AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come on, Aura. You know how Kalum felt about you since you left.”
I frown. “That was a long time ago, Exie. He is doing this for Lane for whatever reason.”
“Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that, but be careful, Aura. I don’t want you getting hurt. Sometimes I think my brother is crazy for asking Kalum for his help, but I get it.”
“Get what?”
I don’t know what she means. I’m confused about the whole dynamic between Kalum and Lane.
“It was his way of making sure you were taken care of by a man who would do anything to make that happen. It was no secret Kalum was heartbroken when you left. He was closed off, and if anyone mentioned your name, he would lose his shit.”
“Why? He hated the fact that his parents brought me to his home.”
She lets out a puff of air through her mouth, making me pull the phone slightly away from my ear. “Do you remember when you were a little girl in school, and you saw a little kid in class pick on the same girl all the time? You know… pulled her hair, tripped her, or stuck gum in her hair so everyone would laugh at her? What would our mothers tell us when we would ask why?”
“He secretly liked the girl he was tormenting.”
“Exactly. Kalum liked you since the first day he laid eyes on you. I think he fell for you.”
“He would have said something, Exie. He always told me he didn’t want a relationship and that he was a no-strings type of guy. He says I wasn’t his type.”
“Look, I know it has been about a year since Lane died, but I want you to have an open mind here. You deserve to be happy. You need to find out what you want and feel stuck behind someone else’s dreams. You stood by my brother and supported him with everything. You forgave him when you thought he left you pregnant and alone. He was there for you when you had no one.”
My eyes fill with tears because it is hard to let go of someone who was there when no one cared. I gave him my heart. “I love him, Exie. I love Lane,” I choke out through tears.
“I know. And trust me, it is hard for me to tell you this. As his sister, I want to tell you hell no, but as your best friend, I need to tell you yes. You will always love Lane, and you gave him the best part of you already, but he is gone, Aura. He isn’t here to help you pick up the pieces. Kalum will be the barrier against my family and their righteous shit. He is willing, and I think my brother was right.”
“Right about what?” I sniff.
“He knew, Aura.” She takes a deep sigh. “He knew Kalum was in love with you before you fell in love with Lane. I guess he thought if something happened to him, he would trust Kalum to do the right thing. They were friends before, Aura. Before you. Do you remember when you told me about the lake?
“Yes,” I say, my voice trembling with emotion.
“Kalum was in love with you, Aura. Everyone knew it. The way that boy looked at you… anyone could see it. I did, but I was on my brother’s side because my brother fell in love with you too.”
My heart is beating wildly inside my chest. How could I have missed it? Why didn’t he say anything? The phone calls. The bears he left in my room. The ones I wanted at the fair. The memory of his kiss. The way he touched me and then his parents forcing me to leave.
“I understand.”
“His parents did everything possible to get rid of you because they knew, Aura. They knew that Kalum would choose you, and he would always choose you.”
“Unless I chose differently. I chose Lane.”
“Yes,” she admits. “You chose Lane, but now things are different. I don’t know what will happen or how Kalum feels now after all this time, but what you need to focus on is you and what you want. What is best for LJ, and I know you will do what feels right. I can’t make my parents back off, but I can tell my best friend and mother to my nephew to be happy and fuck what everyone else thinks.”
She is telling me to take Kalum’s offer for help and not feel guilty. The most he can offer me is friendship after everything. There is no way he feels the same way he felt back then. I got married, fell in love, and had a child. I chose to be with Lane, and I have no regrets. Lane gave me a family and a home. His dying wish was for me to be happy.
I tell Exie we should meet in New York later in the week so she can see LJ.
The doorbell rings, followed by a knock on the door. It must be the person Kalum sent to pick me up because security let them through.
I open the door and see a tall brunette with the most expressive green eyes staring back at me. Her mouth curves in a grin as she sweeps me from head to toe.
“You must be Aura. I’m Janine, Mr. St. Claire’s personal assistant and secretary.”
I give her a smile. “Yes. Kalum said I should be expecting you to pick out a dress.”
“Not just any dress.Thedress,” she says enthusiastically.
