Love You Always

“I’m hanging out with Kristen tonight,” she says with a yawn. My arms around her tighten. “She’s my girlfriend and we have a few classes together, which is nice.”

“You’ll be coming back here tonight?” It’s not a question. She hesitates for a moment before she finally says she will.

The fuck is that? She and I need to sit down and get this shit worked out. For tonight I’ll let her go study with her friend, but when she gets home, I’m not holding anything back.

She’ll know her ass is mine.

5

Kimmy

What the hell? I’m going to murder Kent. I drop my concealer back into my makeup bag. He gave me a hickey? Are we in high school or something? I cover it up the best that I can before I finish getting ready to meet up with Kristen.

For someone who is sneaking around, I don’t understand why he would put a hickey on me for my brother to see. I huff. He confuses the crap out of me. It’s driving me a little bonkers. I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with the man. The last week has been one of the best of my life. But I want more.

I put some lip gloss on before I grab my bag. I check my phone and see that Kristen is almost here. I text her that I’ll meet her in front of the building. I can hear my brother and Kent talking in the kitchen. There are takeout containers on the counter. I fight a smile thinking that Kent didn’t cook because I wasn't going to be here.

“You got a date or something?” Max asks the second he spots me. Kent spins around from where he is standing. From the pissed-off look on his face I don’t think he cares too much for my dress.

The top is tight to keep my boobs in place since the dress is strapless. At the waist it starts to flare out, going to the middle of my thighs. My favorite part of the dress is at first glance you think it’s white, but when the light hits it you can see silver sparkles. I paired it with a killer pair of heels to complete the look.

“I’m going out with Kristen. Don’t start. I’m an adult.” I put my hand up. Out of the corner of my eyes I can see Kent gripping the counter, his knuckles starting to turn white.

“You want to try that again?” Max pushes back from his chair, coming toward me. “You got a fucking hickey and you think I’m going to believe you’re not going on a date?”

Kent actually smirks for a moment before going back to the whole angry thing he’s got going on.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a date or not. I have no reason to lie or sneak around,” I say to my brother, but some of those words are meant for Kent too.

If he can’t stand up to my brother after all this time, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. That’s why I need a girls’ night, to talk this out with a friend. I also might have wanted Kent to see me all dolled up for once.

“I can’t stop you, but I don’t fucking like it either. Your ass better be home by ten.” I roll my eyes at him. I’m not even going to fight him on that. I’ll come home when I freaking feel like it.

“Don’t you have work to be doing or something?” I toss back at him. “I’m surprised you noticed anything about me.” Max flinches. Guilt hits me instantly, but it is kind of true. He’s gotten distant from all of us really. Always so busy trying to make a better life that he’s letting the one he has slip by.

“I love you,” I say to him. My eyes flick to Kent, wanting to say those words to him too. I turn to leave. I swear I can feel his eyes on me as I go. It’s not until I’m in Kristen’s car that I finally release the breath I was holding.

“You okay?” she asks, eyeing me.

“I don’t know.” I sigh as she pulls away from the curb. It’s not long before we make it to the restaurant. Once inside, we’re escorted to the table she reserved for us. We place our drink and food order and settle in.

“Hit me with it.” She knows a few small details, but I tell her mostly all of it over dinner before we head to the bar. I leave out some of the dirty stuff and the kinks I’m realizing I have when it comes to Kent.

“I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that you two haven’t slept together but have pretty much done everything else.” I can’t either. It’s another thing that’s driving me bonkers.