Page 103 of She Was Made for Me

I really, really want to find out.

41

Kyle

The sound of tapping on my truck window wakes me.

I drove for five and a half straight hours through the night, fueled by adrenaline and determination. It wasn’t until I pulled up outside Rich and Diana’s building at three in the morning that I realized how poorly I’d timed it, and there was nothing to do but pull over and try to snooze in my truck until morning. I didn’t think I’d fall asleep, but when I crack my eyes open in the pre-dawn light I realize I must have dozed off.

The tapping on my window comes again, and I rub my eyes, turning to find Rich’s unimpressed face staring through the glass. He’s in his suit, briefcase in hand, up at his usual ungodly hour to head into the office. Meanwhile, I’m in yesterday’s work clothes, my eyes gritty from lack of sleep, my pulse lurching at the sight of my friend.

I straighten up in my seat and roll the window down.

“You’re parked illegally,” Rich says dryly.

Not an excellent start, but at least he’s talking to me.

He leans forward to peer into the truck, sliding his gaze across my face. “And you look like shit.”

“I feel it.” I scrub my hands over my face. My beard is back to being the shaggy mess it was months ago, my hair so unkempt I need my cap to hide it from the world. I’m the man I was before Violet and I met, only this time I know what’s missing from my life.

Rich lets out a long sigh. After studying me for what feels like an eternity, he walks around the truck and opens the passenger door, easing himself onto the seat. Then he sets his briefcase down at his feet and pulls the door closed behind him, turning to face me. This emboldens me to talk, to tell him why I’m here and to try to make amends.

I take a deep breath, tense with anticipation for what’s to come, but before I can get the words out, Rich says, “I owe you an apology.”

I’m so stupefied by his words that I check over my shoulder to make sure there isn’t someone else he’s talking to instead. “I don’t…” I scratch my cheek. “What?”

His chuckle makes my shoulders relax down from my ears. “I was going to drive up to Maine to speak to you this afternoon.”

I twist to face him properly. “You were?”

He nods, his face growing serious. “I don’t like that you kept it from me, but I shouldn’t have been so hard on you. Violet told me what really happened.”

I let my gaze fall to my lap, my heart jumping at the mention of her name. “When?”

“Yesterday. She asked for some time to settle into work, so I didn’t push it. Then she finally called last night. She’s…” I glance up to see Rich shake his head, frowning. “She’s not happy.”

There’s a twinge in my chest. “Is it the job?”

“The job’s fine,” Rich says, shrugging. “She said it’s exactly what she wants, but that didn’t stop her from crying throughout our entire call.”

The twinge turns into a dull ache.No, not my vibrant, strong, determined Violet.

“She was crying?”

Rich tilts his head, expression softening. “She misses you, said she wishes you’d both told me what was going on and that she’d never left New York.”

Oh, wow.

I pull in a long, steadying breath. Maybe there is hope for us after all.

“And you?” I ask tentatively. “If I were to go out there and see her, what would you think of that?”

Rich’s brow wrinkles. “Look, I don’t love the thought of you with my little girl—” he cuts himself off with a shake of his head. “My daughter. But… I also don’t enjoy seeing her so miserable. If being with you is what makes her happy”—he gives a resigned sigh, eying me warily—“I wouldn’t stand in the way.”

For the first time in a month I feel like smiling.

“But you shouldn’t go out to the West Coast.”

---