CHAPTER Twenty
The best part about being the boss? I could close up shop whenever I damn well felt like it. And if there was a reason to shut down for a day, it was getting to see Kami in a bikini.
Oh. Hell. Yes.
I decided a team-building trip to Lake Norman was in order and invited the entire staff and their families for a day of fun. I had even gone all-out with food and drinks. Shit, I deserved some fun. Ever since I came back over a year ago, I was all about business. I wanted to put the bullshit of my past behind me and prove that I wasn’t just some hot-tempered misfit with a record. Not for anyone else; I could give a flying f*ck what people thought about me outside of my family and Ms. Patty. I wanted to prove it to myself.
But now that things were finally falling into place, now that I actually had a reason to wake up in the morning aside from the distraction of work, I was ready to slow down. And I wanted to slow down with Kami. Shit, I knew I was being presumptuous. I still knew very little about her and, honestly, there were things that she still needed to know about me. But I was ready to share them with her. Hell, I was ready to share my life with her. I just didn’t think I could ever tell her without scaring her shitless.
We caravanned up to the lake late Sunday morning, BBQ utensils and swimsuits in hand. Kami rode with her friends and the rest of the AngelDust girls, even though I wanted her to ride with me. It was cool though. They were taking Dom’s Expedition, and it was more convenient for her. Plus, I had agreed to drive my bonehead cousin and his random flavor of the week that had already started pre-gaming earlier that morning.
“So Blaine, do you have a girlfriend?” his date asked from the backseat, where she had been damn near giving CJ a handjob. I think her name was Mindy. Or Misty. Or something equally unappealing. “If I would’ve known you were coming alone, I would have brought one of my girlfriends. You are way too sexy to be all alone. We all could have had a little fun.”
I glanced at her through my rearview mirror, and shook my head. Her store-bought cleavage was spilling out of her bikini top, and she had the nerve to lick her inflated lips at me. Hell no. She had nothing on Kami. Hers were the only set of lips that got me hard as steel just thinking about them.
“Nah,” CJ answered, saving me from having to embarrass this broad. “He’s not interested.”
“Not interested?” Misty/Mindy scoffed indignantly. “How could you not be interested in this?” And with that, her hand snaked around my waist and tried to grab my junk. I swerved, barely missing the guardrail.
“What the f*ck?!” I shouted, scowling at her through the rearview mirror. “Don’t ever do that shit again!”
Mindy/Misty waved off my warning. “Oh, come on, Blaine. I’m totally cool with taking you both, sugar. Don’t be shy.”
“Calm the f*ck down, or your ass will be on the side of the road,” CJ interjected, his voice devoid of his usual playfulness. “Now I told you he wasn’t interested. He has a girl. A girl that is 10 times hotter and cooler than you could ever be. She’ll be at the lake, so you might want to take notes. Now chill the f*ck out, or you can get the f*ck out!”
CJ’s words left both Mindy/Misty and I with dropped jaws. I never expected him to speak up on my behalf. CJ and I had a reputation for sharing chicks in the past. We were the same age, and in high school, we were pretty notorious for our wild parties and sexual antics. Even when I had hooked up with Amanda, CJ was less than accepting. He thought Amanda was narcissistic and vapid. It nearly killed me to admit he was right.
When we pulled up to the lake, I couldn’t wait to escape the tension of my truck and scoop Kami up into my arms. She and her roommates arrived a little while later, the three of them lugging their towels and foldout chairs. I grabbed her things from her without a second glance. There was no way my lady was carrying shit when I had two functioning hands. I was a stubborn sonofabitch sometimes, but I had been raised right.
Dive’s head cook, Mr. Bradley, a 60-year old veteran that had been with us for years, had already fired up the built-in grills, while some of the other staff prepared the hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks and veggies. Of course, I ended up playing bartender.
“Anything I can do to help?” Kami asked, making her way over to the picnic table that I had deemed the bar as I mixed a pitcher of Rum Runners. She looked incredible, a light, cotton cover-up dress concealing her yellow bikini. My cock twitched at the possibility of having her sprawled out under the hot sun, her tan skin warm against my tongue.
“Nah, babe, you go relax. I’ll be done in a minute.”
