Page 206 of Nobody's Girl

“Kyle, we have to talk.”

I put my forehead on hers. “I saw it, Al. I saw the ring.”

Tears fall off her cheeks, hitting the hard wood floor between us. Mine soon join hers as we stand, foreheads together, holding hands in silence.

“This wasn’t planned. I don’t expect you to understand, because it’s something I don’t understand myself. I do love you, Kyle.” Sobs rack her body as she falls apart, taking me with her.

My arms wrap around her and she wraps hers around me. We cry for all that’s lost, all which will never be.

My heart hurts in a way I never imagined. A permanent pain that only time will heal, but I know it will always ache a little for what I’ve lost.

“Do you really love him, Al?”

She nods her head, I suppose she’s still unable to talk as she still shakes against me as she cries. Somehow that knowledge makes this easier.

“It took you eight years before you could tell me you loved me. You’ve only known him for a few days and you already know. That must mean something. Did he tell you he loves you too?”

She nods against my chest again and her body shudders as she sobs again. I have to relieve her of the guilt I can tell is tormenting her.

I kiss the top of her head, and as hard as it is, I set her free. “It was never meant to be, Ally. I’ll have love in my heart for you forever, but you have to go on the path your life is supposed to take. My path is not the one for you. I’ll be okay. I’ll miss you, but I’ll make a life for myself. Don’t worry about me.”

“Oh, Kyle.” Her embrace tightens as she lets loose another round of tears.

Mine have dried up with the realization that my hanging on to her is hurting her. Somehow, being strong for her helps me to take this in a better way.

I want to dry her tears, so I sit down on one of the dining room chairs and hold her on my lap. Luckily, the table is pre-set. I take a linen napkin and dab at her streaming eyes.

Her eyeliner, which had looked so pretty, now runs down her reddened cheeks. At least I can see that she really did love me, because no one would cry these many tears over someone they merely liked a lot.

“Oh my goodness, Al. You would not believe how much makeup has run off those pretty eyes. A river of black runs down your cheeks. Let me clean you up.”

I dab and wipe as she looks sadly at me. “I’m really sorry,” she says as her voice catches in her throat. She’s trying very hard to stop crying.

I smile at her. “Don’t be sorry, sweetie. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. How much makeup did you put on? This stuff is everywhere. I don’t remember you wearing so much, but you had enough of this goop on to cover three girl’s faces,” I tell her with a chuckle.

She hits at my chest. “Don’t tease me, Kyle.”

I tweak her little nose. “Who’s teasing? There’s a lot of run-off and it’s threatening your pretty little white dress,” I say as I wipe some more black trails from her neck and a little ways down her chest. “Wow, Al, this is the lowest cut thing I’ve ever seen you wear. And, baby, you are wearing the hell out of it. I almost passed out when I saw your gorgeous self jump out of that car.”

Her tears have stopped and her eyes twinkle a little. She grabs another napkin and holds it over her cleavage, which is exceptional. “You rogue. I’ll wipe this area.”

I laugh and she giggles, making me feel better. Although I’m a long way from being okay with this, I won’t hurt her by dragging it out. I’ll suffer in silence and wait for the pain to pass.

God, I hope it passes.

CHAPTER 21

EDEN

“I’m sorry she’s putting you through this, Eden,” Alyssa’s father tells me.

My eyes follow my mate as she leads her soon to be ex-boyfriend out of the living room. “Don’t be. She’s going to break up with him. I can be patient while she does that.”

Her mother, Toni, laughs. “You sure about that?”

I turn to look at her and smile, then I look at David. “I asked her to marry me and she said yes.”

Toni’s jaw drops and David comes to shake my hand. “You pulled it off. I wasn’t sure you could in time for the change. I couldn’t be happier. This will go so much easier for her now. I’m so sorry about making this harder than it had to be. I can’t apologize enough,” her father says as he pumps my hand up and down and pats my back.