Page 37 of Kaz
“Fuck no,” he hissed, glaring hard at Kian. “I just don’t know where she is.”
“She left last night.”
“What?” He straightened in his seat, a ripple of concern rushing through him.
Kian shrugged. “She said a friend called. Needed her.”
He blew out a breath and sat back. Travis. Had to be.
Kian’s gaze landed on something behind him, but before he could move, a soft voice sounded.
“Hey, can we talk?”
Miles looked up to see Jane standing before him, an unsure look on her face as she regarded him warily.
He swallowed against the lump in his throat.
“Sure.”
She motioned with a tilt of her head toward one of the doors off the living room. He followed her into the room, looking around for a moment to take in the king-sized bed, the red curtains, and the gray carpet he was pretty sure was supposed to be beige. He knew this was the only bedroom on the first floor, and it wasn’t Kaz’s. His was upstairs. At the end of the hallway. With a master bathroom he had grand plans for.
“I’m sorry,” Jane said, her voice low and a bit shaky.
He met her gaze with confusion.
“For my part in how yours and Kaz’s relationship ended back then. I used to be real handsy, and I touched the guys inappropriately. If I hadn’t, you might not have thought that Kaz and I were a thing.”
He shook his head. “Don’t you dare take the blame for that. Kaz is the one who lied. Who let me believe the lie.”
“Kaz was just?”
“I know.”
Jane nodded, her brows drawn together as she nibbled on her bottom lip, and he got the sense that something else was going on. As guilty as she must’ve felt for her part in the breakup, that was fourteen years ago. Whatever had her nerves so fractured now, it was something else.
“What’s wrong?”
She blinked, long lashes fluttering, and then she met his gaze, tears in her eyes. She shrugged and walked to the window, looking out into the backyard. She stood there for a while, and he let her, remaining silent and giving her the time she needed to find the words.
“I’ve never told anyone this before,” she started, her voice low. She turned around, meeting his gaze. “Solo was my first. I asked him because I wanted my first time to be with someone Itrusted and felt safe with, especially considering my past. Wilder is like a brother to me, and Kaz is my best friend. Besides, Kaz has only ever had eyes for you.” She smiled softly at that, but it faded as she continued. “I thought nothing would change. I thought we’d just go back to being friends like before. I certainly never expected anything else from him, but he started to look at me with shame in his eyes. Except for the times where he’d look at me like he wanted to bend me over the nearest flat surface and make me scream his name.”
Miles pressed his lips together, hating the resigned look on her face.
Jane sighed and dropped down on the bed. Miles stepped closer and sat down next to her, knowing that there was likely more.
“We’ve fucked several times since, including last night. When he dragged me away from Maddox, I told him I planned to get fucked and if he wouldn’t do it… Well, he did, and then he pissed me off like always. Why are men such assholes?”
“If I knew, I’d tell you.” Miles grabbed her hand, squeezing gently. “What he’s doing isn’t fair to either of you.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I’m just... I know the real Solo. I want him. I think I’ve always wanted him, even if I tried not to when I was younger. I can’t stop thinking about him, but I don’t know how to get him out of this shame spiral. I don’t even know why he’s ashamed. I know it’s not that he’s ashamed of me. He would never.”
She met his gaze and they both muttered, “Men,” setting off a low round of chuckles between them.
He felt something settling into place inside him as he watched her dry her tears and smile up at him. Perhaps it was the absence of the guilt he’d carried for so long. Perhaps it was the anticipation of a new friendship blooming.
“I just told Kaz if he fucked up again, I would cut his balls off and feed them to him.”
Miles choked, staring at her wide-eyed.