Kami smiled before placing a tiny kiss on my cheek, and I felt like I was on top of the f*cking world. That was a big step for her. Even though everyone had seen us full-on making out Thursday night, she wasn’t a PDA type of chick. She didn’t like everyone knowing her business. I could respect that because I thought I was the same way. But there was something about her that made me want to show her off. I wanted everyone to know that she was mine, even though we hadn’t seriously had that conversation yet. She knew I wanted to be with her and only her. And while she would sometimes show it, she hadn’t said that she wanted the same.
Once Mr. Bradley announced that lunch was served, our group lined up to pile their plates high with meats, salads and sides. I let everyone get their fill, standing back to sip on a cold beer. When Kami, Angel and Dominic stepped up to get food, I watched intently. Not because I was jealous. Not because I was having a semi-creeper moment. But because something seemed... odd.
They stood side by side, Dom and Angel on either side of Kami, as if they were glued together. As Dom distributed meat onto the girls’ plates, Kami moved effortlessly around his hands to place side items on each of their plates. Angel dressed their food with condiments and grabbed silverware. They didn’t speak. They hardly even looked at each other. It was like they already knew what each person wanted without even communicating. As if they were much closer than I had originally thought.
“Dude, are you seeing this?” CJ asked, suddenly beside me, watching the trio just as intently.
I took a long swig of my beer. “Yeah.” What else could I say?
“Are you sure the three of them are just friends? I mean, they look like a helluva lot more.”
Another swig. “Yeah. As far as I know.”
“Well, there is something going on with them. That doesn’t look just friendly. Pretty suspect as f*ck.”
I couldn’t disagree with him. I downed my beer and went for another, just to give my eyes and head a break. Once they had found a place to sit—together, of course—the shit just got more bizarre. It seemed like they were always touching. Kami pushing a lock of Angel’s hair out of her face. Dom wiping a smidgen of ketchup from the corner of Kami’s mouth, then sucking it off his thumb. Angel feeding Dom a bite of her food. Them rubbing each other’s backs. Resting their heads on each other’s shoulders. What the f*ck was going on? Was I the only one who saw a problem with this shit?
Thankfully, they finished their lunches, and Kami’s eyes searched for me in the crowd. When those green depths landed on me, the irritation evaporated instantly. I only saw her. But, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to fully have her until I understood the relationship she had with her roommates. I had unknowingly shared a woman with someone before. I’d be damned if I’d let that shit happen again.
“This seat taken?” I asked, as she was reclining in one of the beach chairs. Dom and Angel had decided to go swimming, finally leaving her alone.
She lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head and peered at me mischievously. “Hmmm, I don’t know.”
“I come bearing gifts,” I grinned, holding up two Coronas.
“Eh, I guess. You’re lucky I’m thirsty, and it’s so hella hot out here.”
I handed her the beer, then slid my seat closer to hers before sitting down. “That’s the only reason you’ll let me sit next to you?”
“Well, there are definitely other advantages.” Kami placed her perfect lips around the rim of her bottle, and I prayed my dick wasn’t pitching a tent under my board shorts.
“Oh? Like what?”
She took a small sip, then let the ice-cold bottle skid across the top of her cleavage. My eyes followed the movement, hypnotized by every drop of condensation that slid off the bottle and onto her plump breasts.
“Well…if I don’t put on some sunblock, this hot country sun is going to burn me.”
I laughed, throwing my head back. “Hot country sun? I think the sun is the same no matter where you are, babe. And Charlotte is hardly the country. I bet Atlanta was way more country-fied.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Though it wasn’t as bad as Memphis.”
Another tidbit of info, thank you. “You’ve lived in Memphis?”
Kami answered with a quick nod of her head, then avoided my eyes by rummaging through her beach bag to retrieve her sunblock. “Please?” she asked holding out the bottle.
I looked her up and down and licked my lips reflexively. “You’re gonna have to take that dress off.”
“Not all the way. I just need a bit on my shoulders and back.” She turned around to give me access, and gathered her long, thick hair in her hands. I fought the urge to kiss and lick every inch of her neck and back. F*ck, she was the sexiest thing I had ever seen, and she didn’t even know it.
Slowly, I pulled at the strings of the halter style dress and let the thin fabric fall around her waist. Irresistibly smooth skin stared back at me, and, dammit, I wasn’t one to let an opportunity go to waste. I leaned over and pressed my lips to her shoulder, trailing a path to the other.
“What are you doing?” she half-moaned, prompting me to repeat the ritual.
“Protecting this precious skin from the hot country sun,” I answered, running my tongue along the back of her neck.
