Page 158 of Second Chance Mates

“Are you dating anyone right now?”

She’s quiet for a long moment, and I inspect her face. There is an edge of slight discomfort at the question. “No,” she whispers. “Not anymore.”

“Oh, what happened?”

“I was with this guy, and he–” she struggles to find her words as she shakes her head. “He treated me like shit. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

I slip my arm over her shoulder and tug her towards me. “That’s okay,” I whisper with a squeeze of my hand. “I’m glad you’re out of it if he wasn’t very nice to you, Kayleigh. You deserve someone who is going to worship the ground you walk on because you are too amazing for this world.”

She chokes out a laugh, and I see tears swimming in her eyes. “Sometimes it’s so hard to believe when I’m constantly doubting myself and who I am. I am lost a lot of the time, and I hate it.”

“Me, too,” I agree and rest my head on her shoulder. “But it comes with self-love. I know it’s easier said than done, but a little self-love and self-care can go a long way.”

Kayleigh raises a shaky finger to her eye and wipes her tears before they fall. “Yeah,” she rasps. “I kind of do this thing when I’m sad or lonely. I attach myself to the first person who gives me attention. It’s toxic and completely unhealthy, but it’s a way for me to cope.”

“Well, you have me now. I’ll come up and visit as much as I can. You can come down and visit us, too.”

“Yeah.” She nods with a trembling smile. “I’d like that a lot.”

I clear my throat gently. “Have you ever had therapy?”

Kayleigh shakes her head. “Never had the courage to go.”

“Well, a lot of people seem to think there is a stigma around therapy and it must mean you’re crazy. But what’s so crazy about talking through your thoughts with someone who knows how to give you realistic solutions and honest questions?” I admit. “I thought therapy was terrifying when I first started going, but now, I realise it’s important to my mental health. Sometimes it’s just a chat, nothing about my trauma.”

She hums softly. “Maybe. I don’t have the time now. University work has swamped me.”

“I’m always here for a chat.”

“Me, too.” She turns with a smile that finally meets her eyes. “It was nice coming over to see your house and meeting Jaxon.”

I nudge her shoulder. “Yeah. He loved meeting you.”

“And that other guy there…Kayden? He’s Jaxon’s brother.”

“No. They’re not related. They’re just like brothers. Super close,” I state.

Kayleigh nods and licks her lips. I study her expression.

“You seemed to have a moment, huh?”

A flashback of the pair of them shaking hands for a second too long projects into my mind. It was a sweet moment. Kayleigh looked at him like she’d never seen a handsome man in her life.

“What?” she exclaims a little too quickly. “No.”

I laugh. “It’s okay. We all saw it. Whatever it was.”

Kayleigh’s cheeks turn red, and she stays silent for a moment. “It wasn’t a moment. He probably has a girlfriend or boyfriend. No one that good looking is single. Honestly.”

“He’s single, Kayleigh.”

She blinks once and stares at me. “Oh. Well. That’s nice. Good for him...Come on, I didn’t show you the gym!”

We both stand and start heading towards a large building with people flooding in and out. “You have a gym membership?”

“Nope. Haven’t stepped foot in there once. I probably should. I’m so unfit. Two flights of stairs and I’m out of breath.”

“Relatable.” I chuckle.

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