“They don’t need to know that just yet. It’s all going to be okay, Kayla. You just need to have faith in yourself and White.”
“That’s easier said than done. I mean, not about White. I love him. It’s just—”
“Kayla I get you went through years of hell at the hands of your stepfather and Rachel. Plus, I’m sure it did things to you to have them leave you behind. But you are not a little kid now. You’re a grown woman who worked hard to put herself through school. You have friends, family, and love. You are not alone. If you had let us know, you wouldn’t have been alone then.”
“It’s hard for me to wrap my head around certain things sometimes…”
“Have you thought about counseling?”
“Even after all these years?” I ask him, twisting my hands nervously.
“It’s never too late and it’s clearly still causing you problems.”
“I might check into it…”
“Do it. You want to be healthy for that baby and my brother, but most of all, for yourself.”
“Okay, Black.”
“Good. Now how about we talk about the important stuff?”
“Like what?”
“Like naming my nephew Black Jr.,” he jokes, and I let out my first real laugh in days.
CHAPTER 61
KAYLA
“Where’d she go?” White growls as he bursts into the room. His eyes are on Black, but when he sees me, I can feel the anger increase. Black and I are hugging because I was getting ready to leave, but with White here, I don’t try and leave. Instead, I walk over to him. He looks down at me and I’m acting on instinct, or maybe I’m just finally letting myself be completely truthful and honest, letting go of all the guards I have between us. I reach up on my tip-toes and wrap my arms around his waist. I give myself a second to breathe in the masculine scent that is all White and then I kiss his chin before burrowing my head into his chest.
“I love you, White.” His arms go around me, and he tightens them in reflex at my words. I feel his chin settle against the top of my head.
“I love you too, Buttercup.” It’s a simple exchange, but for now, it’s enough. I stay there in White’s arms. I think he needs it, but I do too.
“I’m waiting for Luka to call,” says Black.
“I appreciate you hanging your ass out like this for me, man.”
“What are brothers for? Besides, they won’t fire me. I make them boys look good.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever, I appreciate it just the same,” White says, and the two look at each other and some unspoken moment goes between them.
“I’m gonna go grab some coffee. You guys want anything?” Black asks, and I shake my head no while White orders up a coffee, too. The door closes. I hold my breath, wondering exactly how to talk with White and hating the fact that I’m the one responsible for the distance between us. White’s the first one to pull away and I hold my breath and wait.
“Are you finally believing I’m not the father of that kid?”
“I am. It would be kind of hard to doubt it with the lengths you and Black have gone to.”
“Your sister is a bitch, Buttercup. She’s never coming around us when we get married. You need to make that shit clear. I hate to be an asshole here, but I’m going to demand you cut off all ties with her.”
“Are we still getting married?”
“Fuck yes. I know we got a lot of shit between us and a lot more to talk about, but I’m not letting you go, Kayla. I don’t understand some of your choices, but we’ll work past them,” he says, and he’s right. I rub my damp hands down my pants and take in a shaky breath.
“We’ve known each other a long time, White,” I start. He doesn’t say anything but he does move to the chair Black was sitting in. Me? I let the wall hold me up and do my best to hold onto my rapidly failing courage. This may be one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had and the pressure to make him understand is huge. “I have been in love with you for so long, but I fell in love with the real White Hall Lucas, not the sports persona or the man in the news. I didn’t sugarcoat who you are, or try and pretend you didn’t have faults.”
“Gee, Kayla, stop. You’re going to make me blush.”
“You were a man-whore, a self-sworn bachelor for life, and you made no excuses for that, White.”
“I explained why, too. I was a cynical bastard. I knew I’d never trust a woman. Hell, look at what your sister is doing! I think that proves my point.”
“I get it, but how many times did you tell me over and over that you never wanted kids?”