Page 39 of Exposed Ink

Before them, I was barely living, but since I met them, I’ve gone out, dancing and drinking, started reading romance again, and I’m currently singing pop songs at the top of my lungs with Taylor as we cruise through town.

But when Taylor pulls into a parking spot in front of the restaurant, my eyes lock with Shane’s, who’s leaning against the side of the building, and my stomach drops. Because as much as I enjoy their company, hanging out with him is also hard, especially knowing how attracted I am to him while trying like hell not to act on it. Because when I do, the guilt eats me up inside—something I spoke about with Julia during our last session.

I whip my head around to look at Taylor and she at least has the decency to look a little sheepish when she says, “He texted, asking what I was doing for dinner, so I figured he could meet us. You guys are friends, right?”

She bats her lashes at me, telling me she knows exactly what she’s done, and I groan.

“Taylor, if you knew I’d be okay with him going, you would’ve mentioned it, but you didn’t, which tells me you thought there was a small chance I wouldn’t be.”

Taylor sighs. “You’re right. It’s just that my dad really likes you. He talks about you all the time, and I don’t know why, but you don’t want to give him a chance, so I thought maybe if I gave you a shove in the right direction, you’d see how awesome he is.” She shrugs. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, and if you want to cancel, I’ll tell him it’s all my fault. He honestly thought you were on board.”

“I’m not going to cancel, but in the future, I need you to be honest. I consider you a friend, and friends don’t go behind each other’s back.”

Taylor nods in understanding. “Can I ask why you don’t like my dad?”

Oh boy … I wasn’t prepared to have this conversation with Shane’s daughter—and not while he’s standing fifteen feet away and we’re sitting in her Jeep.

“It’s not your dad,” I tell her honestly. “Three years ago, I was married and pregnant, and I lost my husband and baby girl in a car crash that I’d caused while I was driving.”

Taylor gasps, her hands going to her mouth. “Kinsley, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I choke out, blinking back the tears that are filling my eyelids. “You couldn’t have known. Your dad seems like a wonderful man, but I’m just not in a place to love someone the way they deserve.”

“But what about you?” she asks. “Don’t you deserve to be loved? Finding love after loss is a popular trope for a reason. Because everyone deserves to find love. What if my dad is the man you’re meant to fall in love with? He’s such a good guy.

“He takes care of me and loves me enough for my mom and him since she hates staying in one place for too long, and I know he would love you so much if you let him.”

Her words cause the threatening tears to fall.

“I’m sure he could,” I say, forcing a watery smile on my lips. “But he deserves better than a heartbroken woman who can’t love him the way he deserves to be loved.”

“Everything okay?” Shane asks, making me jump.

I was so focused on Taylor that I forgot he was here.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Everything’s good.”

Shane doesn’t look convinced, but he nods.

“I didn’t tell Kinsley you were meeting us for dinner,” Taylor admits, throwing herself under the bus.

While I’m not thrilled about what she did, I can respect her taking responsibility. It also speaks volumes of their relationship that she knows she can tell her dad anything.

Shane sighs. “I’m sorry. I don’t have your number, so I didn’t even think to ask if you knew and were okay with it.”

“It’s all good,” I say, hopping out of the Jeep. “Taylor and I spoke. Now, let’s go eat.”

When I look back and see Shane hasn’t moved, I grab his hand and pull him along. “Come on, you two! A hungry Kinsley is a cranky Kinsley.”

THIRTEEN

Kinsley

“Didyou see the final movie just released?” Taylor asks as she takes a sip of her drink while we wait for the waitress to run Shane’s credit card since he insisted on paying for dinner.

I wasn’t sure how dinner would go, but every time I’m around these two, they have a way of making me feel comfortable, like I’ve known them for years rather than weeks.

“Yeah, my mom hated the series.” I roll my eyes. “But I loved it, so I’m planning to binge them all.”

---