Page 67 of Sweet Girl
Chapter Twenty-two
Van
I’m pacing the floor like a panther ready to pounce when Kylah opens the door to her bedroom.
My footsteps stop as I watch her hesitantly approach me, a remorseful expression etched across her mouth. Without hesitation, I step toward her, encircling her in my arms.
I place a kiss on the top of her head as she molds her body against mine, as relief seems to overtake her.
She cries silently. The only reason I know this is because I feel the dampness her tears leave on my T-shirt.
“Shhh. Baby, it’s fine. No harm, no foul. Just let him cool off for a bit. We’ll talk it through when he’s ready and things will be good as new. I promise.”
I’ve thought a lot about what my relationship with Kylah might do to my friendship with Cade. Personally, it’s none of his business, but as I don’t have a younger sister, I can’t put myself into his shoes. He has his reasons for being protective of Kylah, so I don’t begrudge him for getting pissed at me and acting like a raging bull when he saw me practically mauling her outside. But that doesn’t condone his actions.
I didn’t expect Cade to go ballistic on me and throw a punch. He didn’t hurt me physically – because I can hold my own – but we’re like brothers, on and off the court. He knows who I am. So the fact that he would think I would do anything to hurt Kylah cuts me deep. I thought he respected me enough to acknowledge that if I am with Kylah, I’m all in.
She’s not just a hook-up, or a fling, even though he seems to think that’s why I’m with her.
That’s the furthest thing from the truth.
Maybe I’m over-romanticizing this thing between us, but there is a deep connection we share – it’s been there like a magnetic pull since the first time I met her. She helped pull me out of the dark place I was in over the end of things with Lyndsay. She is the reason I wake up happy every day and reminds me to enjoy every moment.
Even my brother noticed a change in my demeanor this past week, giving me some good ribbing over being so easily swayed by a girl. While he’s never had a girlfriend, he definitely has been interested in some girls from school in the past. He knows what that emotion feels like.
Kylah squirms in my hold. “I feel awful, Van. That shouldn’t have happened. And now everyone is going to know about it. Ihatedrama.”
My palms glide across her back, rubbing the tension away for both of us.
“I hear that drama on New Years’ Eve is good fortune. It means you have a full year of joy ahead of you.”
She looks up at me skeptically. “Where on earth did you hear that? That sounds made-up.”
“Ancient Chinese secret.” I grin deviously, placing a kiss on her forehead as she crinkles her nose at my bold lie.
“You’re full of it.” She laughs, her hands gripping my ass and squeezing.
“Maybe.” I laugh. “Hey, by the way, I haven’t had a chance to say it yet. But Happy New Year, Kylah.” My hands cup her cheeks and I kiss her slowly, but soundly. Her sexy murmurs of response heading straight to my dick, which is growing by the second.
“Happy New Year, Van.” She whispers, her champagne breath painted warm and delish across my lips.
I was really looking forward to staying the night with her in her bed, but now that the shit hit the fan, I’m not so sure that’s a great idea.
The knock on the door startles us both as we quickly release one another, Kylah jumping about two-feet to the left of me like a scared bunny.
Carver’s voice calls out from the hallway. “It’s me. Can I come in?”
Kylah looks at me in question and I just shrug, uncertain what Carver’s interest is in any of this.
“Sure, come on in.”
The door cracks open and he steps in. I glance behind him to see if Cade’s with him and he shakes his head, acknowledging my question.
“Cade’s still downstairs talking to Ainsley. He’s chill now. It’s all good.”
Kylah sighs softly and I reach for her hand, entwining it with mine and pulling her next to me. I feel better when I’m touching her in some way or another. Like I’m not whole when I can’t feel her. Which has me worried, because what the fuck is going to happen next week when she has to return to school? I’m right back to where I started from and in another long-distance relationship that will surely drive me insane.
Carver pulls out Kylah’s desk chair, whips it around and sits down backward on it, staring at us with keen interest.
