Page 58 of Reviving Kendall

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Kendall,” she reassures. “Some days are harder than others, right? Little shocks and surprises, good or bad, along the way don’t help I’m sure. Want me to wait in the living room for a minute?”

This is the first time that we’ve seen each other in over a month, and the last thing I want is her to think that she’s not important to me, but I need a second. There’s a pressure in my chest that I can’t seem to let go of. When I nod, she smiles and leaves me alone in the room.

Rescuing my phone from the floor, I find the number that I’m looking for and hit call.

Goose answers on the second ring, “Figures it would take Ryleigh to have you start using your phone again.”

I want to laugh, but it comes out as a sob instead.

His voice drops the playful tone and goes serious instantly, “Are you ok, babe?” And when I don’t answer, “Kendall?”

Mav’s voice says something in the background. Should have known that they would be together. Another second has him on the line, “What’s wrong, Kendall?”

“Nothing,” I tell them, only half lying. Just hearing their voices has lifted off some of the weight off my chest.

“Try again,” Mav coaxes in that deep voice of his.

I take a deep breath, “I just had a moment and I needed…” I trail off, not knowing if I should tell them just how deeply rooted my necessity of them actually is right now. Too late, though.

“Needed what lovely?” T asks.

Smacking myself in the forehead, I answer honestly, “I just needed to hear your voices.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, baby,” Lucas pipes in.

“Need us to come over?” Goose asks.

My heart says so much yes, but they’re out doing shit. Plus, it’ll ruin a girl’s day with Ryleigh that I owe her. “No, that’s ok. I’m fine. Besides, Ryleigh would never let any of us live it down.”

“Goddamn right she wouldn’t,” Teagan warns then adds, “but I’ll face her wrath if you need us.”

The laugh that he pulls out of me lifts the last little bit of weight and I can fully breath again. I hear their laughter on the other end, even Mav’s.

“I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice yourself, but I think I’ll be ok,” I smirk, and then making myself sound needy as fuck, I ask, “I’ll see you guys later, right?”

“Of course you will,” Teagan says with a smile still in his voice. “We’re just headed to go get…” There’s some rustling around then he says, “Ow, shit. I mean, yes you’ll see us later.”

Shaking my head, I roll my eyes at them as we say our goodbyes.

I stuff my phone and wallet in the inner pocket of my jacket as I walk out to find Ryleigh.

She’s sitting on the couch laughing at her phone, and when she sees me watching her, she stands and says, “My brother is so stupid sometimes.”

I don’t comment, because there’s something more on my mind. Waiting until we’re in the Jeep and on our way, I ask, “So what did Teagan say?”

She laughs like she’s been waiting to see how long it would take me to ask, “Well, he told me pretty much everything. That you guys were all together, which any moron would be able to see that. But, he also said that you and Lucas had sex first the other day.”

Looking out the window, I don’t want to see the judgement there. I should have known better. She says, “Look, I think it’s really cool that you guys are trying something out of the ordinary. I would never in a million years try it, because one is enough for me, thanks. I think you’re exactly what they need though. They’ll never be happy being separated with four different women.”

Her words leave a warm place in my chest, “Thanks. What did Teagan say about me and Lucas?”

Shrugging she answers, “Not much, really. He said he was surprised that he wasn’t really jealous. I think he wanted to be, but he wasn’t. And, he said that Maverick told him that he wasn’t pissed either.” Her face scrunches up like she’s thinking on something unpleasant, “He said that it was quite the opposite, that it turned them on thinking about you and Lucas. And as much it makes me want to throw up in my mouth to think about my brother saying that, he asked if I thought that was a normal response.”

“What did you tell him?” I question curiously.

She smiles over at me, “I told him that nothing about your relationship with the four of them is normal, so they’re allowed to feel the way that they want to without thinking too hard on it.”

God, I could kiss Ryleigh right now for her words of wisdom. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have her in my life, but I know I’ll never go a month without speaking to her again, “I missed you, Ry.”

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