He shook his head, and his shoulders slumped. “I can’t trust anyone.”
Kyle left her. The door squeaked as it opened, and slammed shut a second later.
The only sound left was the swish of the curtain against the floor.
“He did what?” Violet yelled. Her face was purple with fury. She’d come over as soon as Faith broke down trying to tell her what happened.
Faith waved a hand, hoping she looked as unaffected as Kyle. Too bad she was affected. “It’s over now. He can go be broody and dark somewhere else.”
“Says the girl with tearstains on her face and a runny nose.” Vi cracked her knuckles. “He better stay clear of me the next few days.”
“Why would he think he can’t trust anyone?” Faith rubbed at her eyes. “God, things are so messed up right now.”
Vi put her arm around Faith’s shoulder and snuggled close. “They are, but you’re strong and you can take it.”
Her heart throbbed painfully. “Are you sure?”
“I am.” Violet stood and brushed Faith’s hair off her forehead. “You know…”
Faith’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
She sighed. “He fooled me, too.”
After a quick hug, she trotted downstairs, leaving Faith alone. Anytime Vi left a room, there was a void, like all the good mojo left with her. Faith sank down on her bed, hugging a pillow. She hadn’t imagined it, then. Kyle had been attracted to her, and not just as a quick hookup or disposable girl.
For some reason, knowing that made the rejection hurt worse.
Her phone buzzed on her nightstand. She reached for it, thinking Vi had forgotten something, but it buzzed again, and again. Someone was calling instead of texting, but she didn’t recognize the number.
She allowed the call. “Hello?”
“Faith?” a slightly out-of-breath male voice asked.
“Yeah.” She frowned. “Cade?”
“Oh, good. I was worried you might think I was a creeper and hang up.”
She smiled despite her mood. “No one could ever think you’re a creeper.”
“That depends on whether or not Scarlett Johansson got all ninety-seven of my letters.”
Faith’s mouth dropped open. “Uh, what?”
“I kid, I kid,” he said. “Faith, I called to apologize. I never should’ve asked Kyle to come tonight.”
He sounded so upset, she forgave him immediately. “You thought you were doing something helpful. And that’s sweet.”
“On my part, maybe.” Cade sounded bitter, so unlike him. “I’d hoped…never mind. It doesn’t matter so much now.”
“What did you hope?” she asked cautiously.
There was a long pause. “I hoped Kyle might pull himself together. He’d lose his ever-loving shit if he knew I was telling you this, but he doesn’t know what to do with his feelings, so he stuffs them in a jar.”
“Are we talking about Kyle Sawyer?” she asked. “Badass, I-bone-college-girls, loner Kyle?” Even saying it sounded fake.
Cade laughed. “One and the same. Anyway, I wanted you to know how sorry I am.”
“Don’t be.” Cade’s saying Kyle stuffed his feelings away matched her own suspicions. What could possibly be so bad that he felt like he had to shut everyone out—shut her out?
She sighed. No matter how frustrated he made her, she couldn’t stop caring. “Is he okay?”
Cade laughed again. This time there was a wry quality to it, like he was letting her in on a joke. “No, but after I’m through with him, he might be.”
He hung up, and Faith dropped her phone on the bed, feeling like pieces of a puzzle were falling into place, but also knowing she might never have the whole picture.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kyle
Kyle was nearly home when Cade called. “Where the hell are you?”
He pulled into the long driveway leading up to their house, but stopped. “Home. Why?”
“You were supposed to come over. You’re not getting out of this.” Cade sounded more steamed than Kyle had ever heard. “My house. Fifteen minutes.”
He hung up before Kyle could give him an excuse. Kyle rested his head against the steering wheel. Why couldn’t he trust himself enough to open up to Faith? What was wrong with him? A corner of his heart beat out her name over and over and over, and he knew what he should do, but he couldn’t figure out how. No, that wasn’t right—he didn’t know how to do it without pain. Without saying, outright, that he’d lied to her.
Sighing, he backed out of the driveway. He’d wanted a miracle, right? Time to suck it up and see what his old friend had in store.
Cade wrenched the door open as soon as Kyle set foot on their porch. He was frowning. “Can you be honest with me? Before we go through this, are you really going to talk to me, or are we gonna dance? Because I gave you some specific instructions and you didn’t listen. In fact, you made things worse.”
Kyle’s bones ached, and he was tired all over. What was it his grandpa always said when he was being a cagey bastard? The truth will set you free. Yeah, it was time to lose his burdens. “I’m here to talk.”
Cade nodded sharply. “Step into my office.”