Page 57 of Bonding with the Beta

Kayleigh’s lips open, and she stops before she says anything.

“I don’t know,” she rasps. “Is anyone ever truly happy?”

The raw honesty in her voice makes my heart tighten. I lean over the centre console and take her hand in mine, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. Her skin starts to heat beneath my palm.

“I don’t know what’s happened in your past, but you deserve to be happy,” I say, keeping my eyes on the road.

She laughs sadly. “Not sure ifIdeserve to be happy.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I did something that proves I don’t want to be happy.”

Confusion hits me square in the chest. “What do you mean?”

Kayleigh pulls her hand away and shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. I really don’t want to have this conversation.”

“Okay.” I clear my throat and try not to let her see my concern. “What’s your favourite movie?”

“Huh?”

I smile at the switch in her voice.

“What’s your favourite movie? I want to know.”

“You’ll laugh at me,” she murmurs.

“No, I won’t.”

“I bet that you laugh.” She leans forward and holds out her hand. “Five pounds to me if you do.”

We pull up to a red light, and I shake her hand. “I won’t, so five pounds to me if I don’t.”

Kayleigh narrows her eyes at me. “Fine.” She presses her back into the chair again. “My favourite movie is Titanic.”

I blink once and then twice.

She points at my mouth. “Your lip quirked.”

“I didn’t laugh.” I hold up my hands in defence.

“You want to, though,” she scowls.

“Maybe.” I grin. “Why is that your favourite movie?”

Kayleigh tucks her legs back up to her chest again. “I don’t know; it just is.”

“What do you like about it?”

“The love story,” she admits. “Their love happened quick and ended even quicker, but in those moments they were together, it felt like lifetimes travelling through space. It made me think that love exists in infinite universes because I’m sure they found each other again. It’s sad, but I love how it makes me feel. I’d do anything to watch it for the first time again.”

My brows rise at her answer. “I mean, with an explanation like that, I can’t argue.”

“What’s your favourite movie?”

“Easy, Fight Club.”

She rolls her eyes. “Such a typical answer from a man.”

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