Page 76 of Keep Me Safe

I’ve known it the whole time, but I’ve been conveniently ignoring it as of late. Kira is only nineteen. She’s so young, and has so much more to experience in life, and she can’t do those things if she’s stuck here with me. Kira and I won’t work together. We can’t. She deserves so much more than what I can offer.

I may be frustrated with Jared, but he’s still my son, and the guilt of everything is weighing on me. He’s in pain, and I don’t want him to feel like he’s alone in this.

Noah:Do you want to talk about it?

I say a quick prayer to the universe that he says no. I want to help him, but I don’t know if I could talk to him about Kira right now, at least not in good conscience.

Jared:No offense, but I would rather get rejected again than talk to my dad about this.

I breathe a sigh of relief as I send him a thumbs up and spend the rest of my shift with a sinking feeling in my gut. There’s no way this can keep happening with Kira.

I refuse to be the reason she gets stuck in this town.

chapter twenty-two

kira

As I sculpt the minuscule details of the bird’s feathers, I try my hardest to control my emotions. The sun is peeking over the horizon, casting an orange tint over the studio, which is usually peaceful. Not today, though. My thoughts are racing. I keep flashing back to last night and Jared’s words, the hurt on his face. What would he do if he found out about Noah and me? It would be the ultimate betrayal for him.

But I’ve never felt as at home as I do in Noah’s arms. He makes me feel safe and secure. He’s that stable rock that I’ve needed for what feels like my entire life. I know there’s no way we can work, but I’m afraid I won’t find anything like this again if we don’t. It’s like there are two parts of me split right down the middle, and I have no idea what I’m going to do.

I glance down at my piece. It’s nearly complete. The hand is partially closed around the bird, and the details of the skin are almost lifelike. I would be proud of it, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not finished. I can’t express it or figure out why, but I’m not done yet. Sighing, I pick up the project and set it on the shelf. I need to set everything up for when the students arrive in about twenty minutes. Their finished pieces are ready, and I’m beyond excited for them to see their work.

I set out the last donut as the first person walks through the door. It’s an older lady named Delores. She is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.

“Are those all for me?” she calls, a wide grin on her face.

“Sure, if you’re the one who tells Melinda that there’s no donuts this time.”

Her eyes widen as she shakes her head.

“Suit yourself. You can go ahead and take a seat at the table. Once everyone arrives, I’ll bring out the finished masterpieces.”

She grins at me as the door jingles, indicating more students. Maddie is the last one to walk through the door, of course. She’s always almost, if not entirely, late. We all still love her, though.

“Alright, everybody, are you ready to see your beautiful creations?”

“I don’t know about beautiful,”Melinda chuckles.

I roll my eyes, wheeling out the shelf cart. It’s a unique feeling looking at all of their art. I feel like a proud mom. I grab the first bowl. It’s surprisingly even, and the colors are gorgeous, with greens and teals.

“Delores, here’s yours.”

Oohs and Ahs fill the room. I swear, she has to have experience with throwing because this bowl rivals my own talent.

By the time they are all handed out, everyone is comparing their work. They’re laughing and smiling, and it’s at that exact moment that I realize what I want to do with my life. Regardless of everything going on outside of this studio, this is one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt.

We all talk for a while, and most of the students sign up for the next class.

“So what are we learning next, professor?”

I chuckle, looking up at Maddie. As the last student filters out the door, I wave at them.

“Okay, now that they’re gone, how is it going with the bigbroody DILF? Does Jared know yet?”

“Maddie!” I scold, my cheeks heating.

“Oh my god, I knew it! You fucked!”

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