Page 13 of His Brave Girl

“What are you doing here, Kyler?” I cross my arms, leaning against the frame so I don’t melt to the floor. Kyler in joggers and a T-shirt is one thing. Kyler in a navy-blue sweater, low-ridingjeans, and cowboy boots is an entirely different drug. One I’m about to become addicted to.

He holds up a bag. “I brought your favorite. Chocolate mousse from Loraine’s.”

Damn, he doesn’t play fair. “Thank you.” I smile, holding my hand out, but as I expect, Kyler ignores my futile attempt and barges his way inside. I shut the door and turn, and there he is. Blocking me in. Trapping me against the hard wood with his thick body. God, I’m in trouble. I’m already struggling to keep my defenses up. Fighting the urge not to reach up and pull him down to my mouth. The look in his eyes is that of starved man and I’m desperate to feed him.

“Let me in, babe. Please.”

The strain in his whispered plea is nearly my undoing. God, I want to. More than he could ever know. But I don’t want to break. Which means I need to put a stop to this before it’s too late.

“Kyler, you’re eighteen. You still have an entire life ahead of you. You’re going to go to college. And be a football star. There’s a world of dating still in your future. And there should be. You should explore all of your options before you settle down, so you know exactly what you want in a wife and a partner.” He tries to interrupt but I hold my finger to his mouth to let me finish. He needs to let me explain.

“Me—I’m not wired like everyone else. I can’t do shallow relationships or fuck buddies. My heart inevitably gets involved and craves something much more than anyone our age can even give. Or should give.” Again, he goes to speak, but I keep going.

“I know what a broken heart can do to someone, Kyler. It can turn you into to someone unrecognizable. I don’t even know who my mom is anymore, Kye.” I swallow hard, the pain rushing in, making it harder to speak. “She’s so cruel now. It’s like she’s made it her life’s mission to destroy me. It’s why she refusedto let my dad have custody, because she knew it was what I wanted.” The tears slip down my cheek, all the pent up emotions finally breaking free. “I can’t do it, Kyler. I don’t want to become like her.”

“God, baby, it’s not possible.” He pulls me into his arms, wrapping me up in his tight embrace, and the comfort is a welcome distraction from the pain. “You could never be like her, Pres.”

He’s wrong. It turns out I’m exactly like her. “Yes, it is possible, Kyler. You don’t know me anymore.” He has no idea just how cruel I can be. I sat back and watched an innocent girl be taken down. I was so consumed by my anger and pain, that I didn’t stick up for her. If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t be here right now.

“Baby…” He takes my cheeks in his hands. “We all change, and we all make mistakes.” I shake my head, knowing that’s not what I’m trying to say. “No.” He holds his finger up to my lips this time. “Now, it’s my turn to speak.

“When we were kids, Pres, my world revolved around you. You weren’t just my best friend—you were the girl I was going to marry. I was young, but I still saw our future playing out before my eyes. It might sound silly, but I even made a birthday wish that you and I were always going to be together. I wanted it so bad. So bad, that when you moved away, I broke.”

His voice cracks and the tears in his eyes plunge right through my heart.

“I sank deep into a depression when you left, Presley. I started acting out. Doing shit I’m not proud of and getting into trouble all the time. My parents didn’t know what to do with me, so they put me in football, hoping I could channel my aggression into the sport and that it would help. It definitely helped, but it didn’t bring me back to life. But the moment I saw you in that hall, that spark that’s been gone for the last five years rockedright through me, and I know you felt it too.” I felt it all the way down to my toes. “I know you’re scared, babe, and that you’ve been through a lot, but I’m asking for you to give me a chance. I would never hurt you, baby. You have my word.”

My heart thumps in my chest, and it feels like my armor has been dented. He’s making me want things. Giving me a sense of hope that I’m not sure I can fully trust. But the sincerity in his eyes is fighting to sway me into believing him.

“Happy belated birthday, by the way.” Kyler pulls out a box from the bag he’s holding and hands it to me. There’s a letter sitting on top. One that looks weathered and worn.

Dear Presley,

I’m going to miss you so much. I hope you don’t forget about me when you get to your new home and make new friends. You’re always going to be my best friend. I got you a going away present. It’s my heart. You own it. And I hope you’ll aways keep it.

I love you,

Kyler

“I was too scared to give this too you before you left. But I’m brave enough now to tell you that my feelings haven’t changed, Pres.”

He takes the box from my hands and pulls out a necklace. It’s a silver chain with a heart dangling in the center.His heart. He leans in and clasps it around my neck, his stare never wavering. His eyes pleading with me to trust him. To give him a chance. “Whatever you decide is up to you, babe. But this”—he places my hand over his heart—“is still yours.”

The last bit of my wall crumbles. It feels like a wrecking ball just knocked me down. I never stood a chance. From the moment our eyes connected in the hall, I knew I was in trouble.

“Okay, Kyler.” I grasp onto his shirt. “Just please don’t hurt me.”

“Never, baby.”

His lips come crashing down and every doubt starts to fade. My body catching fire on first lick. His mouth and tongue igniting the ache. Our hands groping and grabbing. Every part of me desperate to be closer. And he’s right there with me. He lifts me off the ground, wrapping me around his waist.

“I need you, Pres.”

“Then take me to my room, Kyler.”

His low groan tingles over my lips and the ache between my legs burns deeper. He carries me down the hall and straight to my room, tossing me onto the center of my bed. When he doesn’t join me, I sit up.

“You want to hear a secret, baby?” He lifts his leg and rids himself of his boot, dropping it to the floor before grabbing the next one and doing the same. “Last night, I had my very first wet dream.” And now I’m growing wet. “I made such a mess of my bed, I had to change my sheets this morning.” He smirks, letting his jeans slide to the ground before stepping out of them.

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