Page 155 of Make Me Trust Again
He starts to turn around, but I wrap my fingers around his arm and hold him in place. “I’ll come.”
Kyle blinks, clearly thrown off for a second.
“If you’re sure that’s what you want, I will come.”
His mouth falls open. “For real?”
“Sure thi?—”
Before I know it, Kyle’s body slams into me, his arms wrapping around my waist, squeezing tightly. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You’re the best, Chase!”
My heart is thundering inside my chest as if it’s going to come out as Kyle pulls back. His eyes are shining brightly at me, a big smile on his face as he watches me.
I don’t remember the last time somebody’s put so much faith in me. It’s unnerving. I lift my hand, rubbing at my chest, where I can feel a weight pressing in on me. But if Kyle notices something’s off, he doesn’t mention it.
Shortly after, I walk Kyle back to the cottage. He and the dogs are running in front of me, and they burst into the house without stopping.
When I get to the door, I find Rose standing in the hallway, Kyle crouched down to wipe Teddy’s paws. “Chase said he’ll come to my class for career day.”
“Did he now?”
“Yes, I asked him.”His gaze meets mine.“Right, Chase? I asked, and you said yes.”
“He’s right.” I lean against the doorway, my gaze locked on Rose’s as she turns to me, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. She has it pulled up in a ponytail, but a few strands are curled around her face, making me want to lean down and kiss her neck.
“I told you so! I’m going to wash my hands!” Kyle announces as he jumps to his feet and dashes for the bathroom.
I push from the doorway and go to her, pressing my lips against hers. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Her cheeks flush as she looks up at me, a trace of worry in her eyes before she blinks it away. “You don’t have to do that, you know?”
“I don’t mind.” I shrug. “Except if you don’t want me to?”
“No.” She shakes her head quickly. “That’s not it. You’re not really a people person.”
I tilt my head at Shadow. “She is.”
The corner of Rose’s mouth lifts up. She glances toward the bathroom door before she rises on the tips of her toes and presses her mouth against the corner of mine. “Thank you for doing this.”
“It’s not a problem.”
Her fingers graze over the back of my head. “You want to stay for dinner?”
“I was exercising before Kyle came, so I probably stink. Not really the best dinner companion.”
“You don’t stink.” She scrunches her nose exaggeratedly as she sniffs me, her tongue darting over her lower lip. “Nope, definitely not. So, what do you say? I made a roast.”
How can I say no when she’s looking at me like that?
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
ROSE
“Here you go.” I smile brightly at Mr. Kim, handing him his coffee.
“Thank you, my dear.” He leans closer over the counter and whispers conspiratorially. “Don’t you go tell Becky, but since you got here, the coffee tastes way sweeter!”
The older man’s kind words have me laughing out loud. “I don’t know about that, Mr. Kim.”
