Page 96 of Fault Line

My cheeks flush, but I manage to maintain my composure. “Trying to impress me, Beck?”

“You know I always am.”

34

HOLDEN

As I makemy way back to the team bus, I’m practically skipping in my fucking shoes. Kaia came to watch me play, and seeing her in the stands was like living out a fantasy I’d had for years.

I can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous she looked in my jersey, how good she smelled in my arms, and how glad I am that she’s here tonight, in the flesh.

I text her the details of our hotel, making sure she cancels her room at the Harmony. She’s staying with me tonight, no question about that. She told me that she booked somewhere else just in case I still needed space. But I’m all fucking good on that front.

I’m more than ready to be close to her again.

Before I board the bus, I field a few more press questions, my mind only half-focused on the task. All I can think about is Kaia and the mixture of anticipation, relief, and lingering hurt swirling inside me.

The high of winning the game only fuels my desire for her, and I wish I could take her back to my hotel room and make her mine again in every way possible. But I know we need to talk first.

We can’t keep on sweeping everything under the rug, as tempting as it may be.

Deep down, I’m still really fucking hurt by the way she sought someone else out to fix her problems. And I’ve been reeling from the news about my parents all week. I wanted so badly to forget all about it and break down, go to her, and let her comfort me.

But in the end, I thought that space would be best for both of us. Some distance from the situation to get our heads on straight.

Really, it wasn’t a test, but I wanted to see if Kaia would come after me—if she would fight for me just the tiniest bit—so that I would know, once and for all, where she really stands. Or if she would just let this singular fight, this one rocky path between us, create a deeper divide.

So the fact that she’s here now trumps everything. It feels so fucking good to see her. And the way we could slip back into our old habits, our old banter so easily, lets me know that everything’s gonna be just fine.

As I take my seat on the bus, I can barely contain my bliss. I glance around at my teammates, who are all celebrating our win. I make a half-hearted attempt to join in, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Kaia and how she’s here, in Hanford, just for me.

The bus ride to the hotel takes fucking forever, my impatience to hold her growing with each passing mile. But when my phone buzzes with another text, I grin to myself as I read her words.

Kaia

waiting for you in our room <3

My pulse pounds in my throat as the bus finally pulls up to our hotel. I jump out of my seat and hurry inside, my mind focused on one thing: getting to Kaia as quickly as possible.

But before I can make it that far, I locate Rai and inform him that he’s been evicted for the night. He gives me a knowing smirk but doesn’t protest, instead heading off to find another teammate to crash with.

Once he’s gone, I practically sprint the rest of the way to my room. As I open the door, I’m greeted by the sight of Kaia, sitting on the bed, her pretty eyes lighting up when she sees me.

And in that moment, everything else fades away. All the hurt, the distance, the uncertainty. All that matters is that she’s here, and we’re together. And I know, deep in my bones, that we’ll be able to work through whatever secrets she’s been keeping.

“Hey,” I manage to say, my voice sounding breathless from the jitters coursing through me.

“Hey,” she parrots, a tentative smile gracing her lips, and it feels like the sun breaking through storm clouds.

I close the door behind me and walk over to the bed, taking a seat beside her. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, we drink each other in, appreciating the simple fact that we’re sharing the same space again.

“So,” I start, my voice a little steadier now. “I guess we should talk.”

“Yeah, we should,” she says, holding my gaze. “Beck, I’m so sorry. I know I’ve been pushing you away, and I feel really shitty about it. You didn’t deserve it, and you don’t deserve the way I’ve been treating you.”

I don’t say anything, but my expression softens. She’s being open, vulnerable, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted from her.

“I’ve been scared,” she continues, her voice barely above a whisper. “Scared of getting hurt, scared that you’d look at me differently. But I realize now that by pushing you away, little by little, I’ve only made that more likely.”

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