Page 116 of The Apple Tree

“Because you want everyone to know. So tell them.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and tipped my chin up. “Fine. I will.”

“Okay,” he said, turning to fill a mug with coffee.

My confidence felt overinflated, like at any moment, it could pop and vanish into nothing.

“Eve!” Josh ran toward me in his dinosaur jammies.

“Morning, cutie.” I hugged him just as Fred and Anne reached the bottom of the stairs with their bags.

Gulp.

“Well, we’re taking off,” Fred announced.

My gaze shot to Kyle. He sipped his coffee with his backside leaning against the counter.

“Bye, honey. Take care of yourself, and don’t be too prideful to call if you need anything,” Anne said, giving Kyle a side hug.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Love you, brother.” Fred gave him the same awkward one-arm hug.

“Love you too,” Kyle replied. “Oh, Eve has something she wants to tell you.”

My heart slammed against my rib cage, and my mouth dried up like a late July drought.

Fred and Anne looked at me expectantly while Josh hugged Kyle.

It was a test. He didn’t think I’d tell them. But what if I did? Would he admit that he loved me too?

I had the chance to build the fence. Be brave. Risk everything for love like my sister Sarah did. But she knew she had someone’s love. Kyle hadn’t given me that. So I stood among his family with my heart on the verge of being exposed, open for anyone to step on it.

And that pissed me off.

He needed to love me more.

More than his need to avoid a scandal.

More than his need to appease my father.

More than I loved him.

Grandma Bonnie told me to find a man who I loved with my whole heart but who loved me just a little bit more.

He had my entire heart, but I didn’t know if I had a single beat of his.

I cleared my throat. “I wanted to thank you for the kind things you’ve said about me, for trusting me with Josh, and for keeping me in the loop after Kyle’s accident.”

They smiled. Kyle dropped his gaze to the floor, lips twisted, as Josh rummaged through the cabinet for a cereal box.

“You’re welcome. We’ll call to check in when we get to our next stop,” Fred said, and they headed to the front door.

Kyle gently pushed off the counter to follow them.

Tears filled my eyes, and I quickly blinked them back. I was so scared of loving him too much and losing my heart to someone who didn’t know if he wanted it.

He stopped on his way to the door and inspected me while I curled my lips between my teeth to keep them from quivering, but I kept my gaze on him, wishing he could see andfeeleverything I wanted to say.

---