Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

She shakes her head. "What is it, Kay? Why don't you want to tell me?"

"It's nothing." Shakiness seeps into my voice. I want it to be nothing. Or at least nothing important. But it's huge.

"It's something." She presses her ass against the counter. Folds her arms. Frustration creeps into her eyes.

It's hurting her that I'm keeping a secret.

This is my chance.

I can confess everything.

Or I can double down on the lie.

I take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

Her dark eyes stay fixed on mine.

"I... uh... Brendon... uh. Brendon caught me and Dean." Guilt nags at my throat. It takes everything I have to keep my expression neutral.

"Oh." Emma tilts her head, turning over the so called admission.

"Yeah." I dig into my lie. "We were just kissing, but he got pissed."

"What did he say?"

"Dean's a whore. I can do better. That kind of thing."

"Did he threaten to kill Dean?"

"More or less." Or a lot less.

Emma's eyes bore into mine. "Really?"

I barely nod.

"Look me in the eyes, Kay."

"Why?" My gaze goes right to my shoes. They're grey. Canvas and rubber. Comfortable. Perfect for a concert.

"Kay."

"What?" I force myself to stare back into Emma's dark eyes. They're lighter than Brendon's. Wider. But still a lot like his.

"Tell me the truth. Whatever it is."

"I..." My voice cracks. The words claw at my gut. They make it all the way up my throat, but I stop them with a swallow.

"You..."

"I..."

"Are you fucking my brother?"

"Em..."

Her eyes go wide. She shakes her head. "Kaylee, what the fuck?"

"It's not like that."