“Don't.” I stop her before she can get the words all the way out, shaking my head. “Not yet. Please. Let me earn it. Let me prove I deserve it.”
She smiles then, the usual beaming brightness that shines from her constantly, and tugs me down into a kiss. It's blisteringly hot and achingly sweet, both of us pouring so many things we can't find words for into the action.
I don't fight my tears back. If I can ever be vulnerable with anyone, it's her.
It's always been her.
“C’mon,” she whispers, kissing up my throat to claim my lips again. “Stay with me tonight. Take me to bed.”
“Kenz, baby, we don’t have to,” I murmur against her lips. “I just want to be here with you.”
I don’t want to taint the sanctity of my feelings for her, and I don’t want her to think for even a moment that I did any of this just to get back in bed with her. She’s always been more important than that, but I’ve been pretty shit at showing her that.
“I know.” She pulls me back into another long, heated kiss, rolling her hips against mine where she sits straddling my lap. “I want this, Bo. I want you. Always you.”
I might be trying to be a better man, but, well, I am just a man. I can't say no to that.
Twenty Two
KENZIE
I won’t lie,there's a lot ofworking through thingsto be done here.
Bo and I did a lot of talking last night. We did a lot of not talking, too, but I think both were important. I needed the grounding, the reminder that hewantsme, just as much as I needed to hear the more concrete, planned out promises of what our lives would look like together.
I feel better.
I don't feel good enough to stop nausea from rioting in my gut at the sight of Savannah. Even worse is seeing Hailey and Mrs. Ward sitting at the same table and sharing forced smiles. I almost turn around and walk right back out of the cafe.
I've lost my appetite, anyway.
“Oh, Kenzie, honey!” Hailey calls from her seat at their little table. “What a coincidence! Come join us, we're just chatting.”
My heart aches in an entirely different way than it has through this whole escapade with Bo. Hailey has always been like a second mom to me, and to see her chumming it up with the Wards makes me feel sick. Bo said something last night abouther trying to get close enough to get proof of Savannah’s lies, but it's hard to look at, even with that knowledge.
It's even harder to force a smile to my face and walk over like I don't want to throttle Savannah here and now.
“Hailey, good to see you! How've you been?”
I’m sure she can see the confusion and hurt on my face, but she just stands and pulls me into a tight hug.
“Just play along. Trust me,” she whispers into my hair before letting me go. “Oh, same old story here, just busy with the farm. This is Savannah Ward and her mother, Andrea Ballard. We’re just having an early lunch and making some plans to go house hunting.”
I grit my teeth and wave to both of them. The introduction burns—as if I don't know exactly who these conniving assholes are. Savannah’s mom pretends like she doesn't know anything, smiling blandly at me, but Savannah herself doesn't even try to hide the nasty sneer she sends my way.
My palms itch to smack it right off her snotty face.
“Kenzie’s a long time family friend, she and Bo actually grew up together!” I flinch at the mention of Bo’s name, but Hailey just squeezes my arm and keeps rambling. “Actually, since Bo couldn't make it, why don't you join us, Kenzie? You know Bo’s tastes better than anyone.”
From anyone else, the words would be flat out cruel to hear. From Hailey, they just leave me confused and overwhelmed. Why would she invite me along to something like this?
Play along. Her words echo in my brain, and I refuse to let my faltering smile wane. She must have something up her sleeve if she wants me to be here.
“Yes, Boden seems increasingly difficult to get a hold of,” Andrea says stiffly. “Surely he's not trying to keep the mother of his child at arm’s length?”
She looks over at me disdainfully as she speaks, and both shame and rage flare bright in my gut. So that's how she wants to play it, huh?
Well, I can be a vindictive bitch just like anyone else.
