Page 53 of Walk Off

Chapter 14

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Celia

Why had she thought this was a good idea?

Oh, that’s right, because she wanted to see him again.

Sex with him hadn’t been enough, so she had to put herself through the torture of having dinner with him too. At least Ruby had agreed to do it at her house. A neutral location where there was no way she’d end up in bed with him.

Against the couch in the pool house, sure. But not in bed.

No, she wasn't going to remember that day. It was not going to happen again. He might want her, but she was sure that was just temporary. That was because she was the one who got away or some misguided notion in his head. She had to think about Jasmine and not her desire to fuck Kyle.

Jasmine was the only thing that mattered.

She’d gone this long without sex, she could go longer.

She watched as Kyle and Dallas helped Jasmine with some video game that Dallas, and apparently Kyle, loved to play. Celia had never really gotten into video games, probably because she’d had no money and a child to raise. But, Jasmine loved them and from what she could gather, she was good at them.

Kyle seemed impressed.

“He’s good with her.” Ruby came up and nudged Celia’s shoulder with her own. “And she’s taken to him so easily.”

Jasmine was an easy-going kid. When Dallas had first come into Ruby’s life, Jasmine had no problem accepting him right from the start. As if he’d always been there. For a girl who’d never had any male influences in her life, she hadn’t had any issues with it.

“He is.” That was part of the damn problem. Not that she didn't want Jasmine to like Kyle or be comfortable with him. She just didn’t want to be replaced in her life.

“Stop worrying, Cel. It’s going to work out.”

Celia gave her sister a look of confusion. “How is it that you used to be as cynical as me and now you’re all zen and shit.”

Ruby laughed. “Love.”

It was the only word she said and it made Celia think back to her summer with Kyle. She’d loved him so much and had shut out the rest of the world. They’d spent every second they could together, laughing, talking, and just having fun. He'd always wanted to be by her side, and if they were close, he was next to her, holding her hand or touching her in some way.

She’d forgotten about everyone else and it had been just the two of them in the world.

There were no problems that couldn't be solved, and no issues that were too big for the two of them to tackle.

Love was all they’d needed.

Love was also what had made her walk off.

Love was a fucking double-edged sword that she loathed.

But, it had also given her Jasmine. And for that, she would be forever grateful.

The game they were playing ended with Jasmine beating both Kyle and Dallas and doing a little victory dance before Dallas picked her up and pretended to slam her down in a fake wrestling move.

“Who wants dessert?” Ruby called out.

“Me!” Jasmine yelled as she ran toward them. “Mom, did you see? I beat both Uncle Dallas and Dad?”

Words stuck in Celia's throat and she glanced up and over Jasmine to where Kyle was watching. She’d called him Dad. Something she hadn’t anticipated to happen for a while. From the look of pure shock on his face, she could tell he hadn’t expected it to happen either.

“I did, sweetie,” she said, hoping her voice was calm. “You were amazing.”

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