Page 70 of The Sweetest Devotion

“How’s your father?” Keith’s question didn’t come as a surprise. It wasn’t his concern, but I did admire that he cared to ask.

I shook my head. “Keith.”

Keith didn’t back down as he sat up. “Who do you talk to about what’s going on with your dad’s health? With him playing a hand in your engagement? Mentally, it’s not okay to just repress this shit,” he reasoned. “I’m not an asshole to ignore you got real problems, and just keep fuckin’ you.”

I blinked to stop myself from being dramatic and crying. Truth was, I felt alotwhen it came to my father. Didn’t know how to unload it all or where. I wanted to be strong and not overwhelm Jadyn. And I didn’t want to be a burden when there was already so much going on with my father’s condition.

But shit, did it hurt.

“He was having a muscle spasm on Sunday and my mom panicked. He’s stable now. The doctor gave him some meds to handle it,” I explained. “Thank you for asking.”

Keith stroked my cheek gently. “I’m happy to hear that.”

My body relaxed into his and I lay my head on his strong chest, breathing him in.

Cologne. Cigarettes. Keith. My lover.

Sometime later he turned on his TV and I got to eat my brownies. He wasn’t prepared for me to be around, so he ordered a large cheese pizza to accommodate for dinner. We found a movie on some streaming service and it wasn’t long before my eyelids became too heavy and I fought with myself to stay up and follow along to the thriller we’d stumbled upon.

I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep until I woke up in Keith’s bed. A splash of his neighbor’s flood light leaked in through his bedroom window, but otherwise, the house from what I could see was dark. I was alone in bed I came to discover as I looked over and found no one beside me.

Without worrying about the time or my phone, I went out in search of Keith. He was on the sofa, under his throw, sleeping with the TV on. An old rerun ofMalcolm in the Middle.

He’d given me his bed while he opted to sleep on the couch.

Go home, Kennedy, my subconscious ordered me.

Recklessly, I didn’t listen.

I went and squeezed on the sofa next to Keith, going and covering myself with his throw.

In another moment, his arm came around me and held me close.

“If I crush you, it’s your fault,” his sleepy voice said to me.

I snuggled back against him. “Okay.”

There was no thinking it over or questioning the consequences. I simply closed my eyes and went to sleep.

14

Something smelled good.Sweet, yet salty and buttery too. An aroma too thick to be a part of my dream.

My eyes fluttered open and I realized someone was in my house,cooking.

The only person with a key was my mother, but she wouldn’t drop by like this. Unannounced to cook me breakfast.

As I sat up on my couch, it hit me.

Kennedy.

She hadn’t left.

Still, in disbelief, I got up and crept down the hall to the kitchen. I wasn’t prepared to see what was waiting for me when I got there.

Her hair was in a messy bun. Slightly disheveled from going to bed without a scarf. Standing at my stove barefoot, Kennedy was only wearing a T-shirt.MyT-shirt. It hung heavy on her, but she didn’t seem to mind as she kept at whatever she was doing.

I watched Kennedy at work for a moment longer before slipping away to get ready for the garage.

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