Page 145 of Just One Kiss

Carly was at his side, in the exact place he’d been longing for her to be for years, but it all felt wrong. She deserved to be free of this dysfunction.

She slipped her hand into his. “He’ll be okay, Josh. He’s a strong kid with a strong faith.”

Josh shook his head. “I don’t want him to know any of this.”

She faced him. “Josh—”

“I have to go.” He spun around, suddenly needing space and air.

“Where are you going?”

“I just need to do something,” he said, unsure what that was exactly. Knowing only that he needed to be by himself, away from her. She confused him. She made him feel like he was better than he was, like he was stronger than he was. Carly made him wish for things he could never have, and the pain of acknowledging the truth would be too great to bear.

He’d spent most of his life on his own, and while he regretted it more than anything, maybe it had been for the best. He’d only ever brought Carly shame—ruining her reputation, getting her pregnant, leaving her with a newborn baby and now this? Didn’t she deserve better?

He’d hoped he was good enough for her. He’d hoped he could become the kind of man who deserved her, but he wasn’t sure he’d even scratched the surface on who he needed to be for that to happen. Especially now, with the bombshell of abuse about to explode.

Would his mother tell the police everything? Would she go back all those years? And even if she did, could they ever prove what his father had done? It had been too long. The man would get off scot-free—again.

But not before dragging them all down with him.

How was Josh supposed to stand by and watch that happen?

“Josh, wait.” Carly followed him out onto the porch.

He spun around and faced her. “You should go.”

Her expression faltered. “What?”

“I know you were talking about moving away. You should do that.”

Her eyes turned glassy, and Josh wanted so badly to pull her close, to take it back, to tell her to stay with him forever, that he’d never leave again.

But he couldn’t make that promise. He couldn’t bring more shame to her, and that’s all his family had to offer.

“What do you mean?” Her voice broke.

“Take Jaden and get out of here.”

“You don’t mean that.”

He looked away. “I think it would be better for everyone if you weren’t here.”

“Stop doing that, Josh.” She raised her voice.

“Doing what?”

“Thinking you’re protecting me by pushing me away.”

He touched her face. “Carly, you mean everything to me. You always have. If you care about me at all—you need to get out of here. It’s about to get really bad, and I don’t want you anywhere near this.”

A tear slid down her cheek. “It’s funny, your mom said I’m the strongest person she knows. You obviously disagree.” She pulled away from him.

“The doctor will give you a good life.” His eyes dipped to her mouth—full lips that tasted sweeter than anything else in the world. He’d never know that taste again if he pushed her out of his life now. “I have something to take care of.”

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Go find Jaden,” he said. “Please. Make sure he hears about this from you first.”

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