“You knew already, didn’t you?” She asks bashfully.
I can’t stop the smile or the laugh that bubbles out from me, because she really had no idea her brothers already cornered me and told me everything.
“Yeah, baby girl. Your brothers already talked to me yesterday after practice.”
Her head buries into my chest as I slide my hands around her waist, feeling her smooth curves in the palms of my hands.
“Please, tell me you’re not mad at me?” Her head tilts back, and from this angle, her hazel eyes sparkle with flecks of green sprinkled throughout.
“I promise, I’m not mad. I’m actually so fucking proud of you for being brave and telling them. I know it must have taken a lot to tell them everything you did, and I know what it means to you.”
Her hand comes up to cup my cheek, her finger tips running softly up and down my cheek. “After that kiss in the driveway, I knew that I needed to put the past behind us and show you that I meant every word I said about trust and growth. I did it for us, yeah, but really, I did it for me, because I needed that moment for myself.” Tears prickle behind her eyes, and as one escapes, my hand slides up her body to cup her cheek, wiping them away.
We stand there, matching in our poses as we breathe each other in and feel the weight of everything that’s between us.
“I know you did. I’m still so proud of you, no matter the reason. You opened up to them and were vulnerable in a way that’s scary, but you did it and that’s what matters.” She nods, turning her head to place a kiss on my palm before nuzzling back into my touch.
“How did my brothers treat you yesterday?”
“Let’s just say Brayden was typical Brayden at the beginning. He made practice weird because he couldn’t figure out how to act around me.” She chuckles, rolling her eyes. “But once we sat down and they told me what happened, it was an honest and emotional conversation.”
“But you guys are good? You seem okay, so I’m assuming they’re not too mad with you?” The concern lacing her voice and her wide eyes has me pullingher even closer, kissing along the bridge of her nose until I reach her lips, leaving a soft peck.
“I promise, we’re okay. I think they’re more upset with themselves for not noticing, but they understand why we both did what we did.”
She nods. “Yeah, that’s the same vibe I got from them. I just hate that I hurt them, because that’s not what I wanted.” Her eyes close as another tear falls and I wipe this one up as well.
“They know that, but I think like any good brother would feel, they’re protective over you and Lainey, and they wish they could’ve been there for you more. Give them time, but I promise they still love both of us.”
Her smile widens, and as her eyes open again, I fall even more in love with how beautiful and bright this girl truly is.
“What was the other thing you needed to tell me?”
“It has to do with my job. Let me just say what I need to and then you can go all caveman.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and from the way her body slightly stiffens, and her tone becomes more serious, I straighten my spine in anticipation for what she’s about to say.
“From the day I started here, Eric has been making me really uncomfortable and saying some things that I want to tell you. It’s only gotten worse since I was asked to take over for Dr. Sanders.”
This news has my blood starting to boil, but I take a breath in, knowing that my rage isn’t going to help her right now. “What has he done?”
She bites her bottom lip again, her grip on my cheek tightening just slightly, but enough for me to notice. “He cornered me earlier today, made insinuations about my last name, how I didn’t deserve to get the position over him,and…” Her breaths begin to shudder and her eyes start to close.
“I’m right here, baby girl. I’m not going anywhere.”
“He used my body against me, basically saying that no one would ever love me for my size and that I must be really good in bed to have gotten the job.”
Fire ignites deep in the pit of my stomach, red creeping across my vision.
Kailyn has done so much hard work to overcome every awful word and insult thrown at her and every insecurity she’s ever felt.
This asshole stepped on all of that and brought her back to that awful place, where she couldn’t see how truly beautiful her body is. Her tears and the way she’s breathing tells me that she’s fighting so hard not to let his words win, but her head is spinning with so many emotions.
I’m not a violent man in any sense, but all I want to do right now is march down this hall and put that bastard in his place. Make him regret every choice he’s ever made.
My chest feels tight at the anger coursing through me, the rage that’s taking over to protect and defend Kailyn, but as I look down at her, I know that’s not what she needs, even without her having to tell me.
Kailyn is strong and brave, and while I could do all of those things, fight her battles and take him down, I know that’s not the answer. She needs me to be here with her, to stand by her side and allow her to feel everything and then watch as she burns the ground that he walks on.
So that’s what I’m going to do.
