Page 77 of Love Me Reckless

“…okay then, Brydeen can get you scheduled.” Leif sets the iPad on his workstation.

Kirilee’s eyes tense. “When can you get me in?”

“I think February is my next opening.”

Kirilee seems to shrink in the chair. “February?”

Leif grimaces. “Sorry if that’s bad news.”

“It’s okay,” Kirilee says in a voice so full of courage and heartbreak that my stomach twists into knots.

“Any way to get her in sooner?” I ask while helping Kirilee to her feet.

Leif gives me a pained glance. “Wish I could.”

We gather her things and Leif walks us to reception.

Brydeen is on the phone, so gives us a “one minute” with her index finger.

“Take care till February,” Leif says with a friendly smile, then retreats down the hallway.

I help Kirilee into her coat, and she zips it up. She won’t look at me, and I can tell by the stiff way she’s carrying herself that she’s doing her best to shove her feelings down.

Brydeen ends her call. “How’d it go?”

“It went great.” Kirilee turns for the door.

Brydeen frowns. “Do you want to schedule?”

I open the door for Kirilee, bringing in a gust of cold air.

“I’m on a bit of a timeline,” Kirilee says, finally meeting my gaze. “But thank you anyway.”

Chapter Eighteen

SAWYER

Kirilee takesoff down the sidewalk. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she says, anguished. “I should have started this sooner. I should have known it was too late.”

“Hey. Give yourself a break.” It comes out harsh, but I’m not okay with her torturing herself.

Kirilee draws in a shaky breath. “Let’s just go home.”

Home. As in back to the toxic soup she’s swimming in. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

We reach the corner, but the light turns red.

She wipes a tear from her cheek. “What other choice is there?”

“There’s a whole world of them, princess. All you gotta do is open your eyes.”

“My eyesareopen.” She shakes her head like she’s angry, then hugs herself and blinks up at the stars. “But it doesn’t change the view.”

Fuck. I squeeze my eyes shut for an instant to keep grounded because if this is what’s keeping her from her dreams, the solution is right in front of her. It’s called trust. In herself. In the incredible and beautiful confidence she carriesinside her.

“That doesn’t mean what you wish for isn’t there. It just means you can’t see it yet.”

She swipes at her cheeks and huffs a giant sigh. “So you’re saying I just have to leap into the unknown and hope for the best?”

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