Page 103 of False Start
“We’ll see,” I said. “But, yes, I imagine so.”
“That would be so cool!” Sebastian said excitedly.
“Do you have any questions for us?” I asked.
He thought hard on it for a moment before shaking his head, shrugging, and digging back into his ribs. “Nope.”
Kyle smiled. “Okay, well… if you change your mind, we’re here for you.”
“Okay,” Sebastian said.
And just like that, the conversation was done.
Later, I walked Kyle out to his car, the two of us deciding that him staying the night might not be the best move on thefirstday we told Sebastian about us. But the evening had gone off without a hitch, and I could feel both of us breathing easier now that we were walking in slow steps toward the future.
“I hate saying goodbye to you,” he murmured against my hair as he held me by his car. His lips pressed against my temple before he pulled back, thumbing my jaw line.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“Never soon enough.”
I smiled, leaning into his palm. “That went well,” I offered, nodding toward the house where Sebastian was already asleep.
“It did,” Kyle agreed. “He’s…God, he’s such a great kid. I really am excited to get to know him more.”
“I think he idolizes you already.”
“That’s a lot of pressure.”
“Welcome to parenthood,” I said on a laugh.
My voice caught a bit at that, realizing what I’d said, but Kyle smiled wider and smoothed my skin with his palm. “I like the sound of that.”
“Speaking of… have you talked to your parents yet?”
He went cool at the mention of his mom and dad, but he still held me, as if I was the force grounding him through it all.
“Not yet, but I plan to. Soon.”
I nodded. “I’m here for you when you do.”
“Thank you.”
“This is kind of crazy, isn’t it?” I asked after a while, shaking my head. “How fast everything has happened between us?”
“Don’t,” Kyle said instantly. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Overthink everything until you make yourself sick,” he said with a smirk, thumb gliding over my bottom lip. “Madelyn, you have had to think so hard about everything. Foryearsnow. You had to go through what happened to us alone. You healed alone. Then, with Marshall, you were the only one thinking about your family. You had to plan ahead for everything for you and Sebastian. You have always had to be the responsible one.”
My eyes watered against my will, and I nodded, hating how true that all was, how much it sent pangs through my chest.
“Don’t think about this,” he pleaded, his blue eyes searching mine. “Just… let it be. Let us have a chance.”
I nodded, kissing his palm. “I’m scared,” I whispered.
“So am I,” he admitted, and then he framed my face. “But I’m sure, too. I’m sure about you. I’m sure about us. I’m sure aboutthis.”
