Page 92 of Pulled Away

“But you loved him.”

“I did. But some things just can’t be forgiven.”

“Do you think Ryan can be forgiven?”

“I can’t tell you that,” she admonishes. Because yeah, that would be too easy. She and Julia should get together and compare notes. “But what I can tell you is that in all the years I’ve known Ryan—which is many, many, years—I have never seen him look at someone or act towards someone the way he does you. Besides that mess he made.”

“Not even Hadley?”

“Not even Hadley,” she confirms. We lapse into silence for a bit. “What are you scared of?”

“I don’t know,” I sigh. “At first I thought he was in love with Hadley. Then I thought that he didn’t love me enough, but now, I believe that he does. I’m just struggling with how to trust him. And the angry part of me feels everyone will think I’m weak if I take him back.”

“Nobody will think that,” she admonishes. “And even if they did, it’s your life, not theirs. Some people would say that Kallan and I got together too soon after Quinn, that I wasn’t ready and needed more time to process what happened. But I knew in my heart that Kallan was what I wanted, so why wait? That was my truth. What is your truth? Do you love him enough to forgive him? Do you think what he did was something that you can forgive? But most importantly, do you believe that he’ll never do it again?”

A part of me I’ve been struggling to acknowledge can, to an extent, understand his actions. Being loyal and sacrificing for people that he cares about is ingrained in his DNA, and Hadley, who’s known him for many years, knows that about him. She took advantage of it and he was too blind to see it. That makes her a bad person, not him.

But his stubbornness in not acknowledging my feelings? Hiding part of his history with her? Picking her side? That’s all on him.

I know he regrets it, and he’s doing all he can to show up for me. To show me how important I am to him.

I don’t want to keep holding on to my anger and hurt. It’s exhausting. Do I love him? Yes, I do. Am I scared of taking the plunge? Yes, again. Do I want to cry when I picture a future without him? Yes, and yes again.

“Thank you.” I blow out a breath, feeling a bit of the weight on my shoulders lifting.

“If you girls are done talking, there’s something I want to show you,” Kallan says, scratching his cheek while Tuk dances around his legs.

Bailey lifts a brow, beaming at Kallan. “What have you done?”

“You’ll see.” Grabbing her hand, he pulls her from the couch. “Come on,” he says to me with a hurry-up motion when I don’t move. “This is for you.”

“Me?” I squeak, jumping up.

I’m hot on his heels as we head outside and then towards his workshop. Once we get there, he doesn’t waste time, pointing at a desk standing proudly in the middle of his workshop.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful,” I answer honestly. I’ve seen some things he’s made, and he’s ridiculously talented. This is no exception.

“It’s yours if you want it,” he carries on as if he hasn’t just rocked my world. “It’s still a work in progress,” he says, eying it critically, “but I think it’s turning out okay.”

My mouth falls open as I stare at him, not knowing what to say. “Ryan showed me the colors you picked for the reception, and I think this light wood will complement it perfectly.”

When I still say nothing, he darts an uncomfortable look at Bailey. “It’s not a problem if you don’t like it. I can sell it.”

Sell it? Fuck, no.

“Kallan,” I breathe, my eyes filling with tears. I step up to it and run my hand over the carvings of little dogs and cats running down the back of it. “This isn’t just okay. It’s stunning, and I don’t just like it. I love it. This is for me? For real?”

He nods, jamming his hands in his pockets, obviously uncomfortable with the emotion in my voice.

“It’s my first piece of furniture,” I mutter, dashing a tear from my cheek with the back of my hand. I’m completely overwhelmed by the love and generosity my friends have shown me over the last two days.

Leaning towards me, Bailey whispers, “Told you he’s a big softy. He did the same when he made my bench.”

Swiping at another tear, I turn to her. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to kiss your boyfriend now.”

Kallan steps back, a look of alarm on his face. “No need. A thank you will do.”

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