Page 87 of Bonding with the Beta

“Like I’m going to let you pay, Kayleigh,” he snorts and rests his elbow on the edge of the car before tapping his card onto the machine when she presents it. “Thanks.”

My hands drop back against my lap. “You really didn’t have to do that.”

He glances at me tenderly. “I wanted to. Let me do this one thing.”

I let out a huff and give him a curt nod. “Thank you.”

We collect our food and Kayden drives down the road before parking at the top of a hill that overlooks the entiretyof Stonebridge. It’s a breathtaking view, especially with the sun setting along the horizon.

Kayden pops his car door open and takes the food and drinks from my hand. “Come on.” He gestures his head towards the door, and I follow his lead.

We walk around the edge of his car before he taps the hood, instructing me to take a seat. I quirk an eyebrow in surprise. “You’re allowing me to sit on your car?”

“You’re worth it.” He grins before placing the food down on the hood, taking my waist in his hands.

Then I’m being hoisted up onto the edge with ease before he joins me.

My heart flutters as our knees brush, and he starts digging through the bag, opens a box of nuggets, and hands them over to me. I smile softly. “How did you know I like chicken nuggets?”

He scoffs. “Who doesn’t love chicken nuggets?”

That’s true.

“Did you get sauce?” I ask, digging through the paper bag.

Kayden hums. “Barbeque and sweet chilli.”

“Thank goodness,” I exhale. “I can’t believe you almost ordered the entire menu.”

“Didn’t want you to leave hungry and unsatisfied, you see.” He grins.

We sit and eat in silence for a few moments, my gaze gliding across the incredible view. The tightness in my chest that consumed me earlier is starting to disappear, and I’m relieved Kayden didn’t leave when I told him to go.

He was right. I expected it from him because Josh would have been the first out of the door after I showed my true emotions. He’d get annoyed and say I was too erratic to deal with and that it was useless trying to talk to me.

But Kayden didn’t leave. He stayed, listened, and he…

I close my eyes at the warmth that coddles my heart.

“You know you can talk to me about things, don’t you?” His voice startles me.

The straw to my drink rests against my lips as I turn to look at him and his meaningful gaze. I nod once. “Yes,” I whisper. “Although it’s not easy for me. I’m used to my feelings being invalidated and pushed to the side.”

Kayden’s jaw tightens at my words, and his eyes flick down to my lips as I move the straw between my teeth. “What you told me today must have taken a lot of courage, and I never want you to think that you can’t talk to me about things,” he says with honesty bleeding through his words. “I’m here to listen to you. I want to listen.”

“I know, Kayden, thank you,” I say quietly. “I get really ashamed when I think about what I did. People are dying all the time, people who want to live, and I tried to—” I release an uncomfortable sigh. “What I did was stupid because I want to live.”

He takes my fingers between his and rests them on his thick thigh. “I hope you have a good support system around you.”

A shiver rushes down my spine when he touches me. Only ever so slightly, but it’s there and intense. I purse my lips for a second. “The only people who really know about it are Evie, my parents, and the therapist the hospital told me to speak to after what happened.”

Kayden squeezes my fingers affectionately. “Never keep things bottled up, okay?”

“Okay.” I nod once.

I bite my burger and close my eyes as the sun hits my face. Despite the cool breeze whipping against me, the warmth of Kayden’s hand melts me.

“You’ve treated me better than him, and you’re not even my boyfriend,” I blurt.

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