Page 56 of The Rebound
“Saint. Do you understand me?”
God, this guy is such a drill sergeant. Does he want me to salute?
“Yes. I understand.”
“Good.”
He reaches out, offering what I think is the first handshake we’ve shared since we met. I accept it, expecting a death grip. Instead, what I get is firm but painless.
I feel the understanding rooting itself between us. He’s just looking out for his little sister. He cares about her as much, or even more than I do. They have a history she and I never will. He doesn’t want to see her hurt.
Good thing that’s the last thing I’d ever do to Kinley.
“Well, I won’t keep you. Thanks for the water.” I empty the glass in a few gulps, regaining all the fluids I just lost via nervous sweats. “I’ll see ya.”
Reeves leads me to the door, patting my back in an oddly familial way before latching it behind me without a word.
I get a pat on the back but no good-bye? I guess I’ll have to get used to him now that I’m inserting myself into the Reeves family dynamic. Even if he is an awkward, stick-up-his-ass fuck-wad sometimes.
Kinley’s place is just down the hall from Reeves’s, so I knock softly on the door before letting myself in. She’s roaming around the living room, the baby tucked against her chest in deep sleep. Classic. He’s a marathon napper.
“Hey, you,” she says softly, her voice quiet so the baby doesn’t stir.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I say, keeping my own voice low.
“He just fell asleep. What have you been up to?”
“Oh, just confronting your brother.”
Her eyes go comically wide. “You didwhat?”
“I told Reeves that I want a shot with you. And that if he has a problem with that, he can fucking deal with it.”
Kinley gasps, catching herself and lowering her voice to a whisper. “You did not.”
“I did.”
“How did he take it?”
“Oh, as you could expect. Begrudgingly, with plenty of insults peppered in.”
“I can’t believe you did that.”
I nod.
Kinley turns to face me, her expression soft and contemplative. “So, you really want a shot with me?”
“Of course I do.”
She waves her hand around her messy living room. “Can you handle all this?”
I think she knows I can. I set up the whole nursery, hosted a baby shower, and stood by her hospital bed while she gave birth. But rather than answer her question, I show her—by gathering her in my arms and giving her a long, slow kiss.
I told her I’d be here whenever she was ready. Do I hope that moment is right now? Yes. But if it’s not, I’m prepared to wait.
Kinley is it for me. She’s the only woman who’s made me want to stick around. Everything is better with her. I’m not going anywhere. As long as it takes.
She gazes up at me with a sweet expression. “I can’t believe you talked to my brother.”
