Page 157 of The Sweetest Devotion

I nodded. “Didn’t you?”

Keith bore a small half smile. “Likeis a small word, Kennedy Elizabeth.”

Inching closer, I pressed my hand to his heart. The feel of it beating hard made me rejoice. “I wish you could stay the night.”

Keith’s smile dimmed. “Yeah.”

He probably had to work in the morning and there was no telling if Cain would stop by unannounced or not.

Tiredly, I sat up, noting how tender I was. “I’m going to get in the shower. I’d invite you…but I don’t think I can last another round.”

The proud smile on Keith’s face made me shy.

We would totally have to change those sheets before he left.

Carefully, I got up and made my way to my en-suite bathroom where I quickly

hopped into the shower after wrapping my hair and putting on a shower cap.

After my shower I pulled on my favorite silk robe and stepped back into my bedroom only to find Keith tying his boots.

“What’s the rush?” I joked as I noticed he seemed intent on leaving.

Keith stood up and regarded me. “I gotta go.”

“So you were going to leave without telling me?” I asked with a forced smile.

He hung his head as he kept back. “Nah, I wouldn’t do that.” Slowly, he looked into my eyes. “I think it’s time, Kennedy. I kissed you and now it’s time to say goodbye.”

My heart froze in my chest as I struggled to breathe. “What?”

“I’m done,” he said more clearly.

“Why?” My voice came out small and weak.

“Because I’m tired,” Keith explained. He gestured around us. “I can’t stay because who knows if ol’ boy might stop through? I’ve never been to Hampton Hills, and you can’t even show me around because we might get seen by people who know you.”

“Keith…” I didn’t know what to say, because his frustration and complaints were true.

“You told me from day one you couldn’t love me and what the deal was, so it’smyfault for getting caught up. My fault for going along with this shit when I knew it wasn’t for me,” Keith went on. “I’m too old to be fucking with no feelings involved.”

“I have feelings too.” I hated that tears were lining my vision. I hated that I had no control over any part of my life, and the one small part that I did, was currently blowing up in my face.

Keith shook his head. “But your feelings don’t mean anything. You wanna know why? Because what you say and what you’re doing are two different things.” He paused, as if stopping himself from going further.

“What?” I demanded. “Just say it.”

Wounded, he looked at me and sliced me open further. “Youwantthis marriage. You’re willing to go through with it because you want to.”

“No!” I cried out, unable to grasp how he could say such a ridiculous thing.

“Have you ever stopped to think if you grew a backbone and walked out of here with nothing but the clothes on your back, took the money youearnedfrom your bank account, or none of it, and left—even while your father is at his lowest, that maybe, just fuckin’ maybe, he’d take you seriously? But no, you’re just complainin’ and poutin’ about marrying this weirdo.

“You haven’t put your foot down once. You’re willin’ to marry him because that’s what your father told you to do. You’re not willin’ to giveanyof this up,” Keith accused as he gestured around us once more. “You don’t have to marry Cain. You can walk away any time, and that could be all it takes to get your father to open his eyes and see whatheput you through.”

His words pierced my chest and I felt my shoulders sag at the weight of it all.

“I get it. You’re twenty-four and you don’t know the answers to everything, but here and now the only answer that matters is where do you want to be and what do you want?” Keith pressed on. He sighed and looked at me for what felt like the final time. “I’ve never asked you for anything, but now I’m asking you to choose yourself.”

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