Page 109 of Forbidden You

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Part of me feels bad for not telling her what day it is, but part of me doesn’t. Spending today of all days with her, as if it’s just any other day, is the best thing I could ask for.

“Where are we going, Kayla?” I have a feeling she’s dragging me into something silly, like laser tag or bowling.

‘You can pick the place to eat, but only if I can pick where we go after,’ she’d said at home, her face all rays of sunshine. But the truth is, I’ll happily oblige with whatever she wants me to do. She pushes me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to play and let go of my worries. Even if it’s just a hot minute.

“You’ll see.” Her arm is linked with mine as we strut down the street together after having dinner at some Italian bistro, now on our way to whatever she planned for the night. As long as it ends with her naked, sitting on top of me, I’m on board.

“How was your dad?” she asks.

I quickly glance down at her with the corner of my mouth moving up a little.

The last few times she’s seen my father have been in moments of urgency, when the doctor’s requested me to come because of his aggressive behavior and she happened to be with me. I assumed her happy attitude toward my dad was formed from politeness. Wanting to be nice to him to pleaseme. But after I saw how much she helped my father at the charity ball, how much she took care of him, I know she genuinely likes him.

“Not good,” I reply, honestly. “He didn’t recognize me today, and when the nurse came to do his check-ups, he only replied with single words.” It’s devastating to see how my father is trapped in the shell of his body. I like to believe that the flash of recognition when I walk in is real, and not some kind of figment of my imagination. But part of me knows that it’s just something I’m desperate to believe. That he’s already slipping away, too far for me to reach him.

Only moments of wonder will bring him back to me until he won’t be able to return at all.

She squeezes my arm. “I’m sorry.”

I suck in a heavy breath, then exhale forcefully to get rid of some of the tension.

“It is what it is. I hope someday soon he’ll have a good day again.”

We keep carrying our feet down the street with big strides, and I’m immensely grateful I have her. To have her close, to bury myself in her instead of the darkness that fuels my concerns.

“Are you saying goodbye?” Her blue eyes peer up at me. “Like, are you already preparing yourself for it?”

“I am. I know that one day, the good days will be over probably before his heart stops.” My voice sounds gruff, hating the fact that this is my reality when it comes to my father.

“I’ll be here for you.”

I place my hand over hers. “Thank you.”

She sucks a lungful of the brisk air of the night, before pushing it out with a content sigh.

“I can’t believe it’s the last day of March already. Time flies by so fast,” she mentions, and I hum in agreement. The months have certainly flown by, and if you asked me on New Year’s that I was going to spend today with Kayla Lockheart, I’d tell you to stop telling me bullshit. But now that she’s here, on my arm, it all makes sense when nothing else really does.

My world feels upside down half of the time, but it all feels right when I go to bed with her in my arms.

“We’re here.” She halts us, and I look up at the front of the building.

“You want us to go to a bar?” I frown. “You’re not even allowed to drink.”

“I know.” She rolls her eyes. “But I thought we could just have fun. Have a few cocktails. Ormocktails, if you want to be a buzzkill about it. You know, do something different from watching a movie.”

I slide my hands in her hair, bringing my lips close to hers. “I like watching movies with you.”

“That’s because they result in sex.”

“You know me so well.” I smile, then press my lips against hers.

“We can watch a movie tomorrow, okay? Let’s just go out tonight.”

“You’re just trying to cheat me into another date, aren’t you?”

Her brows raise in surprise, the light blue in her eyes dancing in the light of the moon. “So you agree they were dates?”

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