Page 179 of Keeping Kasey
“Because nothing has changed.”
“Then we’ll change it.”
“So you’re ready to trust me?” she asks. “You’re ready to go back to the manor and let me stay here alone? To have Ford stop monitoring everything I do? To have Damon stop tracking my every move and trying to get me to confide in him?”
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
“That’s what I thought.”
“A lot has happened, and there’s nothing wrong with taking things slow,” I remind her.
“That isn’t taking things slow, Logan. It’s a complete lack of trust.”
“I’ll fix it.”
“It’s not just yours to fix,” she admits, guilt tinging her eyes.
With a deep breath, she pushes to sit with her back against the headboard. I sit up too, giving her the space she needs, even as I itch to keep her close.
“I should’ve told you everything from the start. Maybe if I had, things would’ve turned out differently, but I was afraid. Then my worst fears came true, and I spent months thinkingI’d made the right choice. Realizing now that it wasn’t—that I should’ve trusted you… It’s not as easy as flipping a switch.” Her eyes drop to her hands, and she whispers, “I’m tired, Logan. And I’m not sure how much more I can handle.”
“What happened while you were gone?” I ask, unable to stop myself.
Maybe if she tells me, I’ll know how to fix this.
How to keep her.
A sad smile touches her lips. “You know I’m not going to talk about it.”
“Then at least tell mewhyyou won’t talk about it.”
“Please, Logan,” she breathes, looking up at me through thick lashes. “Don’t ask me. I don’t want to deny you, but Ican’ttalk about it. So, please, don’t ask.”
I pull her to me, press my forehead to hers, and kiss her nose.
“I won’t ask tonight,” I tell her.
I will make no such promises for the future.
A knock at the door signals that our food has arrived. I get it from the hotel staff and take the tray to the bed.
We eat our tacos in the serene silence that has filled much of our night. It’s a state of being that I’m content to spend the rest of my life in.
Still, it’s nothing compared to hearing Kasey’s voice, so when we finish eating, I ask, “Why did you only give away fourteen of my cars?”
“Would you rather I’d given away all sixteen?”
“I’d rather you left them the hell alone, but since you didn’t, I’m curious to know why.”
She fights back a smile. “Losing all the cars would’ve been like ripping off a Band-Aid. Painful, but quick.” She bites her bottom lip and grimaces before admitting, “I was hoping to inflict something more like… well, glass being picked out of an open wound and getting stitched up with nothing to numbthe pain. I figured forcing you to pick which cars were most important would accomplish that.”
For a moment, all I can do is stare at her, watching a red hue creep up her cheeks—at least she has the good grace to look guilty.
“You’redespicable.”
She laughs. “I don’t think you want to start comparing sins.”
No, I do not.
