Page 46 of Spite Crush

“Holy fuck, Kel,” I hissed. “You’re incredible, do you know that?”

“I don’t know anything just yet,” he said, chuckling softly while he sat back up.

“Can I just say that I really do enjoy the way you change subjects,” I teased him as I backed away from him and grabbed my jeans, tuggingthem back up my legs as I watched him slide from the counter to the floor.

“That wasn’t my intention,” he admitted as he got redressed as well. “But I can’t help the way that I want you all the time.” He let out a soft sigh as he turned back to me. “Zak—”

“Nope.” I snagged a finger through one of his belt loops and tugged him into my chest. “You were right. It’s been three weeks. If it’s real, it will still be real when we’rebothready to have the conversation.”

“Thank you for that. And for that.” He motioned toward the island with asoft smile. “But now I think I should go.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do. You need to focus and I need to think and if I stay here…” He shook his head. “I need to go. Just please understand I’m not running out on you.”

“I get it,” I promised him.

And I did. It just sucked that he’d come all the way out here and now he was going to turn around and leave again. Because of me. It was my fault for pushing him toward something he wasn’t ready for.

“I’m going to clean up and hit the road. Can I…I’ll call you later?”

“Okay.” I released my hold on him and took a step back. “Make sure you do.”

His whole body seemed to relax and he finally gave me a wide grin before stepping closer and kissing me gently.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I’d almost detonated our relationship, what the fuck was he thanking me for?

“For meeting me where I am,” he said. “For accepting me. For…I don’t know, just for being you, I guess.”

“When we’re ready to have that talk,” I told him, gripping his chin between my thumb and my finger and forcing him to hold my gaze. “We’re also going to talk about the way you’re treated by other people. And how to fix that.”

“I can take care of myself,” he insisted, pulling away from me.

“I know you can.” I nodded. “Have a safe trip.”

“Good luck on Tuesday.” He hesitated for a moment as if he were going to say something else, but then he turned and headed down the hallway and I went upstairs, not wanting to have to go through another awkward goodbye.

Plus I was afraid if I saw him again I wouldn’t be able stop myself from begging him to stay. He needed some space, and that was my fault.

I had no right to stand there and make it any worse for him than I already had.

Chapter Seventeen

~Kellen~

“That was a quick trip,” Rye said, ushering me inside. “Everything okay?”

“Not really,” I admitted as I handed him his keys. “I hate to ask another favor, but do you think I could crash here?” I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours and I was absolutely exhausted.

“You can stay as long as you like,” he assured me. “Do you want to talk first or sleep and talk later?”

“What makes you think I want to talk at all?”

“You flew to Chicago, drove to Detroit, then came back looking like a heartbroken zombie. I don’t care what you want, you’re going to tell me what’s going on.”

“You’re not my real dad,” I grumbled.

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