Page 118 of Other Side Of Never
Kian spun around to face me.Stalking toward me, he cupped my face in his hands.“Are you okay?Did he touch you?”
“No, I mean, yes.”I shook my head sharply.“Yes, I’m okay.No, he didn’t touch me.”
He pressed his forehead to mine, his chest heaving with every breath.
Then his gaze slid to a wild-eyed and breathless Jake.
Jake stared back at him.“I’ve never seen anyone stand up to him before.”
Kian offered him a tight-lipped smile.“Sorry, bud.I would’ve let it go if I could have.”
Jake shook his head, looked down at the ground, then faced Kian dead-on with his hands stuffed in his pockets.“Thank you.”
Kian grinned.“Anytime.”
Jake’s mouth quirked, and Kian laughed.“Yeah, I do mean, anytime.”
“Jakey?”I ventured softly.
“Jake,” he panted, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Jake.”I asserted.“Please tell me that’s not a sex tape.”
Shock gave way to horror as he stumbled back.“What?Mom!Ew!”
Kian laughed and covered my mouth with his palm.Smiling into my eyes, he teased, “You never know when to stop talking.”
Hawkley’s deep chuckle surprised me as Daire and Max joined in, drawing Jake into their fold to commiserate with him while Gabe slapped a hand down on Kian’s shoulder before turning to go.“Okay, man?”
“I’m good.Now.Thank you.”
Dipping his chin, Gabe twinkled.“Bridge.”
Wrapping his arms around me like he’d never let me go, Kian tucked my head under his chin as he shook hands with Max, Daire, and Hawkley, thanking them as one-by-one they left.
Finally, he grasped my shoulders and set me back from himself.“Are you okay?”
I nodded, so relieved to see him, I had no words.
His hazel eyes darted to Jake.“You?”
Jake nodded, tight-lipped.“I’m good.”
Dragging my hands along Kian’s sides, I stepped back.“Uh, Jake, this is Kian.”
I took a deep breath.“Kian, this is my son.”
Kian stretched his hand out to shake Jake’s.“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, put a face to the name Bridget loves so much.”
I was going to cry.
Like, lie down in the middle of the street, no shame, ugly cry for all and sundry if I didn’t get a handle on my emotions.
“Where’s Isaiah?”I blurted.
“He’s with Aaron and Nadine, a couple of hours behind me.I ran out of the house like my ass was on fire.”
I blinked.Kian left Isaiah with his parents, with Aaron and Nadine, to come to me.
