Page 123 of Love Me Reckless

“I’m sorry if I came off as cold,” he says, surprising me further. “That was wrong.”

“You’re looking out for your little sister. I get it.”

“I think I was scared, too.”

“Of me?”

He laughs, but it’s more of a grunt. “A little. You’re… intimidating.” Heexhales another long sigh. “Kirilee marrying Birch was going to solve some pretty big problems.”

“There has to be an alternative.”

“One I need to pull out of thin air, and fast,” he says, his eyes turning serious.

Kirilee slips from the room, her eyes puffy, like she’s been crying. She gives me a brave smile. “Mom wants to meet you. Is that okay?”

Grayson gives me one final once-over, and then he offers his hand. I shake it, his steady grip reassuring.

The promise I made with Birch as my witness blares bright inside me. I may not deserve Kirilee, but if I’m lucky, I’ll have a lifetime to make it up to her. “Yeah, it’s okay.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

SAWYER

When we finally step out ofthe hospital an hour later, I inhale a breath of the cold, fresh air and pull Kirilee to my chest and hold her. She sighs with me and wraps her arms around my waist. I love how she fits in my arms, like she’s my whole world.

“I think she’s going to be okay,” Kirilee says.

I kiss the top of her head. “She’s lucky to have your support.”

“Thanks for being here.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

We walk hand in hand to my truck, our arms swinging lazily between us. Even though the circumstances were awkward, and Molly St. Claire was a bit loopy, I felt welcome.

“Sofie texted me. We’re meeting at Glory Holes for breakfast tomorrow, and she asked if I could help her paint one of their bathrooms. Ava and Hutch have volunteered too.”

“That’s great.” Relief sinks through me. I send a silent note of gratitude to Zach and Sofie as I swing open the passenger door and help Kirilee inside.

Once I’m behind the wheel, Kirilee snugs closer to me.

“After tomorrow, though, what happens?” she asks.

“What do you want to happen?”

“All my things are at the house in Grayhawk.”

I’ve been wondering about this too. “Maybe it’s time to get them back.”

“Birch came by the hospital, didn’t he?”

I take her hand and rest it on my thigh, then caress down each of her delicate fingers, bypassing the ring by telling myself it doesn’t matter when she takes it off. “Yep.”

“I’m glad I didn’t have to see him, but I’m going to have to face him soon enough.”

“You won’t have to do it alone.”

She nods. “Sofie said I could stay at her and Zach’s house.”

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