Page 87 of Make Me Trust Again
Kyle shrugs off my hand and slips past me. “I thought we were friends.”
“Ky—”
My voice dies down as his back turns to me while he runs across the yard and back home. I run my palm over my face, my shoulders tense as I watch his back, effectively tuning me out, but I still can’t help but whisper.
“I’m sorry.”
It’s better this way.
Better to disappoint him now than let him get attached even more than he already is. God only knows why he’s done that in the first place. I sure as hell didn’t make it easy on him.
Letting my hand drop, I catch a glimpse of Shadow glaring at me before she, too, disappears after Kyle, and I can’t even blame her.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ROSE
Putting the truck into park behind a few other vehicles, I glance up in the rearview mirror to find Kyle watching out the window, a distant expression on his face.
He’s been quiet ever since he got back from John’s, and I don’t know what to make of it. I tried talking to him about how his visit went, but he just said okay and quickly changed the subject. I don’t know what to do. Should I push for more or let him have the time he needs to process? A lot has happened in the last few months, a lot of changes. If I, as an adult, need time to deal with all of it, a child surely does, too.
I turn in my seat, and Kyle slowly glances at me.
“Are you okay?”
Fine.
“You sure? If you don’t want to be here, we can go home and hang out, just the two of us.”
Kyle shakes his head before I can even finish.No, I want to go swimming with Levi. You said I can swim.
The corner of my mouth lifts at his sudden eagerness. If there was any kind of water, good luck to anybody who tried to stopthis kid from entering it.“Of course, you can go swimming. Let’s go then. Can you help me carry some of the stuff?”
We get out of the car, and I hand Kyle his backpack and one of the plastic containers, while I grab the rest.
Soft music is playing in the air as we make our way to the little group that’s gathering by the lake. The place looks exactly like it did ten years ago when we used to come here to party as teens, but now, instead of booze and blasting music, the place is filled with splashing water, kids’ laughter, and the smell of barbecue.
My footsteps slow as I take in the group. Miguel, Blake, and Aaron are standing by the fire, chatting among themselves. Emmett and Kate are by the lake with their toddler. Savannah, Levi, and another boy I don’t recognize are with them, urging the little girl to enter the lake, but she’s just extending her arms toward her daddy. Kate’s sister is sitting on the dock with an unfamiliar guy, most likely her boyfriend.
Just then, Becky gets out of the little tent that’s placed under one of the parasols for extra protection and lifts her gaze.
“There you are! I was just putting Jax down for his nap.” A smile spreads over her lips as she joins us. “I was worried you would ditch us.”
“Yeah, right. No way I’m getting out of it after I promised this one he gets to swim in the lake and hang out with his bestie.”
Becky’s smile widens as she shifts her attention to Kyle and signs:“Is that so? You know how to swim, or will we have to pull you out?”
Kyle giggles softly, some of that seriousness that’s been clinging to him the last few days disappearing.“I’m the best swimmer.”
“We’ll see about that.”Becky winks at him.“Want me to take this?”
Kyle hands her the plastic container with cookies, just as Levi excitedly calls his name. He gets out of the water and runs toward us.
“Kyle, don’t?—”
But it’s already too late. Levi is signing to him, and before I can even finish, the two of them are going back toward the lake together. “I’m going to swim, Mom!” he yells over his shoulder, not even bothering to check if I have something to say to him.
“We’ve been dismissed.”