She giggled and turned to face me, her green eyes burning with lust. My gaze fell to her pebbled nipples straining against her bikini top. Shit. What I wouldn’t give to have them in my mouth again. But I didn’t need these other a*sholes getting a glimpse of what was only for me. Hell no. Gently, I turned her around again and opened the bottle of sunscreen. My mouth would have to wait, but at least I could still have my hands on her.
“You enjoying yourself?” I asked, making small talk as I rubbed her soft skin. To be honest, I was trying to subdue my raging hard-on. I had to focus on anything but the feel of her under my fingers.
“Yes. You?”
“Yeah, I am.” I knew this was the best time to ask her about her relationship with Dom and Angel. I didn’t know when I would get another chance. And if she admitted to being more than friends with them, I could easily jump in my truck and drive away from the situation before my temper got the best of me.
“So you’ve known Dom for a long time, right?” I asked, opening the conversation I had been dreading.
“Yeah. About five years.”
“And Angel? You two are close too.”
“Yeah? Why?”
I was done rubbing sunscreen on her back but I kept massaging her shoulders, thankful she couldn’t see my face and I couldn’t see hers. “It’s just…you three seem really close.”
“We are close, Blaine,” Kami replied with a hint of suspicion.
“No. I mean, close-close. Like, not-normal-close.”
Kami spun around to face me, disconnecting the comfort of contact we had just seconds before. “What are you getting at?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
I ran a hand through my slightly sweat-dampened hair. “It’s just…the way the three of you are, Kam, it’s weird. Not bad weird, just weird. How it seems like you always need to be touching one another. Or how you always need to be together. And how affectionate you are. I don’t know… even the way you move around each other, like it’s choreographed. Like you’ve been spending every second of every day with them for years. Like you know them inside and out. Like you aren’t whole without them.”
I picked up my beer and downed most of its contents in one gulp, suddenly dying of thirst. “Kami, I don’t want to be jealous. But, shit, I am. I am, ok? I can’t help it. Hell, I want my movements to be synchronized with yours. I want you to always need to touch me.”
Without thinking about it, I reached out and brushed the back of my hand against her cheek. “I wanna be weird, too.”
Kami stared back at me, expressionless. Hell, I couldn’t even tell if she was breathing. But at that very moment, I hated my need to always speak my mind. With each silent moment that ticked by, I felt like someone had dropped me in the middle of Lake Norman and left me to drown. And for a second, that scenario seemed much more comfortable.
“Take your shirt off and turn around,” she finally muttered.
Confused, I did as she requested, happy to escape her disapproving gaze. F*ck. Had I just totally messed up everything?
Kami grabbed the sunscreen, and seconds later, her small hands were massaging my shoulders gently. Even though the tension was as thick and unforgiving as quicksand, I couldn’t help but be wholly aroused.
“Dom was there for me when I had no one. When I wanted to give up and lie down and die, he wouldn’t let me,” she said quietly, her hands still working the lotion into my skin. “He helped me learn to put one foot in front of the other. He still helps me. We help each other.”
Whoa. I didn’t know what explanation I was expecting, but I sure as hell wasn’t expecting that. I kept my mouth shut though. I knew she needed my silence right now. Anything I would say would be misconstrued as a judgment.
“And Angel… Angel was rejected by the people who were supposed to love her the most, simply for being who she is. She can’t help that. She did nothing wrong. She has no one, just like me and Dom. Those two are my family. Their love is the only kind that is safe enough to accept and return.”
She was alone? Safe enough? I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from interjecting.
“Blaine, I told you before that I was unlovable. That hasn’t changed. But I know we all need love. Even people like me. And those two have found a way to give me just enough to keep me waking up in the morning. Without it, I don’t know where I’d be. So no, we don’t have some freaky poly-amorous relationship. There is nothing sexual between any of us. They are my family. Nothing more, nothing less. And while we may be a f*cked up family to the outside world, we are a family nonetheless. I’m sorry if you can’t understand that.”
F*ck it.
I turned around to face her, grasping her lotion-slicked hands in mine. She lifted her head, revealing the pain that she tried to keep hidden right underneath the surface. I had hurt her feelings. I was being a jealous a*shole and made her feel bad, like the insensitive prick that I was.
“Baby, I understand, ok? You don’t have to explain anymore. They’re your family. I accept that. And I love that they care about you so much. Ok? Don’t you dare apologize. I should be the one apologizing to you for being such a douchebag.”
