks for inviting us, man. I know it wasn’t easy for you. It’ll take us a little time, but we can get through this bump in the road. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, right?”

Eden smiles at him. “Right you are, Kyle.”