Page 58 of Worth the Risk

His expression makes me pause. There’s anger there but also hurt. “Because I’m pissed at you. Ten minutes ago, I thought you trusted me. Now you’re throwing around baseless accusations. I’m not James, and I don’t deserve to be punished for his crimes. I gave you my word, and I meant it,” he yells while pointing at his chest.

“Then who is Morgan, and why is she saying she was with you on Tuesday?” I shout.

He gets up into my space, breathing hard. “Morgan is my cousin. KasonMorgan. My cousin, who I can assure you is male. If you’d asked me instead of accusing me, I would have told you that. Instead, you put me in the same league as that fucking loser you dated. I guess you don’t trust me after all.”

Shit.

Instantly, my anger deflates while a sense of foolishness rises inside me.What have I done?I tried not to let James’ baggage interfere with our relationship, and I just screwed it up—royally.First chance I get, I assume the worse.

Moving closer, I reach out to him.

“Don’t touch me.” He sneers, stepping out of my reach.

After putting on a T-shirt, he storms past me. I follow him again.

“I’m so sorry, Leo.”

He doesn’t respond as he exits the bedroom and bolts through the house. He’s going for a run. He told me he runs to clear his head.

“Leo, please stop and talk to me.”

“I suggest you figure out whether you want to trust me or not, and if you do, don’t hit me with this fucking bullshit again. I’m going for a run. It’s up to you if you want to be here when I get back.”

Leo storms out the door, slamming it behind him. Then there’s only silence and me wishing I had handled it differently.

Kicking my loser ass all the way back to the bedroom, I throw myself onto the bed. He’s right. I shouldn’t have accused him and thought the worst of him right away. I allowed that text message to trigger me and made me worry that Leo will cheat like James did. He hasn’t given me a reason not to trust him, yet here I go accusing him.

I’m so mad at myself right now.

Half an hour later, I’m showered, dressed in a cami night shirt and shorts, and sitting on the sofa, waiting for his return. I’m anxious. I need to talk to him and make this right, but I can’t when he’s not here.

He literally ran out on me.

When I walk over to the window, I spot Leo at the end of the driveway and prepare to grovel.

ChapterTwenty

Leo

As I slow my run to a jog, I head up the driveway. I’m much calmer now. I had to get out of that house. I was so angry and hurt by Kylie’s accusation. One minute, she trusted me. The next, I came out of the bathroom, and she threw wild accusations at me.

Although I can understand why she has trust issues, I didn’t expect her to accuse me at the first opportunity.

I still haven’t told her about Beth, but technically, I didn’t cheat. We weren’t together at the time, but I don’t think she will see it that way.

The thought did occur to me that she’d leave after I yelled at her, and it was enough to have me running to the house. I’m upset with her, but the last thing I want is for her to leave.

Kylie jumps up from the sofa when I open the front door and stares at me with remorse written all over her sad face.

With that one look, I know I’ll forgive her for anything.

“I’m so sorry, Leo. You have every right to be mad at me. I should never have accused you. I acknowledge I’m in the wrong here. I promise that it will never happen again, and I promise to have more trust in you… in us.”

“Why were you snooping around in my phone, Kylie?”

“I wasn’t snooping, but I did look. I heard your phone ringing, so I picked it up and saw the name Morgan. A message came through, and it said that it was good to catch up with you on Tuesday. You told me you were out to eat with your cousin. So, I stupidly thought you lied to me. I went back to that place where Beth and James made a fool of me, and I believed things that weren’t true, and I put that shit on you. I know it wasn’t fair to you.”

When she gazes at me with pleading eyes, I forgive her. I know where she is coming from. I don’t like it, but I understand.

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