Page 74 of Quiet Rage
“I know, and that’s okay, because I love you enough for both of us.”
A single tear rolls down my cheek as I suck in a shuddering breath. There is a part of me that wants to give in so badly, to forgive him and let go of the past, but there is an even bigger part that’s still scared.
Terrified, actually.
“I don’t know what to say,” I finally answer.
“You don’t have to say anything. I know you are not ready yet. I’m going to give you some more time,” he offers. “But no more talking to other guys.”
I smile tugs on my lip. “I turned him down,” I remind him.
“Lucky for him,” Kellen says under his breath. “Why did you turn him down?”
I shrug. “It just didn’t feel right.”
“Good, because it shouldn’t,” he snaps. “I can deal with giving you space, but I can’t deal withthat.”
I kind of want to tell him that he has no right to tell me what to do, but the truth is, I don’t think I could handle Kellen dating someone else right now, either. I know it doesn't make any sense, but the thought of him with another girl leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
“I won’t talk to any guys,” I promise. “But you can’t talk to any girls, either.”
A wide grin spreads across his face. “I’m too busy stalking you, remember.”
I laugh. “That’s not as endearing as you try to make it sound.”
“Maybe it’s my love language.” Kellen shrugs.
“I don’t doubt it.”
“I guess I should go,” he says, sadness pooling in his eyes.
“I was actually leaving, too. We can walk out together,” I offer.
He nods, and I pack up my laptop and charging cable. Getting up from my chair, I sling my bag over my shoulder. Kellen gets up from his chair and together we walk out of the coffee shop.
“My car is parked over there.” I point to the corner of the street.
“I’ll walk you there.”
Less than two minutes later we are standing in front of my car, and I am wondering how to tell him goodbye. Looking at his face, I’m guessing he is thinking the same.
“Would a hug be out of the question?” He finally asks after a moment of awkward silence.
I shake my head without thinking much about it. He smiles and opens his arms for me. I step into his embrace and wrap my arms around his torso. He pulls me in for a bear hug, and we stand there together for a moment. I bury my face into his shirt, enjoying the way he smells.
All too soon, Kellen releases me. I let my arms fall to my side and take a small step back.
“I’ll see you around, dragonfly.” With that, he spins around and walks away from me, leaving me standing there and wondering when I’m going to see him again.
Chapter 33
Kellen
I can honestly say,four months after the night I ended Dad’s life, that I’m finally starting to understand his filing system.
Clearly, the man thought he was going to live forever, because he didn’t bother to put anything in place to help me keep things running smoothly in his absence. He didn’t see the time ever coming, and I’ve been paying for it ever since.
But what else was I going to do? Follow Tamson around? Watch her from afar? It turns out I’m pretty damn good at multitasking, because that’s exactly what I’ve been doing when I’m not here at The Archer’s Den or trying to organize the desk in Dad’s study. There are still surprises here and there—secret books, people he paid under the table. I would bet at least half of them came to me quoting fees higher than anything he ever handed over, but there were no records kept, so how would I know? It’s easier to pay them off and get them out of my face before telling them I won’t need their services anymore.
