Page 71 of This Moment

Groaning, I shut the door, removed my jacket, and hung it up. “Where is she?”

“She’s in her room. When she couldn’t get an Uber, she called me to come and get her.”

“Damn it.”

“Again, what did you do?”

Sighing, I walked into the living room and over to the bar where I readied myself to pour a strong shot of whiskey. “I stuck my foot into my mouth.”

“It looked like the two of you were getting along so…well…so pleasantly.”

“We were. Weare.”

She huffed. “Clearly not. She left here with you but called me to come and pick her up.”

Holding up my hand, I said, “Don’t worry. I’ll apologize to her tomorrow.”

Sally shook her head as she turned and headed toward the steps.

“Wait…do you think she is still up?”

“We haven’t been home that long,” Sally stated before disappearing.

Tipping back the whiskey I poured, I headed in the same direction, but I was going to make a pit stop at Cadie’s room first. I owed her an apology.

Cadie

The light knock on the bedroom door caused me to look up from my packing. I thought about opening it briefly but decided it was best if I just left. I was stupid to even think I could start a relationship with someone. Kian would always question my past, and if he couldn’t trust me, then we certainly didn’t need to be starting anything.

“Cadie, may I please talk to you?”

I sighed and closed my eyes. “I need to be up in a matter of hours, Kian. Tomorrow, okay?”

“I won’t be long. I just need to apologize for my stupidity. Please.”

Chewing on my lip, I thought about my two options. Distance myself from Kian. Or tell him the truth.

Walking over to the door, the second I opened it and saw Kian standing there, his eyes filled with regret and a pleading look on his face, I had my answer.

Motioning for him to come in, I softly said, “Come on in.”

“Five minutes is all I need.”

He walked into the room and turned to face me. I went to speak, but he held up his hand. “Please, let me go first.”

His hand went up and pushed into his hair. My lower stomach tugged with desire as I watched him pace back and forth in front of my bed.

“I’ve never felt this way with any other woman, Cadie. When I’m near you, I feel…alive. Happy. Hopeful. I know that sounds crazy when I’ve only known you for such a short time, but it’s true. I just thought…Ihopedyou would trust me as at least a friend.”

“I do trust you, Kian.”

“Then why won’t you tell me more about your past?”

I closed my eyes and fought to hold off the tears. When I opened them, I let out what felt like the first breath in months. “Let me say first that I feel the same way about you. This feeling,” I clutched at my chest, “when I’m with you, it leaves me breathless in the most beautiful way. I feel safe, and I haven’t felt safe in a very long time.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why not?”

I walked over and placed my hand on the side of his face. When he leaned into my touch, I felt a tear slip free. “I didn’t want to tell you about my past because I care so much about you, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

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