Page 12 of Love Set Me Free

After smoothing her sloppy ponytail from her face, Kydrick rubbed her back, waiting patiently for her to wake up. After a few seconds, she stirred and groaned, attempting to roll over, but Kydrick stopped her, holding her in place so she didn’t fall off the couch.

“Come on, Pooh. Time to get up.”

Her eyes popped open, and he noticed it took her a moment to gather her bearings just as it had for him. When she slowly lifted her head to look at him, he didn’t miss the deep blush that settled on her cheeks.

“We fell asleep.”

He loved that she stated the obvious. She only did that when she was nervous and couldn’t think of anything else to say. He nodded, still peering into her eyes.

“Best sleep I’ve had in a long time.”

“Me too,” she admitted before sitting up slowly and stretching. She reached for her phone and checked the time. “Shit. It’s almost ten. We should definitely get going.” She turned to him with a smile. “You ready for today?”

“I’m ready to get my life back on track.”

She ran a hand down his muscled arm.

“We’re gonna get you together, Kyd.” After a moment, she added, “You know Janelle and her parents will likely be at dinner tonight.”

He stilled. It was his turn to feel a way about Paisley bringing Janelle up in such a casual manner. He nodded slowly.

“I figured she might.”

“Are you okay with that? I can ask my mom to uninvite them.”

“You’ve had to go through dinners and shit with her over the years?” Kydrick asked.

It was another thing they never talked about. Paisley had never really opened up to him about her falling out with Janelle, and he never asked. Not because he didn’t want to know, but because he didn’t want the confirmation that he was in the middle of it. It was yet another thing they would have to talk about when the time was right. For now, he just wanted to focus on getting through the day.

“Unfortunately,” she mumbled. “I adore her parents, but her…”

Her words trailed off, and he reached out and pinched her cheek. “If you can do it, then so can I. I do want to see her parents. If she wants to make things weird and show up, then that’s on her.”

“Trust me. She will be there. She’s made it a point to try asking about you over the years.”

That didn’t surprise him. Janelle had sent him letters through the years. He always read them but never responded. They were nothing but apologies to ease her guilty conscience, and Kydrick couldn’t find the words to explain that her apologies did nothing for the abandonment, betrayal, and pain he’d suffered because of her.

They sat in silence for a moment before Kydrick stood and stretched, discreetly adjusting his morning wood before turning for the stairs. “I’m going to shower, and then I’ll be ready. I really want to try to get everything done today if I can, so tomorrow, I can start focusing on finding a job.”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Paisley said, hopping off the couch. “In all the excitement and planning surrounding your release, it completely slipped my mind. You know the nonprofit organization I started a few years ago?”

Kydrick nodded slowly. “The one that helps people who just got out of prison?”

Her smile was automatic. He knew how proud she was of that organization. Kydrick was touched when she told him about it, and he always made a point to ask about the growth since she opened it. Paisley had no idea how in awe Kydrick was of her. She gave so much of herself to others, and it made him want to pour into her even more.

She nodded with a sly smile. “You have a position waiting for you as a counselor there. It’s yours for as long as you want it. The pay is decent, and it can help you while you figure out what you want to do. It’s something to put some money in your pockets while you figure everything else out.”

Kydrick stared at her, emotion building inside him. She had literally thought of everything for him. He still had so much to figure out. Before going to prison, he had been in school to become an EMT. Since his record was completely wiped clean, that was now an option for him again. He’d been thinking about reapplying to school for that, but he knew that would take time and he would need something to put money in his pockets in the meantime. Paisley just made that transition ten times easier for him. The only thing was, he had no clue how to be a counselor, especially not to people just getting out of prison. Hell, he was in the same boat as them, so what gave him the right to give them pointers on what to do when he didn’t even know himself?

He shrugged the thoughts away and focused on one day at a time. Walking up to Paisley, he dwarfed her with his size before pulling her into him. He had the sudden urge to kiss her as he looked down into her golden eyes.

Instead of kissing her on her soft lips, he kissed her cheek and said, “Thank you, Pooh. Seriously. I’m not sure I have what it takes for that position, but can we talk about it tomorrow? I really want to sort through some of this other stuff first.”

“Of course, but for the record, I know you’re perfect for the job.”

In response, he squeezed her tighter before pulling away and walking toward the stairs, ready to work his way through this day one step at a time.

“This is where you work?” Kydrick asked as they walked into a fancy building where people in suits holding briefcases whizzed by, all looking like they were late for a meeting or something.

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