Page 55 of The Rebound
18
SAINT
Imust have a death wish.
That’s the only possible explanation for why I’m currently standing at Reeves’s kitchen island of my own volition, waiting as he fills a glass of water for me. I try not to count the number of escape routes in case things get hairy.
I wanted to come here, dammit. I have to do what I came here to do.
I finally told Kinley how I feel. It wasn’t dramatic. There weren’t any fireworks or choreographed dance mobs. We didn’t even kiss because she was nursing the baby at the time. It just happened, like everything else we do. We just happen. We can’t seem to stop it, even if there are a bunch of reasons that should be standing in our way.
The brother-shaped obstacle blocking this next step in our relationship is standing right in front of me, sliding a glass of water across the island with a classically sour expression on his face. “You wanted to talk?”
“Yeah, man. Thanks for letting me drop by.” I haven’t been this nervous since my first NHL game. My heart thumps loudly, but I maintain my composure.
Reeves crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes at me as he waits for me to say what I’ve come to say.
If I’ve resolved to jump off a cliff tonight, I might as well do it headfirst. Deal with the consequences later.
“Look, Reeves. I know you don’t like me. Hell, I don’t even like me sometimes. I’m reckless, and I can be a pain in the ass. I understand that. But I don’t want the fact that you don’t like me to mess up what I’ve got going with Kinley. Because whether you like it or not, I’m in love with your sister.”
Reeves is a stone wall. We stand there in silence while several seconds tick past.
My agitation grows.Fuck, is he even hearing me? Am I getting through that thick skull at all?
“I love Kinley,” I say again. “Helping her these past couple of months has changed me. Honestly, I think she helped me more than I ever helped her. I want to be there for her. I want to take care of Caleb. I want to be that guy. And I can’t be that guy if you hate my guts. So ... whatever this shit is between us, can we just get the fuck over it?”
Not the smoothest landing, I’ll admit.
But the stony expression on Reeves’s face cracks ever so slightly as he sighs, placing both hands on the island and leaning in. I’m not sure if I’m gonna get a heartfelt apology or a death threat. Either way, my heart is in my goddamn throat, and I barely breathe for the next few seconds.
“You’re irresponsible.”
“I’m responsible enough to keep a job.”
“Barely. You’re a player.”
“Of hockey? A damn good one. And I don’t fuck around anymore.”
He lifts one eyebrow at me.
Dude, if he only knew. I haven’t fucked anyone in ... I can’t even remember. The only girl who gets me hard anymore is his sister, but I doubt he wants to hear that, so I stay quiet.
“You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Reeves. I care about your sister. A lot. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
A muscle in his jaw jumps, but for once he doesn’t argue with me. Finally, after glaring me down for about as long as I can take without rolling my eyes, he mutters, “Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine. But if you hurt her—”
“I won’t.”
“But if you do,” he says firmly, delivering the verdict like a judge with anger management issues, “I will literally end you. Do you understand?”
“I won’t hurt her.”