A small smile crept onto her face. “Well, I wouldn’t call you a douchebag…”
“Oh yeah?” I jibed, trying to bring back our lighthearted banter. “Then what would you call me?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Ok, maybe a tad bit douchey.”
I chuckled, pulling her close, so I could plant a kiss on her forehead.
“Ewww, stop, Blaine! I’m sweaty!” she squealed.
“Well, lose the cover-up, and come swimming with me.”
“No thanks. You go ahead,” she said shaking her head.
“You’re not going to swim? It’s scorching, and we’re at the lake. What did you plan to do?”
Kami reached into her beach bag and retrieved what looked to be a big ass smartphone. “I’ve got a date with my Kindle.”
I took the eReader from her and powered it on. “So let’s see what kind of smut you read while fantasizing about me.”
“Smut? I don’t read smut!” she giggled. Once again, my dick was straining against my shorts.
I pointed to one of the book cover icons and held up the Kindle. “What’s this one about?”
A sly smile spread across her pouty, pink lips. “A con artist and a sexy tattoo artist with lots of ink and piercings. Lust, deceit, redemption. All very tragic and beautiful. And hot. Very hot.”
I licked my lips and peered down at her heated expression. “So you like guys with tattoos and piercings, huh?”
Sucking her bottom lip into her mouth and capturing it with her teeth, Kami gave me a naughty look that had my balls aching. “Oh yes. I find them to be extremely sexy…on the right guy, of course.”
“And what’s the right guy?” I didn’t know where this game was headed, but I sure as hell wanted to play.
“Hmmm, tall, tan, brown eyes, gorgeous smile. A hard, chiseled body. And hair that looks like he just had crazy hot sex with someone who likes to pull it. Know anyone like that?”
F*ck. Me.
“Babe, if you don’t stop it, I’ll be forced to take you out in that water and help you out of those bikini bottoms.”
Kami laughed, but I was dead serious. I had no plans for our first time together to be in public, but if she kept this up, I would be driven to betray my good southern manners.
“Ok, ok,” she chuckled, holding up her hands in surrender.
I diverted my attention from the way her breasts bounced when she laughed, and looked back down at the Kindle, which was the only thing keeping me from adding an indecent exposure charge to my rap sheet.
“How about this one?” I asked, pressing another icon.
“Mafia romance. Good guy with a rough past meets a nice girl with her own demons. He tries to leave the family,” she explained, as she made air quotes with her fingers. “But, of course, it’s not that easy. She tries to break it off, but they can’t live without each other.”
I pointed to another, thankful that blood had started to flow to my other extremities. I just had to keep her talking.
“Oh, you’d like this one. It’s about a motorcycle club. Well, actually about this one girl who falls for the head of an MC and all the crazy drama their lifestyle bring. Really gritty and just…ugly. I mean, it’s beautifully written, but some shit is just not pretty.”
“Like life,” I murmured, not even realizing I was saying the words aloud.
Kami nodded appreciatively. “Yeah. Like life.”
Handing her back the eReader, I let my fingers linger against her hand, brushing tiny circles against her knuckles. “Life may not be pretty, but it’s always beautiful. We may only see the ugliness on the surface. The shit that only the world chooses to notice. But, if we dig deep, if we get to the heart of life, where there’s no pain or fear, where we can just be who we are and love freely without judgment, it’s really beautiful.”
She cocked her head to one side and narrowed those dazzling green eyes. “There you go with the words, Blaine Jacobs. Always tempting me to break my own rules.”
“What’s the fun in following the rules?” I shrugged. “Breaking them has always been much more appealing, if you ask me.”
“That’s the problem; you may end up breaking me instead.” The slight smile on her lips didn’t match the intensity of her gaze. She was serious. She actually thought I had it in me to hurt her when all I wanted was to protect her.
“I could never break you, Kami. Not unless you wanted me to.”
Heat surged between us, elevating the already scorching temperature and causing our conjoined hands to become damp with sweat. Before any more words were exchanged, CJ came bounding up, smacking me on the back. “Come on, B! Get your ass out there!” Then he and Mindy/Misty raced into the water.
“Go ahead, Blaine,” Kami waved towards the lake. “Go swim. I have a book I really want to finish.”
“You sure?” I asked, already standing. It was hot as hell and I was sweating bullets.
