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Kalyn makes a beeline for me. When she reaches me, my hand comes out instinctively as usual with her, and I pull her into the crook of my arm. Her white dress is short, hitting just under her ass, with a halter neckline that shows off her perfect tits.
Under the dress is a bright pink bikini that doesn’t look like it’s covering anything at all. If I say anything about it, she’ll read too much into it. But then again, I’m feeling far too much seeing her in this outfit.
I’ve denied my feelings for her for a year. She’s almost seventeen, and yet, I can’t deny I want her. She’s grown-up, more so than the other girls in our school.
“You’re… I mean, you look nice.” I somehow find words, but me stumbling over what I want to say to her is obvious.
“Thank you,” she says with a smile that lights up the night. I’ve kept guys at school off her with threats, but when Brody Haven saunters up to her, offering her a look of interest, it’s then that I step around her and keep her in my arms.
Kalyn’s shocked gasp warms me as her head tips back, and those pretty eyes lock on mine. “What are you doing?”
“He was looking at you,” I bite out, my teeth gritting in frustration because I can’t keep her for myself. She’s too young for me. But Brody is her age. They’d be perfect together.
“And?” Kalyn challenges, and I know what she wants. She’s wanted me to admit my feelings for the past year, but I haven’t. Instead, I’ve been the best friend. I’ve been there to listen to her cry at night after losing her grandmother. I’ve been there when she’s been depressed about her family wanting to leave Thorne Haven. Each event that’s happened in her life, I’ve been her rock.
But she doesn’t realize just how much she’s healed me. And she’ll never know because if I told her just what she did for me the day we met, she might change her mind about me. There were times I felt more broken than a shattered vase hitting the expensive tiles of our home. But when Kalyn walked into my life, she did something. She showed me what true strength was. Even though she does stupid shit to deal with her agony, she hasn’t taken the step I almost did.
And that’s why I’ll always be there for her. No matter what she needs, I’ll be beside her. And if I can’t do it as a partner, it will be as her best friend.
When I finally step away, the rest of the guys have joined us; two of them have girls hanging off their arms, which calms me somewhat. However, I don’t miss the interest in their gazes as they look at my girl.
“Hey, girl,” Brody greets, offering a hand instead of trying to hug her. She shakes his hand, a smile on her lips, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Once again, I’ve sabotaged the chance to tell her how I feel.
Fireworks explode and light up the sky from where the school is located. We should be there, but a private party was more appealing than spending the night with the rest of the students.
“That’s amazing!” Kalyn’s voice is filled with awe when a golden star, the size of the sun, fills the sky. It lights up her face, and I want so much to tell her how amazing she is, but I don’t. Instead, I smile and turn my attention to the colorful display.
She is my star. My north star. Offering me direction when I was most lost. She’s the reason I am still here today. But that’s far too much information to tell her tonight. So, I grab a beer, hand her one, and tug her down to the pool to join the rest of our friends.
One day I’ll tell her.
One day when I’m stronger.
29
Kalyn
It’s dark. So fucking dark I can’t even see my hand in front of my face. The pain that lances through every inch of me steals my breath. There have been times in my life where I’ve had a stomach ache, or hurt myself, but this is excruciating.
The pain radiates through me, twisting in my belly, but as I roll over, the agony in my back and pelvis seem to steal my breath. Something is wrong.
My eyes snap open, and I try to move from the bed; my legs feel like jelly as I wobble to the bathroom. My body is heavy, and I struggle to hold myself up. My steps are weak, and my knees are ready to give out. I feel as if I’m about to tumble over. When I glance down in the harsh light of the bathroom, I see it—blood.
“No.” The word is merely a breath on my lips when the realization hits me hard. “Paulo!” I cry out as my head spins, and I drop to my knees. I hear him pad into the bathroom, but he doesn’t rush to me. The urge to cry, to scream, to puke overtakes me, and I know it’s whatever he gave me earlier. “Please,” I plead, meeting those malevolent eyes, but he only stares at me with sick satisfaction as if he wanted this to happen. His unwillingness to help, to do something, cements my thoughts about what kind of man he truly is. Not that I didn’t know it before, but right now, I know I’m engaged to a monster.
