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“Exactly,” Dad says. “Good. Second, she gets grouchy if she doesn’t get enough sleep, so don’t keep her out too late. She’s been like that since she was little.”
“Dad!”
“Plenty of sleep,” Braxton says, nodding. “Got it.”
“Third, she might not have followed my lead in going to law school, but she learned to argue from the best. Pick your battles. Sometimes you need to let her win.”
“Dad!” I say again.
Braxton smiles. I can tell he’s enjoying this.
“Finally…” Dad pauses, holding Braxton’s gaze. “Be good to my girl. You’re like a son to me, Braxton, but if you hurt my Kylie, remember, I know all the best lawyers.”
“I won’t, Mr. Winters,” Braxton says. He glances at me and my heart flutters. “Never.”
After lunch, we go back to Braxton’s place. I made it through the rest of the visit without crying, but it wasn’t easy. My dad looked so happy. We said we haven’t told Selene yet, and he said he’d keep it to himself if he talked to her. His eyes shone when he said goodbye to us. I haven’t seen him look so relaxed in a long time.
Braxton goes into the kitchen and I sit on a stool on the other side of the counter. It’s so hard seeing my dad these days, and this visit was emotionally exhausting.
“What do you need?” Braxton asks. “More pancakes?”
I laugh. “No.”
“Beer?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say. “Definitely beer.”
He pulls two bottles out of the fridge and opens them, then hands one to me.
I take a sip. I had no idea what my dad would think of Braxton and I being together, but I certainly didn’t anticipate his reaction. He said he was surprised it took us this long. How did he know? What has he been seeing all these years? And why have I been so blind to it?
And the fact that Braxton visits my dad regularly—I’m blown away. Braxton never told me, and my dad never made it clear. I stare at Brax as he pokes around in the kitchen. He turns his back to me and reaches into a cupboard to get something. There’s so much about him I didn’t know.
I set down my beer. “Braxton, I love you.”
He freezes, his back still to me.
Oh my god. I can’t believe I just said that. I blurted it out without even thinking. I’m going to freak him out. This is too much. It’s too soon. Braxton doesn’t go there. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say it, even to Selene, and I know he loves his sister. I panic, my mouth half-open. I want to backtrack, make a joke, tell him I’m not serious.
I don’t want to scare him away.
In an instant, his strong arms are around me, enveloping me. He buries his face in my neck, his breath hot against my skin. I put my arms around him, and he holds me so tight it’s almost hard to breathe.
He takes a shuddering breath. I wrap my arms tighter, matching the fierceness with which he clutches onto me. It’s like he’s drowning, and I’m the only thing keeping him above water. I caress the back of his head, running my fingers through his hair.
He pulls away just enough to look at me. “I love you so much,” he says, his voice low. He presses a hand against my face. “I have wanted to say that to you for so long. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to say it back to me.”
This side of him is so disarming. I never knew it existed. Tears spring to my eyes.
“Of course I love you,” I say. “I’ve always loved you. I just didn’t admit it until recently.”
His lips come to mine and he kisses me, deep and slow. He’s so warm and strong. My heart feels like it’s swelling, like the Grinch’s in that Christmas movie. It keeps growing, and I wonder if it will burst through my ribs.
He pulls back again, a sly smirk on his face. His voice is gravelly. “Now I better fuck the shit out of you so you don’t question my manliness.”
He picks me up and carries me to his room.
I’m caught between laughing and crying. He loves me. He feels what I feel, and what I feel is so huge I almost can’t believe it. No one will ever compare to my Braxton. His skin is on mine, our bodies close. He pushes himself in deep, and I realize the truth.
I’ll never want anyone else.
