Page 56 of Broken

Aine and Kai had a lot more in common than blueberries. I glanced at her sitting next to me. God, she did look just like Kai. She had his strength and confidence. She was compassionate and patient like Kai too. She was his daughter through and through, regardless of the fact she had been raised by a single mother without him in the picture until now.

My phone buzzed in my lap; the screen flashed a text from Kai. He asked Aines last name. Shit.

Fuck. Grant. But we can change that if you want. I'm sorry Kai. My guilt over this whole fucked up situation suffocated me. I could barely breathe as I stared at my phone. In his next text:

Meet me, Sin. Just the two of us. Tonight.

I glanced over at Aine sitting next to me. She stared at the screen of her phone, most likely texting Riley, or watching some YouTube video. I never invited men to our apartment, not even in Arizona. The only way I could see Kai tonight was if he came to the apartment.

"Hey ladybug, did you have fun today?"

Aine looked up at me, and her smile gave me my answer, "I did! I can't wait to see my dad again."

She was so happy. Seeing how much she enjoyed meeting her father made me feel like I wasn't enough for her like she missed something important in her life.

Maybe I didn't understand the feeling because I would've been better off with my parents absent from my life. Aine had two people who loved her, and she deserved both parents in her life.

I sighed and sent Kai my address. Aine goes to bed around nine. Be there by ten.

As we drove home, I listened to Aine while she told me all the things, she wanted to tell Kai about tomorrow. Did I really agree to a pool party for the two of them tomorrow? What was I going to do when she chose to go back to Lakewood with him?

I tried not to think about a future that hasn't happened yet. I didn't want to think about a scenario that would tear me apart from the soul outward. Not in front of Aine, not until the time came.

I couldn't believe she asked me for permission to call him dad. That was like a stab in the heart. Aine shouldn't have to ask permission to call her own father's dad. Not when he was a kind, loving man like Kai. Watching the two of them interact, it was apparent he was a wonderful father. Or, he will be, as he gets to know her and spend more time with her.

But how were we going to make this work? I had a life down here; he didn't belong here. He belonged in Lakewood, in the town that held too many ghosts, too much darkness for me to go back to. I hated that Kai chose to go back there. But I understood. His mom lived there, and his brothers and Mia and Tess.

Why was he so calm with this whole thing? Why didn't he yell at me, why didn't he hate me for running away so long ago, for keeping his daughter from him?

I stood by the decision I made back then. I had no regrets. I did the best thing for my baby, for myself, and even for Kai. If I hadn't left home, Kai may not have gone to school, he might've taken whatever job he could find to fulfill his obligation to me, to Aine. I would've ruined his life. He would have hated me more than he should now.

thirty

Sinclair

AfterwegothomeAine took a shower and went to bed. She curled up with the octopus she got at dinner tonight, her prize from all the game tickets she won. She loved that thing already.

I loved that she was happy. That's all that has ever mattered to me, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness.

I gave up on relationships to protect Aine. I never had men over at our apartments, and I rarely went on a second date. I never really wanted those things, but fucking hell, I wanted them with Kai. I wanted everything he promised in his kiss, in the way he fucked me with his tongue, and his dick. He was great in bed.

My head spun from how confused my heart was right now. When Kai held me at the pizzeria tonight, my soul broke. I needed to be close to him to fix it. I needed to feel him and taste him, I needed Kai in and all over me.

All I could think about tonight was climbing under that table, unzipping those dark blue jeans he wore and pulling the head of his dick into my mouth, and sucking him off until his cum dripped down my chin. I was a thirsty bitch and Kai was my water.

I took a deep breath; I paced across my living room floor. Kai should be here any minute, he was the first man to ever be invited into our home. I rearranged couch pillows too many times. Would he like the layout or the furniture?

Why did I care about his opinion of our tiny home? Again, probably because I had never had a man here before. Thinking about it, I never had anyone but Danielle here before.

I picked up my phone to check the time and found a text from Kai:I'm here. Come to your door.

What the fuck? Why did he text and not knock on the door? I tossed my phone on the couch and opened my front door. Kai stood at the entry with a case of Cherry Coke and a big bag of Funyuns.

"Really?" I started laughing and moved over for him to come in.

"Why didn't you knock?"

"I didn't want to wake Aine." He smiled at me like a teenage boy who finally got the chance to hang out with his crush.

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