Page 51 of Last One Standing
Kona chuckled. “I’m not being confrontational, I’m asking. Can I tell you about my mom?” He scooted closer. “You’ll keep me safe if I crumble?”
“I promise.” And I meant it. Even if Kona was never vulnerable, I’d guard him with everything I had.
“She laughed at everything. Seriously. You know how some people cry when they are happy, sad, excited?”
“I do. Scarlett was like that.”
“Right, so you know how awkward it is. I have this memory of a neighbor coming by—Pam, I think her name was. Pam was telling my mom that her husband had passed away and how Pam found herself lonely a lot of the time. My mother, she started laughing. I knew this about her but still. Pam was so upset, I had to explain to her that it wasn’t personal.”
I chuckled.
“My mom felt so bad afterward, she must have baked ten pies for the woman. One she even wrote ‘I’m so sorry’ on.” He sighed wistfully. “My mother tried for a year to get back in Pam’s good graces.”
“Did she?”
“No.” Kona snorted. “Pam died a year later in a car accident. When another neighbor came by to tell my mom…” He motioned with his hand.
“Oh no, she laughed?”
Kona touched his nose. “Bingo.”
We were both laughing. “I’m shocked you all didn’t pack up and leave due to the laughing scandal.”
Kona was laughing harder now, holding his ribs. I wanted to try and calm him down so he wouldn’t injure himself further, but then his shoulders began shaking for an entirely different reason. Kona Miller was cracking.
I didn’t think; I got up and moved to the other side of the bed. Just as I’d gotten close, Kona fell into my arms and sobbed.
It wasn’t loud, and I was sure it hurt, but he gripped the back of my shirt, buried his face into my chest, and cried; he let go. Kona was ripping off the Band-Aid.
Sometimes we buried things away so deep, covered them, and locked them away and we didn’t know how to get them out again. I came to the conclusion that I’d skipped out on grieving my family, and when the first tendrils of it had poked through, instead of welcoming it I’d tried to fight it. Until I just hadn’t wanted to.
Kona had broken the shell he’d created and allowed me to be part of it. He gave himself permission to mourn, and me the honor to be here for it.
We didn’t talk anymore. I held Kona as tight as I could without hurting him and let him soak my shirt with his tears. Iwasn’t sure how long it was after they’d begun to fall, but Kona quieted.
I peeked down at his face—it was still bruised, but he was getting better. His eyes were now swollen from crying, his cheeks were wet, and he was fast asleep.
He clung to me so tightly, I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to startle him once he woke to see me in his bed, but the way he was holding on to me, there was no way to shimmy out without waking him.
With a defeated sigh, I gave up. I’d stay awake to be alert when he opened his eyes. I could do that. I’d assured him I was merely there for comfort, and I’d leave the second I got an opening…yeah, there was no way he’d hold on all night. I’d get my chance to slip out. I just had to wait it out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
KONA
I came awake slowly,peacefully. That hadn’t happened in a long time. Usually I was jolted awake by shouts, a bang, or my internal fear. I was pleasantly warm and while slightly sore, I didn’t mind. I knew where I was and who was under me. Angel. His scent was unique, delicious, and him. His heartbeat under my ear teased me back to slumber, but the thrill of being held as though I were precious kept me awake. I didn’t want to miss any of this.
Carefully, I angled my head so I could peer up. His head was cocked to the right, his eyes closed, his kissable lips faintly opened. He had both arms around me protectively, and even though he slept, his brow was furrowed as if he were upset.
He truly was a gorgeous man. His rich brown skin was flawless, his beard trimmed to perfection, his eyelashes…
Damn, I’d kill for them. He was a work of art; it was almost painful to look at him.
I shimmied up gingerly so as to not wake him or hurt myself. You’d think after everything Brick had put me through, I’d never want to be close to another man again, and I really didn’t…unless that man was Angel Saint. As much as I longed to kiss him, I’d never do so without his consent, but I could dream.
“That’s creepy,” he mumbled and opened his eyes. They had thin flecks of gold mixed in with umber.
“I won’t lie and say I’m sorry, because I’m not. Watching you is my new favorite show.”
