Page 84 of Make Me Trust Again
CHASE
Placing the shattered tiles into a bucket, I lift it and go for the back door, so I can toss it. I’m just exiting the door when a voice startles me. I spin on my heels, my heart beating wildly, muscles tense, only to find Kyle standing on my porch.
“Dammit, kid.”
Kyle’s eyes go wide. “You said a bad word.”
That’s what he’s focusing on?
“Mom says we shouldn’t say bad words because they hurt people.”
Then again, considering I’ve seen Rose when she was upset with Kyle, I guess I could see how that was a scarier option.
Shifting my grip on the bucket, I lift my hand and run it over my face, forcing my muscles to relax. “Well, you shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”
“I said, hey.”
Yeah, I guess he did. Only I was too stuck in my own head to notice it, something that had proven in the past just how dangerous it could be.
Then why are you still letting him be around?
A loud bark snaps me out of my thoughts.
Shadow rushes from inside the house, where she was snoozing, hiding away from all the noises, and runs into Kyle. A smile flashes on the boy’s face as the dog starts licking him in greeting, as if she hadn’t seen him in years. Kyle giggles as he hugs her and rubs her fur.
I take him in. He seems completely fine, the same happy boy he was before he left to spend the weekend with his father, and some of the weight that’s been sitting on my shoulders loosens.
“I missed you, too, Shadow. But now I’m home, so we can play together again.”
Shadow hears “play” and dashes to find her ball immediately.
I make my way to the old long feed trough I placed outside and empty the bucket. When I turn around, I find Shadow running after the ball. Kyle turns to me. “Can I play with her?”
I quirk my brow at him. “Aren’t you a bit late in asking that?”
Kyle’s cheeks turn pink. “I guess so, but I still asked, so that counts.”
His serious tone makes me huff out in laughter. “Sounds good, kid.”
Slipping inside, I gather another bucket of debris and take it out.
“What are you doing?” Kyle points to the bucket as I’m going back inside.
“Working.”
“Working on what?”
This kid, seriously.
“I’m remodeling the bathroom.”
That has him rolling his eyes. “You’re always remodeling something.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Well, it’s an old house.”
“I guess.” He shrugs. “Can I see?”
Before I can say anything, he’s already walking inside.
