Page 142 of Fraud
He sighed. “Oh, I would have, but, I’m an asshole. Or I was. Now, I’m trying to protect what’s mine.”
I smiled. “Oh, and what’s that?”
His hand skated down my blouse. “Do I need to remind you?”
I let out a laugh. “Stop distracting me.”
“If it means you’ll stop this ridiculous letter, then I’ll just continue if you don’t mind. Can you at least take out the part about Brian? It makes me want to barf.”
I spun around in the chair, meeting his gaze. “I know you don’t like the guy.”
“No, I hate the guy.”
“But he was a great inspiration to me,” I said.
He rolled his eyes. “He tried to take advantage of you.”
I nodded, having been informed about the real motives behind my jackass of a writing teacher. “Yes, I know. But then again, so did you. And I forgave you.”
“Fine.”
I grinned. This was going to be my big unveiling. No one would take it from me.
It was my decision, and I would choose how it was done.
“I don’t want to be two different people anymore, Killian. If that means coming out as Laura Stone, then so be it. I’m a big girl. I can handle the ramifications; I know that now. And, if I can’t, then I have you and Jane to lean on when I need a little boost.”
He smiled a proud sort of smile. “Yes, you do.”
“So, you’ll let me finish?”
He sighed. “Yes, I guess so. But make sure you include how incredibly sexy and handsome I am.”
I laughed. “Oh, I’ll be sure to talk about you. No worries.”
Turning my attention back to the computer screen, I stared at the words in front of me.
I am a virgin.
Or, at least, I was.
Until a brave, charming man came into my life and taught me how to live again. Sometimes, it takes two broken hearts to make a whole, and that’s what Killian Turner did for me.
What we did for each other.
So yes, I’m Laura Stone. But really, I’m no different than you…just a typical person stumbling through life. I use to believe I had to choose.
Laura or Kate?
But, I’ve come to realize, I’m both and neither at the same time. I’m me.
Just plain old Kate.
And I’m okay with that.
I’m no longer afraid to live this new life I’ve stumbled into because I now know that I’m capable.
And I’m deserving.
