Page 4 of Not Afraid to Trust Again
I stayed in the kitchen and pretended I didn’t hear them come in as Kyden spoke to my sister. I knew it was only a matter of time before he would look for me because my car was outside.
“Let me go get some water,” Kyden said, then I heard footsteps heading in my direction.
I smelled his cologne as soon as he entered. I acted like I wasn’t affected by his presence as I pretended to fix the stuff on the table.
Goosebumps covered my arms when he whispered, “Are you going to pretend like I’m not here, Elise?”
His hands gripped the table on each side of me, blocking me in. Kyden insisted on calling me by my middle name, even though I told him not to. A chill went down my spine each time he said it. I didn’t care for the name until he started saying it, especially when we were in the throes of passion.
I drank in his appearance because I loved seeing him out of his uniform. “No, Kyden. I’m not pretending you aren’t here. I’m trying to get everything together before everyone else comes.” Just then, the doorbell rang. “I have to get the door.”
It made me nervous being around him, and I didn’t think my sister’s party was the place to tell him.
“You can’t run from me forever, Elise.” He kissed my ear then moved back.
I practically sprinted out of the kitchen as Kyden chuckled behind me.
I keptmy eyes on Elise almost the whole time we had been at the party. She avoided me at all costs, making sure we were never alone in a room together. I caught her looking in my direction a few times, but she would quickly divert her eyes when I looked her way.
The way her jeans hugged her thighs made my mouth water. I couldn’t wait until I could ease my way between them again.
My jaw ticked as I watched Melanie’s brother, Melvin. He had been watching Elise since he walked in the door. Melanie was friends with the girls, but I wasn’t sure why she brought her brother. He tried to talk to every woman here but never got any play. I knew he tried to talk to Elise before, and I guess he feltbold enough to try again. I was about to put a stop to that shit, though.
The house had an open concept, so I could see him in the kitchen smiling and shit in her direction while I sat on the couch nursing a drink. I took one long swig to finish it, then stood to go into the kitchen. I put my cup on the counter and stood next to Melvin.
“You might want to find someone else to gawk over besides that one.”
He choked on the drink he swallowed, so I patted his back.
“Shit. My bad, sheriff. That’s you?” He tilted his head in Elise’s direction.
“She is, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t eye fuck her all night.”
She wasn’t officially mine, but he didn’t need to know that. Even if she was to mess with someone else, it wouldn’t be Melvin. He had nothing going for himself, and he wouldn’t know how to handle someone like her.
“Again, my bad. I’ll keep my eyes to myself.” He picked up his cup from the counter and left the kitchen.
My brother entered the kitchen as Melvin walked out. Kaleb looked at me then at Melvin’s back, then at me again.
“You ran that man out of here.” He chuckled as he came to stand next to me.
I cut my eyes at him. “He didn’t know how to keep his eyes to himself.”
Kaleb took a swig of his beer.
“Possessive much?” He smirked.
I had never been the possessive type, but withher,I felt the need to be.
“Don’t act like you aren’t over Janae.”
His gaze fell on his wife, and he smiled.
“Maybe. But she’s also my wife, and I know she isn’t going anywhere. You, on the other hand, are still in the friend zone.”
I scoffed. “Friend zone? Nah, I’m much more than that.”
“But still not enough.” His lip curled upward before he took another swig. “You still ain’t told her your secret, though, have you?”
