Page 33 of Protector

Would he want that? To leave Kensley?If he wasn’t here for his sisters. I’m not really sure. And I hate the unease, thinking about him leaving town.

He wouldn’t be the first one. Kingston and Camden left. My brother and Dixon are in Hayes with Oakley and Travis.

Is it even possible to live here and have everything he deserves someday? Can he walk down the streets of Kensley, hand in hand with some guy? I’m trying not to focus too much on the thought of some other guy with him. But still, could he?

I don’t know.

And I kissed him. I’d like to say I have no idea why I kissed him, or I did it just to comfort him, but it wasn’t that.

I didn’t like that cute little guy touching him. Not at all.

I hated it, in fact. And goddammit, I want to be enough. I want to be everything he deserves, but I don’t know how.

That kiss—God, that kiss—was everything. It felt so incredibly good, but I don’t know if I did it for the right reasons.

Or if I would want to do it again.

I study Zach for a moment as he’s perched on the ledge, his hair blowing in the cool wind, his lips full and plump. God, they felt good against mine. I shift a little on the porch swing—my dick liking the thought of his lips a little too much for comfort with my mother sitting right here.

But Zach climbs off the ledge and stands up, facing my mother. “Thank you for watching the girls. It looks like they had a great time.”

She smiles at him. “You all can stay for dinner, if you’d like.”

“Oh...” He looks surprised and maybe a little conflicted, but Mary runs up the stairs excitedly, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Can we? Mrs. Bates makes the best food!”

Zach hugs his little sister to him, but then shakes his head. “Uh, we should probably get going.”

“Why?” I stand up and ask, almost panicked. I don’t want him to leave. I want to talk about what happened with him. The truck was quiet on the way home, and normally I like that, but all I wanted to do was find the courage to talk to him about the kiss.

But I’m a fumbling idiot when it comes to stuff like that, and I didn’t know what to say. But I know I don’t want him to go now.

“Adam,” my mom scolds. “Maybe he’s ready to get to his own house for a bit.”

That’s definitely not it. Zach hates his house.

“Please. Can we please stay for dinner?” Mary asks, still holding onto him.

Anna walks up the stairs casually. “Seriously. You think El and Mom will have dinner ready for us? They’d be happy if we don’t come home.”

Zach and my mother frown, and my stomach clenches, thinking about their stepfather and mother. Anyone would be lucky to have these kids, but they’re assholes. “Please,” I ask Zach, and I swear his eyes look like they’re going to bug out of his head before he recovers and smiles.

“You just want help with the chores.”

I grin and let out a deep breath because I know he’s going to stay. “You know it.”

My mother smiles amusedly but turns to the girls. “How about I show you girls how to bake my famous cherry pie?”

“Yes!” Mary says excitedly, and Anna looks less exuberant but nods her head in agreement. She’s a teenager, so she can’t look too excited.

They go inside, and my brothers rush past us. They’re followed by my father, who grunts his greeting and heads inside too, leaving Zach and me out on the porch.

“Thanks for, um...”

“For what?” I ask, my right brow quirked and amusement coursing through me as I wait for him to finish his thought. I can’t have things being awkward between us. That just won’t work.

“For taking me to the city, I guess.” He grins. “Even though I think Coach would kick both our asses if he knew how much junk we ate when we were away.”

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