Page 60 of Our Secrets and Scars

“Yeah?”

I nod.

And it’s true. I’d walk into my parent’s house on Holden’s arm, confident and unafraid. Though, I’m almost certain one look at his face tattoo and eyebrow piercing would send them both into an early grave. But that’s their problem. If someone sees only the surface and not the soul beneath, then that’s a reflection of them.

“You’re a good woman, peach, and I’ll be making sure my nephew knows it.”

“I already do.” Holden’s voice from the doorway startles us both, and we both swing wide eyes toward him as if we’ve been caught doing something we shouldn’t. “What are you doing here?”

Shit, I knew I should have waited outside.

“Oh, uh, Mack said it was okay if I waited for you in here,” I say hurriedly, my heart beating hard at the worry that I’ve upset him.

Holden grins, and it’s this magical thing that lights up the entire room. “Not you, Kinz, don’t worry. I was talking to my uncle.”

“Oh,” I breathe. Relief pours through me, and I finally relax into the soft worn-out cushions of his sofa.

“Don’t worry, kid. I’ll be getting out of your way,” Mack says, clapping Holden on the shoulder. And then, in a lower voice, he asks, “Kinz?” But the question is directed at Holden.

Holden nods, and Mack turns to look at me again, his expression different than it was before. Even softer, somehow, and kind of awe-struck. Almost as if he recognizes me, though that’s impossible.

He smiles, and I can’t help but return it. “It was a real pleasure to meet you, peach.”

“You too.”

And with that, he gives a two-finger salute before leaving Holden and me to ourselves.

“Well, that was weird,” Holden says, wiping his hand down his face.

“What was?”

“Uncle Mack doesn’t tend to be so generous with his smiles, but he gave you at least four that I could see.”

“Oh?”

“He must like you.”

My cheeks heat. During that short interaction, I wasn’t trying to be anyone else. I was just me. Just Kinsley. I wasn’t trying to act like Bexley to try and make myself more amiable.

Even still, Uncle Mack liked me.

“You’re glowing,” Holden says with amusement. “You’re lit up like a damn Christmas tree right now.”

“Am I?”

He chuckles. “You know you are.”

I shrug my shoulders. “I like that he likes me.”

Coming over to where I’m sitting on the couch, he bends over and presses a chaste kiss to my forehead. “I never had any doubt that he would.”

I stare up at him in awe of the sweetness he shows me and how natural it feels to be here in his space now that I know who he is. I always thought that he felt familiar. The way he made me feel safe even from the very first day when I bumped into him running away from Owen. I guess my heart recognized him the moment he touched me, even if I didn’t learn the truth until much later.

“I’m sorry.” The words escape of their own accord.

Holden frowns in confusion. “For what?”

“For not telling you who I was as soon as I found your letters. For freaking out. For pushing you away.”

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