"Promise me you'll keep our conversation between us, okay?"
I groaned, "You're askin' me to withhold information from me oldest friend?"
"Yes, to keep her from unnecessary hurt."
Bastard.
"Okay, fine," I sighed. "I'll keep me mouth shut."
Ryder winked. "Later, mama."
The kettle boiled just as Ryder walked out of the kitchen. I told Ryder I wasn't nosey, but I really was. I followed him down the hallway and looked out the small window next to the door to see where he was going. I raised my eyebrows when I saw him climb into a Jeep. Nico's Jeep. I could see Nico in the driver's seat, he laughed at something Ryder said then drove off seconds later.
Where the hell were they going at six in the morning?
I turned around and walked back into the kitchen feeling puzzled. I didn't like when people kept secrets, especially when I wasn't in on what the secret was. Kane was hiding something about a person called Big Phil, and Ryder and Nico were going places at six in the morning in normal clothes, not workout gear.
Hmmmm.
I shook my head and walked over to the kettle and made myself another cup of tea and chuckled to myself.
Maybe Ryder was right; I was nosey.
I woke Kane when I climbed into bed next to him three hours later. I was sat upright eating some cereal from a bowl that I balanced on my belly. He opened one eye, smiled at me, and rolled onto his back.
"That's a pretty sight to wake up to in the morning."
I glanced at him and snorted, "Yeah, I'm a real catch."
I flicked on Kane's television and turned on Netflix. "More of the Sons?"
Kane stretched, sat upright and nodded his head.
He had that just-awake-fuck-me-now bedhead that did things to my vagina and I just wasn't happy about it.
"Have you been awake long?"
I shrugged. "About five hours."
"Five hours?" Kane asked with wide eyes. "Why didn't you wake me?"
I glanced at him then back to the television. "Because I woke up at four in the mornin'."
"So?" Kane clicked his tongue. "You should have woke me."
I rolled my eyes. "I was fine. I went downstairs, had a lot of tea, some food, then more tea and some more food. Then I came up here. No big deal."
Kane grunted, "Just wake me in the future."
"In the future?" I laughed. "How frequent do you think these sleepovers will be?"
Kane moved closer to me. "I'm hoping frequently."
I swallowed. "Kane..."
"I feel better with you here, so humour me and stay with me awhile."
I looked at him and raised my eyebrow. "How long is awhile?"
He smirked. "How long have you got?"
"All day. It's Saturday."
"All day then."
I raised my eyebrow. "Is this like a bondin' exercise?"
"Yes." Kane replied, his lip twitching.
I laughed, "Okay. As long as I don't have to move I'm cool with bondin' time."
Kane grinned at me then turned his attention to the television. Five minutes later I finished off my cereal. I placed my now empty bowl on Kane's locker next to me and shimmied lower while pulling the blankets over my body. I groaned when I discovered it wasn't a comfortable position to watch the telly in.
"What's wrong?" Kane asked.
I didn't reply. Instead, I tested out a few different positions and settled on lying on my side. My pillow was too soft to prop my head up to so I looked at Kane and said, "Can I lie my head on your chest so I can see the telly?"
Kane gestured to himself. "Use my body as you see fit, babydoll."
I snorted as I placed my head on his bare chest and cocked my leg over his. There. That was better. Much better.
"Are you comfortable?" Kane asked.
"Uh huh."
"Good... but just so you're aware, you are lying on me, and your leg is pressed against my dick. I can't control it if it gets hard, okay?"
I laughed, "Okay."
"I'm serious, I don't want you to freak out on me."
I placed my hand on his faint, but still visible abs-they were becoming more visible now that he was working out again.
"I'm too comfortable to freak out, sweetie."
Kane's body relaxed. "That's good to know."
I shushed him, "Jax is on the telly. Close your mouth."
Kane grumbled to himself about Jax Teller, but did as I asked and shut up. We stayed quiet and wrapped around one another for two episodes. Kane had to move when the urge to go to the toilet became too much for him.
