Until Harry(97)

I nodded. “I know, but my decisions didn’t help anything.”

“Everyone makes mistakes, Lane. We learn from them and grow.”

I glanced up at him. “When did you become so wise?”

His lip quirked, and for a second I thought I spotted the familiar glint that once dwelt in his beautiful eyes. “I’ve done a lot of thinking over the years.”

I had no doubt about that. I had done a lot of thinking too.

There was a beautiful bookcase in the corner of the sitting room, and before I knew it, I found myself standing before it, brushing my fingers over the book spines in greeting. I loved books, and I loved that Kale still read them. I was about to turn away from the case when the name of an author caught my eye: K.T. Boone. She was an author I worked with. I scanned the other books and gasped.

“Kale,” I breathed.

I felt him come up beside me.

“You . . . you bought every book I have ever edited,” I whispered as my eyes scanned over the familiar titles.

Kale cleared his throat. “Like I wasn’t going to follow your work. You’re my best friend, and you have a kick-ass job. I’ve read them all. I had a book club in the making with your dad and Uncle Harry.” He chuckled. “You’re truly brilliant at what you do. I couldn’t find a fault in any of them. I love reading the author’s acknowledgements to you too. I’m so proud of you, kid.”

Don’t cry, I warned myself. Don’t you dare bloody cry.

“This is so sweet, Kale,” I said, clearing my throat when my voice dropped that octave.

“Speaking of sweet, you want a cup of tea?” Kale asked after a moment, and I appreciated the subject change.

I snorted. “Do you have to even ask?”

He grinned down at me and headed into the kitchen to put the kettle on. I followed him, and I glanced around as I walked, noticing how plain everything was. There were no pictures of Kaden anywhere, but I was too afraid to ask about it in case it upset Kale. I walked by him and moved to the large window over by his kitchen counter.

“Great view of the cathedral from here,” I commented.

Kale chuckled. “Why do you think I bought the place? For the generous-sized rooms?”

I noted his sarcasm and grinned.

“I like it,” I said. “It’s cosy.”

“It’s nothing compared to your new house. Harry’s place has five bedrooms.” Kale whistled. “What will you do with all that space? It’ll fetch a nice price for you, that’s for sure.”

I wasn’t surprised that he assumed I would be selling my uncle’s house; I’d been threatening to leave ever since I’d arrived.

“I’m not selling the house,” I casually said as I continued to look out the window, admiring the beauty of the town.

I felt Kale’s eyes on me. “What does that mean?” he asked in a low voice.

I shrugged. “It means I’m not selling. It’s my house, and I don’t want to sell it to someone else.”

Kale swallowed. “Will you lease it out and be a landlord?” he asked, grabbing at straws. “You’d get decent monthly rent for it.”

I shook my head. “No, if I did that I’d have to live in my parents’ house forever, and while I love them dearly, I don’t want that.”

I felt hands on my shoulders, and then my body was turned.

“Don’t play jokes on me,” Kale warned, his eyes trained on me.

I looked up at him. “I’m not playing games. I’m telling the truth.”

He blinked, his surprise evident. “You’re . . . moving back—”

“Home,” I finished for him. “I’m moving back home.”

His eyes widened, and he didn’t say a word, but just stared at me. I held back a gasp when the glint I thought I’d seen minutes ago flashed across his eyes, and this time it didn’t leave.

My Kale, my mind whispered.

I glanced for something to distract me from doing something stupid. My eyes flicked around his empty walls, and I frowned. “Why don’t you have any pictures up?”

Kale gnawed on his inner cheek. “Of Kaden?”

I nodded.

“Because they’re a reminder that he is gone.”

I tilted my head. “Couldn’t they be a reminder that he was here? Even though it was for a short time?”

Kale looked away from me. “I don’t know if I want to talk about him. It hurts.”

“I know.” I frowned. “I wish that one day we’d wake up and his passing would all just be a nightmare.”

Kale gripped the counter, then took my hand in his and led me into the sitting room, where we sat on a very comfortable sofa. For minutes we sat in silence.