Page 32 of Kane's Awakening
“Hey, Anna banana,” I answered, putting the keys in the ignition and starting the car. It was cold that day, and I wanted to get the heater running.
“Are you coming over for dinner tonight?” she asked with a hopeful tone. I’d had to work late the night before and had missed dinner with them, something I rarely did. “I’m making beans and cornbread. Perfect for this cloudy, miserable day.”
“I’ll be there.”
Seeing my kids would be the highlight of my day. I needed something happy in my life.
***
“He doesn’t do relationships, Anna,” I told her for the hundredth time that evening. We’d finished eating and had cleaned up, but were sat around the table still talking. The twins had gone to the living room to watch TV while they did their homework. A bit conflicting and made for easy distraction, but Brian was in there with them and would keep them in line. “Kane made that crystal clear.”
Anna gave methe look, the one that said I was full of shit.
“There has to be a reason why,” she pointed out. “Sure, maybe the guy just loves being a slut and sleeping around, but that doesn’t explain why he acted like an asshole before he stormed out of the restaurant.” She cupped her cup of hot tea, letting it warm her hands. “He would’ve given you the slut-thing as an excuse if that was the case.”
“Or maybe he just doesn’t like talking about it,” I retorted. “Not every guy likes discussing feelings and crap.”
“You do,” she said dryly.
“Yeah, but that’s me. I’m sensitive and a freaking diehard romantic. Feelings are my thing.” I tapped my fingers on the tabletop, a nervous habit of mine. “But they aren’t his. And dammit, Anna, I like him. A lot. Crazy, right? I barely know him outside of the bedroom.”
She held my gaze with concern etched on her face. “I don’t think it’s crazy. When I met Brian, I knew he was the man I wanted to spend my life with within the week. You remember how lovesick I was. I talked your ear off about him constantly. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but I just felt… I don’t know. Just different around him. A connection I couldn’t explain.”
I scoffed and rubbed at my tired eyes. That conversation was wearing me out more than all the sleepless nights combined.
“Christ, I’m not saying I want to spend the rest of my life with him,” I denied before looking back at her. “Only that I wanted to at least have that option. For us to grow in our relationship and not just stay where we were: in bed. I should’ve known better. He’s young and has no intentions of settling down anytime soon. I need to find someone my own age.”
Anna laughed. “You talk like you’re an old man, Rye.”
“Some days I feel like I am.”
“Daddy! Guess what,” Theo exclaimed as he came into the kitchen, holding a textbook. He plopped the book on the table in front of me and stood at my side. “Look, if you combine that element and that one, it blows up. Like a big volcano.Kaboom! Isn’t it cool?”
I nodded. “Yeah, buddy, it is.”
“Can we do it? Please, please, please.” He pouted his bottom lip and stared at me with the biggest blue eyes. “We can wear the weird goggles to protect our eyes and stand back a few steps. And I’ll listen to you and do everything you say. Please.”
Anna met my stare from across the table and shook her head no. I, however, thought it actually sounded fun. And how could I say no to that face?
“Maybe,” I answered, and then winked to where Anna couldn’t see.
Theo grinned and picked the book up, holding it to his chest. “Okay.Maybesounds good to me.” He returned my wink and ran off.
“You told him yes, didn’t you?”
I looked at Anna with mock astonishment. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The evening with my family had succeeded in lifting my spirits, and as I left Anna’s and drove home, I even found myself smiling and humming along to the song on the radio. Of course that would be the moment he called.
After sneering at the caller ID, I answered in a flat tone, “Hello?”
“Hey, wanna fuck?” Kane asked.
My face heated. “Why don’t you go fuck yourself?”
“Damn. You sound pissed,” he said.
I heard the humor in his voice and had the urge to slam the phone against the steering wheel. The unexpected surge of violence stunned me. I’d never been one to lash out, but that man just infuriated me.