"I'll be right back."
I waved him on. "Go get yourself food and what not. I'm not goin' anywhere, Kane."
"Promise?"
Damn it.
"I promise."
He left the room looking like a happy camper, but I knew that would change when I would eventually tell him that I was going to look for a new apartment instead of moving in with him. I just hoped including him in my search for a new apartment would appease him, because if it didn't, things would get bad between us real fast.
I didn't want to take two steps back into the past with Kane-we were getting along so well now. I wanted to look into the future because, whether I wanted it or not, that future now included him.
"Whatever it is that you have to say, say it already. Your constant glances my way are starting to bug me."
I stared at Kane wide-eyed. I didn't think he caught my not so subtle glances every thirty-seconds. After he went to the toilet and got some food, I gave him his morning injection of insulin. Since we came back up to his room, I would nervously look at him every few seconds. Each time I looked at him I planned to tell him my housing plan, but I bottled it at the last minute because I was a big chicken shit.
I quickly looked straight ahead when he called me out and pretended I didn't hear him.
He laughed, "Aideen?"
Play it cool.
"Hmmm?"
He reached over, put his fingers against my cheek and turned my head until I was looking at him.
I gave Kane a big toothy smile as I said, "Hi."
"Hello," he chuckled.
"What's up?" I questioned.
He lifted his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes. "Please stop, I don't want to laugh right now. I want to talk."
I forced a giggle, "About boys, nails, or make-up?"
Kane belly laughed, and it made me beam.
I loved his laugh... and I hated myself because of it. I truly liked him now, and there was nothing I could do about it. I had to try my best to get rid of those feelings and stop them from developing into something like love because it could have disastrous results for us-or me-if it went badly.
"Be serious, babydoll. Say whatever it is that's on your mind."
I sighed when I realised he wasn't going to drop the subject.
"I'm tryin' to figure out how to tell you; either way you won't be happy with what I have to say."
Kane sat upright. "You're okay? The baby?"
"Yes." I blinked. "Nothin' is wrong with anyone, we're all good."
Kane relaxed. "What's the problem then?"
I groaned. "Promise you won't be mad."
"How can I promise when I don't know what you're going to – "
"Just promise."
Kane grunted in annoyance. "Fine. I promise. Now, tell me."
I looked away from him, closed my eyes and in one big breath I said, "I'm movin' out of me apartment, and findin' somewhere bigger. Somewhere close by."
I pushed aside the urge to cover my face when I was met with silence. I sighed and opened my eyes. I looked at Kane and found him staring at me.
"I thought we were getting along so well."
"We are," I assured him with a bobbing nod. "That's exactly why I shouldn't move in here. I don't want to jinx the friendship we're buildin'. Things are so good between us right now … I don't want to ruin that."
Kane looked away from me and nodded his head in understanding. "Okay, Aideen."
Crap.
"Please don't be mad at me, I really want you on board with this. I need your help."
That regained his attention. "My help with what?"
"Findin' an apartment, of course. I want your input since your child will be livin' there."
Please feel involved.
Kane raised an eyebrow. "You want my input on an apartment?"
I nodded my head. "Of course."
Kane was silent as he studied my face. "Okay, fine. I'll help you search for an apartment, but on one condition."
I didn't like the sound of that.
"What's the condition?"
"If we both don't agree on an apartment that is suitable for you and the baby, then you move in here."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're tryin' to trick me."
"I am not."
"You are too!"
Kane raised his hands in the air. "I'm offended you'd even suggest I would trick you. Moving apartments is a huge deal. I wouldn't play around."
I growled, "You can't bullshit a bullshitter, Kane. I know you like the back of me hand; you'll just say no to every apartment we view so that I'll have to move in here."
"That's completely false," Kane chirped. "I don't have any ill will towards you. You're my friend so I will help you just like you want me to."