“Yes, I’m sure. Go. I’ll be right here waiting when you get back. I need to work on my tan.” Then she eased her dress down past her hips and thighs, kicking it off when it reached her ankles.
I knew Kami’s body was amazing, but…damn.
“Well, how do you expect me to leave you now?” I needed to though. If I stood there any longer, I was liable to poke her eye out.
Her gaze blatantly roamed my torso and arms, as she slowly licked those plump lips. “Well, I was hoping to get a glimpse of you dripping wet…” she cooed with a devilish grin.
“Yes, ma’am,” I nodded, turning just in time to conceal the sight of my swell that was aching to be released. Maybe I should’ve let her get an eyeful. It was, in fact, her fault.
Moments later, I was cooling off in the refreshing lake water, letting the chillier temperature alleviate my stiff predicament. The majority of the female employees and A.D. were scantily clad in teeny tiny bikinis, splashing and flirting with the guys. CJ had Mindy/Misty wrapped around his waist while she kissed his neck. Even Dom and Angel were chatting up with some cute chicks. I was happy for all of them, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely. Yeah, Kami sat only yards away, but I wanted her wrapped around my waist. I wanted to hear her squeal when I splashed water at her. I wanted to flirt and kiss her while my hands roamed the exposed skin that her itty-bitty yellow bikini couldn’t cover. Shit, maybe even dip inside that bikini under the water.
“Hey, B, watch this,” CJ murmured suddenly beside me, sans date. He trudged out of the water, casually making his way over to the beer cooler. But instead of grabbing a brew, he changed course and crept up behind Kami who was still engrossed in her eBook. Aw, hell. I knew what he was up to and that Kami would be pissed. I should have warned him, but I secretly wanted to see her reaction. If she hauled off and punched CJ in the face, it would serve him right.
Before she even knew what was happening, he snatched the Kindle out of her hand and flung it on a towel. In the next instant, her slight body was slung over his shoulder, and he was running towards the water, laughing like a madman.
“No, CJ! No, please!” she shouted. But the roar of his laughter obscured the seriousness in her voice. Even I was chuckling at the sight of Kami’s tight little ass in the air.
Instead of letting her down next to me, CJ tossed her into the chest-high water a few yards away, sending her crashing in with a splash.
“No!” came Angel’s shrill scream the next moment. She and Dominic were frantically wading towards the scene, both donning furious expressions.
I looked to Kami. She still hadn’t surfaced from the water. Shit. Was she just joking around? Or maybe she couldn’t swim?
“Kami! Babe, just stand up. It’s shallow,” I called out, wading towards her. Still nothing.
“Do you know what the f*ck you’ve done?” Dom hollered, shoving CJ as he reached Kami just as she finally floated to the surface.
Face down and unmoving.
Alarm bells wailed in my ears, as I struggled to get to her unresponsive body. F*ck! Had she hit her head on a rock at the bottom of the lake? Had she choked? What the f*ck was going on?
Dom scooped her up into his arms, her limbs flailing limply like a ragdoll. I reached out to take her from him, my protective instincts kicking in. Dom angrily shoved me with his shoulder. “Get away from her!” he barked, his hostile glare bringing me up short. What the hell?
The rest of our group was making their way to shore as Dom laid Kami’s limp body on a beach chair. She was pale and eerily still, and her body looked frail and tiny. The back of my eyes prickled with fear and I took a step back, frozen in panic. This wasn’t happening. Not again. I couldn’t do this shit again.
Angel wrapped a towel around her wet body while Dom checked her vitals. He opened her mouth with the tips of his fingers and pressed his lips to hers. I understood what he was doing, I knew he was trying to save her life, but I couldn’t help the sudden flash of jealousy that flooded my chest. I pushed my way through the onlookers to her still motionless body.
“There’s no way she could’ve drowned; she was only under for a few seconds,” I said, kneeling in front of her. But I couldn’t touch her. I was…scared. I was scared that history was repeating itself.
Dom worked to bring her to consciousness, talking to her, shaking her, opening her eyes for any sign of coherency. “Don’t you think I know that?”
“We need to call 911,” one of the waitresses said.
“No!” Angel shot back. “Nobody call. She’ll wake up in just a second. Just get back! Give her some damn room!”
I helped her push back the crowd before turning to a shame-faced CJ, his frightened eyes rimmed with tears.
“Dude, I had no idea. I was just being a dick. Oh my God, did I kill her?”
