Page 10 of Sins of a Rebel

“I don’t want to hurt you, Kyla.”

“I know, that’s not what I meant. I think I’ve been waiting, hoping for the day when you’d see me as more than Madden’s little sister. Now that I’ve had this, and I know what it’s like to be in your arms, I don’t want to go back to what life was like before.”

“I don’t want to go back either,” I say, honestly.

She grins, slipping her hand around the base of my neck, and kisses me. My fingers dig into her soft skin, holding her close.

I didn’t want to let her go. The voices in my head were like an angel and devil on each shoulder. One was telling me I could get past my fears and prove to Madden I’m worthy of being the man Kyla deserves.

On the other hand, the devil replays the same things I’ve heard all my life.

No one will ever love you.

You’re a piece of shit. Who could ever want you?

It’s your fault your dad isn’t in your life.

I’ll never regret being with Kyla, even though I know I can’t give her anything more than this.

When she parted her lips to kiss me again, it sent shock waves through my entire body. I give in and let myself succumb to the moment with her. If this is all I’ll have with her, I want to hold on to it with both fists.

I’ll never be the man Kyla deserves, but deep down, I want to be.

Chapter Four

Tysin

“Let’s call it a day,” Brix mutters, shaking his head.

He’s checked his phone for the fourth time since he’s been here. We’ve butt heads countless times over the past couple of weeks since Ivy returned to town.

Ivy is Kyla’s best friend and just so happens to be Brix’s new stepsister.

I’ve been giving him shit over it since the news got out. It’s no secret he wants to fuck her, but now he’s stuck living in the same house with her for the summer.

He couldn’t take the fact she rejected him just before they found out their parents eloped. It got under his skin so bad that he tried making a bet with me that he could sleep with her, only to send her back to school at the end of the summer heartbroken.

We both know he’s full of shit.

He was an asshole to her throughout high school. He likes to play it off like he’s not in knots over her, but anyone who knows him can see through his bullshit.

“Whatever, man. Get your sorry ass out of here,” I grunt, lifting the strap of my guitar over my head and setting it on the stand.

His eyes narrow, shooting me a penetrating glance. He shoulders past the microphone, stepping down from our makeshift stage in the basement of my house, and makes a beeline for the stairs.

I don’t realize he’s taking off until he growls out, “See ya,” and throws a wave over his shoulder.

“What the hell has gotten into him?” Madden croaks.

“Poison Ivy,” I joke.

Madden smirks, twisting the drumsticks between his fingers, recalling the nickname Brix gave her back in high school.

“I’m gonna head home and hit the shower. Wanna meet up at Whiskey Barrel in an hour and grab a beer?” Madden asks.

Sweat drips from his brow. He uses the sleeve of his T-shirt to dab it away before stepping around his drum set.

How do I tell him no without raising any red flags?

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