Page 92 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

“Yes,” she said. “Listen, Van. I appreciate what you did. I really do. But you know, I haven’t lived in a cave my whole life. People know who I am. There are many out there with more money than me. Many in my family alone. But I’ve got a big strapping boyfriend to watch out for me.”

“Stop with the jokes,” he said. “That is your problem. Everything is funny to you. You don’t take anything seriously.”

She snarled at him. Literally snarled loud enough that Frankie ran out of the room.

“I’ve got a very serious career. I spend easily fifty or more hours a week being serious and my clients depend on me to be that way. If I want to blow off steam in my personal life and have some fun, then there isn’t anything wrong with it. I’ve lived my life like this for over thirty years just fine. I’m sick of people telling me to be someone that I’m not!”

“Meaning you did it without me and could again?” he asked. Why the hell was his heart pounding even more now? Didn’t he just say he liked her being who she was?

“Yes and no,” she said. “Are you trying to start a fight? Do you want to end things with me? Is that what this is about? I understand that you’re not happy that Bill found me, but I think it will be fine.”

He did too, but he didn’t want to write it off as nothing either.

“I’m not trying to start a fight with you,” he said. “I want you to see the consequences of your actions.”

“Sounding like my father right now is only going to piss me off more,” she said. “Choose your words carefully.”

He stopped and stared at her.

What he hated the most was that maybe he was sounding likehisfather.

“I was worried,” he said. “I haven’t had to worry about anyone for years.”

“Since your mother?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said.

“What’s going on, Van? This is more than my poor dating history, which I’ve been honest about. I’ve taken my accounts down and you know it. I’ve got no need for them as long as I have you, but the question is if I have you or not. I think I’ve only been able to reach a part of you.”

“More than anyone else has,” he admitted.

“And that is scaring you?” she asked, moving closer to him. She only hesitated for a second before she put her arms around him. “Maybe I’m scared too. It’s hard to feel this much for someone so fast.”

“It is,” he said.

“And you’ve got a lot going on in your life. More than most. I shouldn’t be adding worries to you and just fun.”

“It’s both,” he said.

“As much as you think I need to be serious at times I think you need to loosen your tight ass up.”

She slapped his ass hard and then shook her hand as she stepped out of his arms.

“It’s been said before.”

“By who?” she asked. “Your father and it bothers you?”

“My mother more than my father. She’d say it to help me, he’d say it to piss me off.”

“I don’t want to piss you off,” she said. “But something has made you sad. Maybe confused.”

“I’m seeing my mother in my dreams,” he said.

He turned to look at her and she only blinked. “And?”

“That doesn’t surprise you? You don’t think I’m nuts?”

“I am a descendant of Amore Island. I’ve seen some weird shit when it comes to fate and love and all that happy horseshit. Though I have to admit I’m happy it’s hit me.”

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