“No!” Dom answered without looking up, still shaking Kami’s lifeless body. “But you could have, a*shole. Don’t ever touch her again. Do you hear me?”
CJ grimaced as if physically pained, then let his head drop. He really was mortified, but I couldn’t comfort my cousin. I couldn’t do more than worry about the woman lying still before me. The woman that I was losing before I could even possess her.
In a gut-wrenching gasp for oxygen, Kami awoke, her delicate hands grasping the air like she was fighting for her life.
“I’m here, Kam. I’m here,” Dom said soothingly, tentatively pulling her into his chest. She continued to fight until she realized who he was. Then, she broke into a heart-stopping sob, clutching his back like she would die if he let go. Dom squeezed tighter and began to rock her, tucking her head under his chin to shield her from onlookers. Angel covered her with more towels before embracing her from behind, wrapping her arms around both Kami and Dom. And I just sat there. Stunned. Silent. And stumped. Had I missed something?
Kami continued to wail, her body shaking so badly that the tremors vibrated the beach chair.
“Shhhh, it’s ok, Kam. You’re safe. It’s over. You’re safe now. I’ve got you,” Dom chanted over and over in her ear.
The trio sat there for long moments, as I observed like some sick spectator. I wasn’t wanted here. I wasn’t what she needed. But I couldn’t turn away from her.
“Come on, let’s get her to the car,” Angel muttered, once Kami’s cries had decreased to painful whimpers. The two pulled away but kept Kami’s face and body obscured by towels.
“Kam?” I said reaching out to grasp her trembling hand. Dom smacked it away before I could make contact. What the f*ck? I jumped to my feet, fists tight at my sides. “What the f*ck is your problem, man?”
Dom stood, taking the same offensive stance. “My problem is you and your cousin f*cking around with someone you don’t even know. You have no idea what you’ve done. No f*cking clue what damaged you’ve caused with your little joke. Well, consider playtime over. You’re not playing with her anymore.”
“Who the f*ck said I was playing with her?” I snapped through clenched teeth. “And who are you to tell me what I’m going to do with her?”
Angel stepped between us, lightly pushing against both our chests. “Guys, cut it out. This isn’t the time.”
“You’re done with her,” Dom replied, moving Angel aside. “Do you hear me? Done. Leave her alone.”
“F*ck that! I’m not done until she says we are.” I looked to Kami again. Her head was down, yet angled towards us. I advanced towards her again before Dom blocked my way with his arm. I shoved him back, bringing up my fists in preparation. Dom did the same.
“Stop!” Kami’s small, shaky voice called out below us, drawing both our attention. I kneeled before her, my anger towards Dom temporarily forgotten.
“Baby, are you ok?” I asked, grasping her hands gently.
Her slightly blue lips trembled as her bloodshot eyes searched my face. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but sighed in resignation as she looked away.
“For now,” she whispered.
No. Hell no. I wasn’t going to let her lie to me. Not this time. I needed to make this better for her. For both of us.
“Kami, talk to me,” I urged. “Let me know what I need to do.”
She shook her head and brought her gaze back to me, her eyes rimmed with fresh tears. And with pain etched in every inch of her beautiful face, her body quaking uncontrollably, she cracked a sad smile. “There’s nothing you can do. Just let me go.”
“No,” I all but growled. “You don’t mean that. Talk to me.”
“Blaine, she said…”
I gave Dom a murderous scowl before he could even get the words out. This was between Kami and I, and I’d be damned if I let her friends scare me away.
Her quivering hand gave mine a small squeeze, and I turned back to her, my expression softening at the sight of her solemn face. “I wish I could.”
“Then do it. You trust me, right?”
Kami’s big green eyes fell to our clasped hands, and she nodded faintly. “Just…give me time. I’ll call you, ok?”
I didn’t argue. Kami was giving me a chance, even if it was a half-hearted one, and I’d be a fool not to take it.
Slowly, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her forehead. I knew it very well could have been the last time I ever felt her skin against mine, and that thought ripped me to shreds. But, I would do as she asked; I would give her time. I would have done just about anything for her at that moment.
As I watched Angel and Dom usher her away, all the little pieces of my reformed life, the parts that had finally fallen into place, were left scattered in disarray.
Kami said she couldn’t be saved, but I still needed to save her. She said she was broken, and I desperately wanted to fix her. She claimed she was unlovable, but…shit…
I needed to love her.