Page 78 of Trust Issues
“I was head over heels with what’s his face too. He left me high and dry after we lost our child and…” The memories sliced through me and the words dried up in my mouth like salt on the shore.
“Kyle, listen to me…” Naima took me by the shoulders and got in my face so the only things I focused on were her eyes. She was my sister. She’d been there for me through everything and if anyone could snap some sense into me it would be her. “What you have with Max is real because you started off as friends first.”
“Frenemies,” Cadence corrected.
“Well…yeah. But you two were already pretty inseparable. It was adorable then and now it’s amazing to watch it blossom. I know you’re afraid to love and trust again but girl, you have to step out there sooner or later. Not every man is an asshole and I definitely don’t think Max fits that bill. He cares about you just as much as you care about him.”
“Y’all are in love.” Cadence folded her arms and sat with us on the bed.
My girls wouldn’t ever steer me wrong so maybe they were right. Maybe I was in love with Max. My heart fluttered at the idea and a solid feeling of warmth radiated through my chest.
Love.
Who the fuck would have ever thought it?
My throat was tight and itchy at the idea of being in love with Max. I mean shit, I couldn’t wait to see him at the end of the day and it didn’t feel right not to wake up beside him. It didn’t feel right not to go to sleep beside him. I told him everything. I bared my soul to him and most importantly…I trusted him with Barkley.
There was definitely some validity to me being in love.
“Well,” I said, tipping my nose in the air because I’m a defiant bitch. “If we’re so in love, why hasn’t he told me he loves me?”
“Who the fuck knows. Both of you have trust issues. Maybe you’re both scared,” Naima answered.
“One of y’all is going to have to make the move.” Cadence was right and I wasn’t one to wait around for somebody else to make the first move so I was going to handle things on my end. I stood up and looked at Naima.
“I’m going to take him lunch at work after I see you off to the airport,” I told her. I was going to say something to Cadence but I noticed she was nose-deep in her phone. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“Getting a last minute ticket to LA. I wasn’t bullshitting. I’m going to help get you settled in,” she smiled. Naima grinned so wide it damn near stretched across to her ears then she launched into Cadence’s arms and kissed her lips slowly.
“Okay, seeing your two friends intimately kiss each other. Great. Got it. Now it’s on my list of things I never want to see again. Thanks for helping out guys,” I called as I left the room.
I went into the living room and grabbed a few Starbursts off the coffee table then sat on the couch to cruise through Pinterest for cute lunch date ideas. Barkley hopped up on the couch beside me and I stroked his silky black fur.
“You think I’m in love with Max?” I asked him. He perked up at the mention of his buddy Max and I laughed. “You play favorites because he sneaks you treats after meals. I know you, Barks.” He replied by licking my hand and snorting. “You love whoever gives you treats.” He snorted at me again as if to sayno, Mom, I actually like Max.
I scrolled through Pinterest until I found a picnic idea that I liked. It involved a jug of margaritas and let’s face it, the lunch date wasn’t solely for Max. I hopped up and went into the kitchen to make hoagies and mix margaritas. Right after I’d washed my hands, there was a knock on the door.
“It’s Owen, I called him to help us move these boxes into the truck,” Naima called from her room. I opened the door and gave him a hug.
Turns out, Naima was right. Max had me floating on a giddy cloud most of the time. I’d never hugged people or smiled as much. “What’s up, Kyle? I’m the hired muscle for the day so point me in the direction of the boxes.”
“If we hired muscle and you’re what they sent, I want a refund,” I joked walking back to Naima’s room. Truthfully though, those Parker boys were built like Gods. Mine was the best though.
“I might not be Max but I’m sure you won’t complain when I take these boxes out of here.”
“True,” I nodded.
“Come on Owen, help me grab these right here,” Naima picked up a box almost as big as she was and Owen muttered under his breath before taking it from her.
“All of y’all women are pint-sized. You might as well direct me while I carry all the boxes down to the lobby. What time are the movers coming?”
“In an hour,” Naima answered.
“We’ll have all the boxes down there by then.”
“I’m gonna make a picnic lunch for me and Max and then I’ll help,” I said with a smile. Cadence and Naima both rolled their eyes at me.
“You know this ho tried to pretend she wasn’t head over heels in love with your brother?” Naima asked. I pretended to be offended but on the inside, I was cackling. Naima always had a way with words.
