Page 76 of The Dating Prohibition
Ben ran a hand over his hair. “More important to me is my connection with all of you. You’re the only family I have left.I can’t mess this up.”
And there it was. He had feelings, he just wasn’t ready for the risk.He told me and I didn’t listen to him. This isn’t about me.It’s about him.
She leaned her head back until it rested against the cool surface, wondering what it was that she was supposed to do. Herheart and her mind stood at odds as the first tears fell.
Chapter 19
Kendra remained outside the kitchen, her back against the wall as she squeezed her eyes shut, listening to Ben and Logan mediateher dating life.
“I think it’s best if you two cool off. You know, I’m obviously not happy that this has happened at all, but you two are grownand I’m not going to get into that.”
“What do I say, man? I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Listen, I’m already too far into this. But you have to be honest with her and let her know where you’re at. If you’re notready, you gotta nip this in the bud, man. That’s my baby sister.”
“No, you’re right.”
“When are you gonna do it?”
Do it?Something snapped in Kendra’s mind, shaking her from her dazed state.
“I mean, she’s here now, but I’m not sure this is the right time.”
“Maybe connect with her outside of here so that it doesn’t feel like everybody’s listening and watching.”
Kendra had heard enough. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and burst through the kitchen door, swinging it wide until it hit the wall. “Neither one of you has the right to sit here and negotiate how someone is going to end things with me,” she snapped through gritted teeth, her blood boiling. “You, dear brother, should not be trying to manage my love life. It’s none of your business.”
Logan fixed his mouth to say something and she held up her hand.
“Aht aht, don’t even think about it.” Seething, she turned to BJ. “And you, if you didn’t want me, you should have just saidyou weren’t interested. Itriedto give you that out. You shouldn’t have kept talking to me and acting like you were. You shouldn’t have come with me toCharleston.”
Logan’s jaw dropped. “You went with her to Charleston?!”
Ben eyed his friend, grimacing. “About that...”
“Enough!” she shouted. “I am fucking pissed at the both of you. I just can’t even see straight.” She shook her head, searchingfor the words as her eyes filled with tears.
She fought with every fiber of her being, willing them not to fall. “Logan, I love you. But this is too much. I already haveenough family drama––I didn’t think you’d be the source of more. And, BJ...” She choked back a sob. “I’m probably nevergonna say this again, but I think I was falling for you. I would have waited for you to feel ready, because it was real forme. And now I think it’s over.”
She ran out of the restaurant, Shonda calling after her. She rushed past Lani at the front desk, her body heaving as she reachedoutside. She gasped for breath, the tears finally falling from her face as she trudged to her car, leaning back against thebumper as she tried to control her breathing. Her brother followed her so quietly that his voice startled her.
“Kendra,” Logan said softly.
“Please, I really don’t think I can talk about this right now. I know that we kept it from you, but it was something that we weren’t even ready to define, and it didn’t make sense for it to be a publicly known thing.”
“I hear you, and I understand your reasoning.” He stepped closer. “I’m just saying, I’m sorry. I did step in and you probablydidn’t need that. I’m your big brother, so I’m gonna be protective—that’s something that I can’t apologize for. But I do feelbad because you didn’t deserve to hear what he said in that way. You deserved it directly. And the fact that you heard ustrying to strategize how he could tell you and let you down... I’m really sorry. I apologize.” He held a hand to his chest,lines etching his forehead as he looked at her sincerely.
“It’s fine, because from what I heard, he really wasn’t ready. And he had valid reasons for the boundaries he set. So, youwere right—I shouldn’t have bothered to harbor feelings or get involved. I should have known better.”
“Nobody knows better in the moment. They go with their instincts and something drew you two together. I can’t say what thatwas, but I don’t want you to hurt either. And he doesn’t want to be the one who hurt you.”
“I hear you.” Kendra stared at the ground, her body numbing to her surroundings.
“But did you mean what you said in there?” he asked quietly, leaning against the bumper next to her.
“What part?”
“That you were falling for him?” Logan turned to look at her.
