Page 70 of Worth the Risk

“What did they say?”

She hesitates like she doesn’t want to tell me.

“Are you going to tell me or not?” I ask.I don’t have time for this.

“Yes. I am, but I don’t want to upset you. I know you care about her.”

“Just tell me already, Amber,” I bite out.

“They said she likes to manipulate guys, but she’s not as innocent as men believe. That she’s only with you for your money and to make James pay for cheating on her. That she’s just acting like she cares for you.”

What the fuck?First Dad and now Amber?

What is with all these people and their accusations against her? Why are they saying this about her? I know Kylie. When she tells me she loves me, she does. I mean, she wouldn’t say it if she didn’t mean it, right?

Between Dad and now Amber, and thanks to my past with my mom, I won’t allow these accusations to plant a seed in my head. Although, I’m lying to myself because the seed was already there. I can’t let it grow.

I stand up. “I know Kylie, so what you’re saying isn’t true. Whoever said this has an issue with her.” I recall her saying it was Friday night that someone told her this.

Beth was at the pub harassing Kylie that night.

It had to have been Beth. Who else would lie about Kylie?

“Did this person have blonde hair?”

Amber ponders before nodding. “Yes, she did. Why?”

I knew it.

“Because I know who it was. She has an issue with Kylie, and she’d love to stick it to her. That’s why she picked you to say it to. She saw us together and knew you would tell me.”

That must be it.

“You might be right. I just wanted to tell you in case it was true. I would have felt bad if I didn’t.”

“I understand, but your conscience is clear. I’ll head back Saturday morning.” My phone dings with a text message, and I pull it out of my pocket to see it is from Nash.

“Nash just texted me. He’ll be in the Poconos Friday night. I need to talk to him, then I’ll talk to Kylie about what you heard after that. She should be informed about what is being said about her.”

Coming up close to me, Amber gives me a longer-than-necessary hug, probably because she feels bad about telling me what she heard. She kisses me on the cheek and heads to the elevator before stopping.

“Would you mind if I come down on Friday? I met some friends while I’ve been visiting, and I’d like to see them again.”

“Sure. That’s fine.”

“Thanks, Leo.”

After she leaves, I climb the stairs, wanting to call my girl. I’ve missed her this week, and it has been worse than I thought it would be. After making love to her, the last thing I wanted to do was come home.

As it was, I left my angelic girl asleep in my bed after kissing her forehead goodbye. It’s something I do often and was something I saw my dad do to my mom many times.

I need to talk to Kylie about what Amber told me, but that will be a face-to-face conversation. All these opinions about her are pissing me off. And now that I know Beth is stirring up trouble, I have no choice but to tell Kylie about what happened with her.

I’ll tell her this weekend. I only hope she will be able to get past it because I don’t know how I’ll survive if she doesn’t. She has become as essential as the air I breathe.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Kylie

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