Page 99 of Second First Kiss

“Kitten,” he whispered, reaching out to take her hand.

She pulled away and his heart shattered.

“Don’t fucking ‘kitten’ me,” she said, but instead of yelling, her voice shook with emotion closer to devastation. “You’re just like everyone else.”

“I am so damn sorry. I didn’t even look at it like that.”

“And that’s the worst part.” And just when his heart couldn’t take anymore, a tear formed on her lash. “You promised me you’d never jeopardize my court case and now you pretty much guaranteed that I’ll lose Tessa.”

“I’ll talk to the judge.”

“And say what? That my sister was involved in a high stakes operation where she nearly got shot by her drug-dealing, twenty-one-year-old boyfriend, and was involved in a takedown at gunpoint? What judge in their right mind would award me custody?”

“I can fix this.”

“No, you can’t. You clearly don’t care for me because when people care, they protect each other. Not put them in harm’s way. That’s something you taught me and it’s advice I’m going to follow for once.”

“I love you, Kat. Don’t do this.”

“You did this. You, not me. With one decision you unraveled every promise you made.”

“People make mistakes, and I made a huge one, but our love is stronger than one mistake.” It had to be because he couldn’t stomach losing her. Not like this. Not now after they were finally on the same page.

“Love shouldn’t feel like this.” She tapped her chest and that tear streamed down her cheek and spilled to the ground. “I don’t want a love that hurts like this.”

Kat turned to leave, and he reached out to stop her by placing his hand on her left elbow. She paused, then looked over her shoulder with the saddest fucking eyes he’d ever seen. And he knew he’d done that to her.

“Is that why you wanted to stay with us?” she whispered. “So you could get closer to my sister?”

“No,” he said hoarsely. “Never. All I wanted to do was protect you. I still want to protect you.”

“I wasn’t looking for a knight, I was looking for a partner. But it doesn’t matter, because when it mattered, you failed.” She gently tugged her arm free. “Goodbye, Nolan.”

Before he could answer, Kat had her arm around Tessa’s shoulders, and they were walking toward the ambulance that had arrived moments earlier. She didn’t look back, didn’t even hesitate, she walked right out of his life, just like Nina.

Only this time it was all his fault.

26

This was a loss Kat was never going to get over. Her heart was shredded in two and her eyes felt like sandpaper from all the crying she’d done over the past couple of days. And now she was sitting in front of another man who had the power to rip away the only family Kat had left. Even worse, news of the events had spread like a stomach flu at a kid’s birthday party, with Kat’s and Tessa’s names in just about everyone’s mouth. Including the judge’s.

What had surprised Kat was the overflowing amount of support the people of Sierra Vista had bestowed on Kat and her sister. People had shown up in droves with flowers, warm wishes, homemade pies, and enough casseroles to feed a small nation. It was a side of her hometown Kat hadn’t experienced before. And she began to wonder if it was because people hadn’t cared before or if Kat just hadn’t been open to that kind of love and support.

Well, she was open and willing to accept their help now. With guardianship on the line, it was more important than ever to have people in her corner. Even though the one person she had hoped to have in her corner had broken her heart and she didn’t think it could ever be fully repaired.

She’d believed him when he’d told her that he’d never hurt her and that he’d put her and her sister first. Just like she’d believed him when he’d said he’d loved her and would never hurt her. Then he’d gone and hurt her in the worst way possible.

“Since it looks as though all the important persons are accounted for and those who didn’t show up today will no doubt be caught up by lunch with the way this town’s gossip vine works,” Judge Cramer said, peering over his glasses at the empty courthouse, “let’s get started.”

This was a civil case, so there wasn’t a defense and prosecution, but it sure felt like it. Ms. Woods, Principal Beekman, and Tessa’s PE teacher sat at the table next to Kat, silently judging her. With just she and Tessa, she felt outnumbered and outgunned.

Then there was the courtroom itself. There wasn’t a single person in the gallery. Not a one. Kat hadn’t expected a large turnout, but her friends had promised to show as character witnesses.

She looked at her watch and back to the judge. “Can we wait just a few more minutes? They’re just running a tad behind. Traffic and all?”

“In Sierra Vista? On a Wednesday morning?” Ms. Woods challenged.

Judge Cramer looked at his watch and scowled. “I’ve got an urgent appointment in thirty minutes.”

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