Page 91 of Web of Lies
"Thanks." I offer him a smile as Kyle pulls back one chair for me. I sit down, and he settles beside me while Matthew takes his place at the head of the table. A moment later, Kimberly joins us, carrying a clear vase with the bouquet in it. She places it on the table before taking her seat next to Matthew.
Now that we’re all seated and the initial excitement of greeting each other has passed, the atmosphere feels quiet and almost awkward. My heart rate quickens again, each beat echoing in my ears. I sit paralyzed in my chair, staring straight ahead, unsureof what to do. I feel exposed, like a deer caught in headlights, waiting for whatever comes next.
"So," Kimberly is the first to break the silence. "How are you two holding up?"
Matthew nods, his expression shifting as deep lines crease his forehead. "We've heard bits and pieces from Noah. Even Hunt called me."
"We're okay," Kyle says with a shrug.
"And you, sweetheart?" Kimberly turns her attention to me.
For a moment, I’m not sure what to say, and it's as if the words are trapped at the tip of my tongue. I didn't expect this level of concern from people I don't even really know. I shift in my chair, lifting a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "To be honest, I'm still processing everything that happened. It’s been a lot."
"That’s natural." Kimberly reaches across the table and rests her hand on top of mine. "Take your time. No one expects you to bounce back right away."
"If there's anything we can do to help, anything at all, just let us know. We've lived through our fair share of madness." Matthew says, and my gaze shifts to him.
"That's an understatement." Kyle snorts with amusement beside me.
Kimberly flashes Kyle a quick glare, wiping the smile off his face, before turning her attention back to me. "We mean it. You've got people in your corner now."
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. "Thank you. I'm not really sure what to say."
"You don't have to say anything right now," Matthew says. "Just know that you're not alone."
"Exactly," Kyle chimes in as his hand lands on my thigh under the table and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "You're now part ofour family, and we're hard to get rid of." His lips stretch into a smirk.
A smile spreads across my face, breaking through the anxiety that has been weighing on me. I glance at Kyle, then at his parents. Not only have I found the man I love, but I've also found a family willing to accept me, with all my flaws. Maybe the idea of the future and what lies ahead of us isn’t as scary as I thought.
At the sudden sound of the front door opening, everyone perks up, and just a second later, the sound of claws skittering across wood echoes down the hall. Fast, frantic, and excited. Then, Whiskey bursts into the dining room. His tail is wagging so wildly that his entire backside is swinging from side to side. He circles Kimberly and Matthew first, letting out a soft bark.
"Oh, my favorite boy!" Kimberly gasps, leaning down to greet him.
Hurried footsteps follow close behind, and then Evelyn appears in the doorway, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry, we're late," she says, as Noah follows right behind her.
"You're just in time," Kimberly says as she rises from her chair and claps. "Now, let's eat."
"Hold on," Kyle says, eyeing his mother. "Who cooked?"
My gaze snaps toward him, then back to Kimberly, who crosses her arms in front of her chest. "Excuse me?"
"Relax. I cooked," Matthew jumps in, rising from his chair. "But even if your mother had cooked, it would have been safe for all of you to eat."
Epilogue
Kyle
4 months later
The piercing, vibrating hum of the tattoo needle echoes through the studio, blending with the faint buzz of metal music playing in the background. Riley sits beside me, her attention glued to her phone, while I sit in my trusted tattoo artist's chair as he works on my newest addition of ink—Riley’s name.
After several weeks of exploring my body, Riley finally found a somewhat free spot that is to her liking, where she wants the tattoo. At first, she suggested my face so that everyone could see it. But even though I’m covered in ink up to my jaw and into my hair, I'd prefer to stay away from my face. So instead, she chose a spot on my abdomen, close to my crotch.
My gaze drifts to where the artist's hand guides the tattoo gun down my V-line. He works with careful precision as he traces the blue lines spelling Riley's first and last name between the existing snake and flower tattoos.
The rhythmic touch of the needle piercing my skin feels like an electric pulse running through my body. My hips twitch every sooften, but it doesn't sting. Instead, it buzzes under my skin and tickles the edges of my brain, scratching at that restless itch I can never quite reach.
"You know, you should have done that," I say, glancing over at Riley, who takes her eyes off her phone.
