Page 53 of Make Me Trust Again
Kyle is sitting on the kitchen counter, still in his PJs, eating a piece of bacon. Or more like teasing poor Shadow, who’s sitting in front of him, waiting to be fed.
And then there is Chase.
Cooking breakfast.
In my kitchen.
My lips part as I stare at the two of them as they interact. Chase’s head is tilted just so slightly to his right as he listens to Kyle chatter away, and every so often, he lifts his gaze from the pan where he’s making eggs. He’s still dressed in the same shirt and jeans from last night, the material rumpled from sleep.
Did he stay the night?
Kyle’s the first one who sees me, his lips spreading into a wide smile.“Mom! You’re awake.”
“Morning.”
Chase’s head snaps up at Kyle’s words. Our eyes meet, and I can feel my heart do a little flip inside my chest. Those dark eyes watching me intently, suddenly making me aware that it’s broad daylight, and I’m standing in the doorway of my kitchen in just an oversized shirt and nothing else. The shirt thatheput on melast night. Color rises up my cheeks, my throat feeling dry under his watchful gaze. My fingers curl around the hem of my shirt, tugging it lower, and he doesn’t miss the movement. Some days it seems like that man doesn’t miss anything.
“I—”I swallow hard, but before I can try and break the silence building between us, a small body connects with mine as Kyle’s arms wrap around my middle.
I run my fingers through his unruly hair. Kyle’s eyes meet mine, some of that uncertainty from last night still visible on his face as he pulls back.Are you okay?
“I’m feeling better, don’t worry,” I say softly, shifting my attention between the two of them.“What’s going on here?”
C— Protect is making breakfast.Kyle frowns as he glances at Chase.He’s not very good at it.
I blink, unsure if I’ve understood the sign correctly. It’s funny how I was the one who started learning ASL so I could teach Kyle to communicate, but now, he knows it way better than I do. Still, I’m pretty sure he made a sign for the letter C before he crossed his forearms over his chest, palms flat as he extended them toward me. I repeat the movement.Protect?
Kyle shakes his head and does it again, definitely adding the C at the beginning.
“Chase.”Kyle grins, which draws the attention of the man standing at the stove.
His brows pull together. “Chase what?”
I’m still trying to process the fact that Kyle gave Chase a sign name when he quickly adds in sign, so only I can understand him.Don’t tell him I said that. He’s trying really hard.
Of course, Chase doesn’t miss that. But instead of being annoyed, he seems almost amused. “Are you snitching on me in sign language so I can’t understand?”
“He said you were making breakfast,”I explain easily, switching to SimCom and giving Kyle a pointed look.
“That was the idea, at least.”
Just then, I smell something burning.
Chase curses under his breath and turns to the stove, flipping the scrambled eggs only to find the bottom side totally fried.
I bite the inside of my cheek as Chase mutters more curses under his breath.
Kyle nudges me with his elbow once again.
See? This is the second time it’s happened.
Chase sighs and turns off the burner before turning around. “You’re officially out of eggs.”
“Don’t worry, we still have bacon.” Kyle looks at the counter, where I guess the bacon was, only there is just an empty plate. “Shadow!” Kyle chastises and props his arms on his hips. “Did you eat my bacon?”
The dog runs her tongue over her mouth, her eyes blinking innocently.
I chuckle softly, the sound turning into a cough. Kyle turns to me, that worry back on his face.Are you really okay?
