Page 86 of Other Side Of Never
Letting my guard down, certain for the first time in decades, I was not alone.
Knowing with a certainty I’d only ever felt with my dad, that it didn’t matter if the whole world was against me, so long as Kian was for me.
Kian, who was strong enough to hold all of me.
Cradling me tenderly, he planted kisses along my hairline before resting his cheek on top of my head.“You didn’t deserve what they did to you.”
I stiffened in his arms, nowhere near ready for forgiveness or absolution, but he continued without pause.
“He didn’t deserve what they did to him.”
I nodded against his chest, melting back into him with that truth.
“You have an opportunity now to make things right for him.”His hands ran up and down my back.
I pressed my ear to his chest.Long minutes passed while my heart slowly regulated its beat to his.
“Kian,” I murmured.
His voice was rough, gritty with grief shared.“I’m here, baby.”
With him at my back, the hope I’d so long ago buried lifted her little head and looked forward.“I need to fix up the guest room in Anita’s apartment.Just in case.”
“I’ll do it Monday,” he promised.
“Thank you,” I breathed.
My eyes fluttered shut.
And I slept.
21
Willy Rub
Ifgiventhechoice,a life with Kian and Isaish came first.
By a long shot.
Still, I couldn’t ignore the chocolate shop posted for sale.It was well within my budget.The owners planned to retire before the Christmas rush which didn’t leave me a lot of time to make up my mind.I sat on the edge of my bed in my towel and studied the impressive financials they sent that morning.
I could make it work, in fact, it was more lucrative than Cocoa Loco.
But two and a half hours away ruled out a commute, and there was no way Kian would move away from Aaron.
And I’d never ask him to.
I didn’t want to be two and a half hours away from him.Hell, the way I felt about him and Isaiah?There was no choice.
Add the fact Jakey had gotten back in touch with me?The framed photo of him with his guitar, the one I’d moved to the mantle, gave me hope for the future every time I passed through my living room.
Still, with my fingers poised above the keys ready to turn them down, I paused.
Was it fair to place my happiness in someone else’s hands?God knows it wasn’t smart.
If I gave up my dream, would I grow to resent my decision?
Three sharp knocks delivered from the ceiling saved me from pondering further.
