Page 93 of Waiting Forever
At least Kensi won’t ever again. Not under my watch. Not that she needs me to save her. She did a helluva job rescuing herself. Still, she shouldn’t have had to.
35
Nathan
I WALK INTO the condo and drop my duffel bag near the entry side table. Exhaustion and regret weigh on me. I wasn’t gone for even two full days, but I fear the response Kensi will give me.
Hoping to set a light mood, I call out, “Honey, I’m home.” I follow the sound of barstools sliding over the wood floors and freeze the moment I enter the kitchen.
Fuck. This isn’t good. “What’s going on?” I slide my hands into my pockets to hide any nervous twitches.
“I was about to ask you the same question.” My dad rises from his barstool and greets me with a stiff hug.
“Calm your testosterone.” Mom pushes him aside and gives me a real hug—the kind of hug only a loving mother can give. In my ear, she whispers, “I’ve got your back, but there’s only so much I can do to dissuade your dad when he’s on a mission, and that he is.”
Kensi stands on the other side of the breakfast bar, as stiff as ever. Her gaze flickers over my features, lingering on my left eye. A pitcher of her homemade sweet tea, the recipe inherited from her mom, sits on the counter, like she’s been serving them drinks. They couldn’t have been here long.
I want to wrap her in my arms, kiss her head, and tell her everything will be okay. But I can’t.
“How was your trip?” Kensi asks. Her expression tells me she’s as confused by my parents visit as I am. Does my dad know about the mission? Is he here to bust me? Did he tell Kensi?
“Kensi, sweetheart.” Mom puts her hands on Kensi’s shoulders. “Why don’t you give me a tour of the place.”
Yep. They haven’t been here long at all.
Kensi guides my mom toward the entrance and down the hallway that leads to her “fake” bedroom.
Dad pats me on the back. “Let’s talk out on the balcony.”
I follow him outside, happy to do this where Kensi won’t overhear, and praying like hell she doesn’t know what I did. Yet. I want to be the one to tell her. I close the sliding glass door behind us.
Faint traffic sounds from below. A cool, crisp breeze keeps sweat from beading on my forehead, even though my skin is baking with my nerves.
Dad puts his hands on the railing and stares toward the lake. “Nice view.”
“Why are you here, Dad?”
His expression turns thoughtful. He lets out a small laugh. “There’s more of you in me than I realized. You would have made a hell of a SEAL.” Finally, he looks at me.
First rule he taught me:Don’t offer information.Remain silent and never admit the truth unless you have no choice.
At my neutral expression, my dad shakes his head. “I’m glad the mission was a success. I’m proud as fuck that you did what Bryce and I have been wishing we could do since this whole thing started. I’m also pissed that you would jeopardize your future and the firm’s future, since you’ll be owning it, you and that little firecracker in there.”
“Kensi’s going to own it, too?”
“Like me, Bryce always planned to leave his half of ownership to her, if she were interested. From what she was telling us in there, she’s interested.”
I scratch my head. “You were talking about the company?”
“Give your old man some credit. I figured Kensi didn’t know the truth because she would have never allowed it. Look at how protective she is over her parents. I wasn’t about to leak that information and watch her pretty face fall with disappointment. That’s on you, son.” He pats my shoulder and sits on a chair at the small table Kensi insisted we buy for morning coffee and evening wine. “My advice? Don’t lie about getting into a fight. She’ll see right through that shiner.”
That’s why she was staring at my left eye earlier. I’d forgotten Prescott got in a swing. Piece of shit.
Dad eyes my hands, balled into fists. “You need to let go of that rage. If your Uncle Bryce is dealing with it, you can, too.”
I sit in the chair across from him. I need answers, and Dad isn’t being forthcoming. “How do you know what I did?” We were careful. Everything had been returned.
“Are you thinking about how careful you were and how no one knew what you took?”
