“I love him, Uncle Allen,” I told him. “I love him, and the way I feel now, I’m pretty sure he’s it for me.”
Uncle Allen smiled down at me. “Don’t do that, Kenz,” he said. “Don’t add ‘the way I feel now’ part. I’ve loved your Aunt Sheri since I first laid eyes on her, and I’m pretty sure had I met her when we were eighteen instead of meeting her in college, I would have loved her the same. Don’t discount how you feel about Talon just because you’re afraid people will judge you by your age.”
I threw my arms around my uncle and I was pretty sure I was strangling him with how grateful I was for him. “I love you, Uncle Allen,” I cried. “I love you and thank you for everything. Thank you for everything.”
His arms came around me and he whispered fiercely, “I love you too, kiddo. I love you so much, Kenz. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Thank you, Uncle Allen,” I whispered.
“Honey, you don’t ever have to thank me,” he promised.
Chapter 25
The reasons we forgive.
Kenzlee~
Talon was drawing lazy circles on my naked back and I wanted to stay like this forever.
Alex had dropped me off at his house after dinner, and I had every intention of talking to him out the money, but Edie had taken off for her second shift at the church carnival, so it was just me and Talon, and there was no talking once he shut the front door behind me.
“Explain to me why you won’t move in with me again?” he murmured, his lips against my hip.
“Because we’re still in high school, you live with your mother and sister, and no matter what your mom says, I’m not going to be the girl shaking up with her son in her house,” I reasoned.
“It’s not shaking up if we’re in love,” he retorted. “And we’re most definitely in love, White.”
I snorted into the pillow that was currently nestling my lazy head. “How about I make you a deal,” I joked. “I’ll move in with you if you let me pay for Edie’s college, so you can use all the money you saved to put yourself through college?”
Everything stopped.
The circles on my back, the kisses against my hip, even his breathing; all of it stopped.
I closed my eyes knowing I ruined the moment. We were having a perfect moment in time, and I couldn’t just let things be. “Talon, I’m sor-” My words were cut short when Talon flipped me onto my back and climbed up over me. “Talon?”
He was braced on his elbows and his hands were brushing my hair back out of my face. He looked so serious it was hard to believe he was only 18-years-old. “Do you mean that?”
This was it.
This was my chance to make him accept the money. This was my chance to…shit!
I couldn’t.
I couldn’t start our future on blackmail and coercion.
I shook my head. “No,” I whispered. “I…I want to pay for Edie’s college, so you can use all the money you saved to finally do something for yourself, but I’m not going to…bribe you or blackmail you into accepting my wishes, Talon.” I could feel my eyes glossing over, but I didn’t mind. I wasn’t scared to be vulnerable with Talon. “I…I’m going to buy a car, and pay off my uncle’s house, but…”
“But, what, baby?”
“The fight with my mom was awful, Talon,” I started to explain. “She wants the money so badly, she was willing to sever all ties with me in order to strong-arm me into giving in.”
His face softened. “I’m sorry, White.”
“I don’t want her getting any of it, Talon,” I went on. “I…I want to spend it on the people I love. The people who I know will appreciate it, and…and do good with it, you know.” He gave me a small nod. “I know my uncle and aunt are going to be grateful every month when they have a free check than can enjoy that no longer has to go towards the mortgage, and that’s what I want.”
“Kenz-”
“No,” I said, stopping him. “Please, let me finish, Talon.” He brushed a kiss across my cheek and let me continue. “I know if…you let me pay for Edie’s college she’d be grateful on two accounts. She’d be grateful to not have to worry about school, and she’d be happy you no longer have to fight. She’d be super grateful for the money. And…and…”
