Like eighteen semi-trucks had rolled over my face.
“Dude, you good?” Aaron asked. I wasn’t sure how much time had gone by, because my brain was swimming. It could’ve been a minute, or thirty, but I blinked a couple of times before finding my bearings.
“That hurt worse than I imagined.”
“No shit. I didn’t mean to get you right in the face. I was just aiming for something and fuck… Let’s get you some ice.” He pulled me up from the ground and clapped me on the back. “One punch was a good idea. I feel better.”
“Gladyoufucking do.”
“I’m not the most approachable person. I’ve been working on that. I wish you would’ve told me earlier, but now that I hit you and got some aggression out, it kinda makes sense.”
“What makes sense?” I groaned when we went up the two steps and into the living room. Zade had a half-smile, half-scowl on his stupid face and I flipped him off. “Thanks for the backup, dumbass.”
“You earned this all on your own.”
Aaron shoved me onto the couch. “You and she spent a lot of time together. You have dumb senses of humor. You’re both quiet. Just…if you hurt her, I won’t be able to forgive you.”
“I understand. Your friendship means a lot to me, Hilly, but I’d regret it forever if I didn’t try with her. She’s…she’s what I need. She makes me happy and I think I make her happy too.”
“Youcanmake me happy,” a female voice said. I knew that voice.Oh my god!
I jerked my head toward the door, regretting it immediately. Kenzie stood there, in our doorway, looking so fucking cute in black shorts and a faded jersey that my heart lurched in my throat. “You’re here.”
“Yeah. You said you were going to tell Aaron everything and I wanted to make sure you’re alive.” She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, eyeing her brother and me in the process. “You’re going to bruise. Let me get some ice for you.”
She brushed past us and rustled around in the kitchen, coming back out holding a zip lock bag. She sat on the coffee table and leaned forward to press the ice against my face. “So.” She glanced between me and her brother. “I take it you know.”
“Yeah. I know,” Aaron responded, but not in the angry tone I expected. “I got to punch him.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I couldn’t pick that up on my own,” she fired back. When her warm gaze landed on me, she smiled and my stomach fluttered again.She’ll forgive me. I know it.
“Kenzie.”
She stilled, looking at me through her glasses, her long lashes fanning her cheeks, and fuck, I felt stupid all over again for thinking I’d be fine without her. I reached out, taking her hand in mine and trying not to wince when I adjusted my position to get closer to her. She blinked and her mouth parted when I set the ice on the table and cupped her face. “I’m sorry for how I handled everything. This is new for me…I have no idea what I’m doing but all I know is I want to be with just you as long as you want me. If that means boyfriend, girlfriend, exclusive, whatever. I don’t care.”
“Labels don’t matter to me,” she said, her voice shaking a little bit. “And you’re sure…you really want this?”
“God, yes. I let your brother punch me. And I didn’t block it.” I moved to pick her up on my lap—forgetting Aaron was sitting next to me. He jumped up.
“Hell no, none of this shit when I’m in the room.” He covered his eyes with his hands and backed into the TV console. “No, no, no. I barely gave you permission two minutes ago.”
“Permission?” Kenzie snapped, wiggling her cute body on my lap. “We don’t need your permission to do anything we want, Aaron. So nice fucking try.”
“I’m going to—uh, go somewhere—not here.”
“Let’s visit Callie and Greta. I’m sure we can give these two a couple hours,” Zade said, returning from upstairs. Aaron gagged and strode out of the room. But he turned back and pointed at us.
“I will take Kenzie’s side every fucking time. We’re brothers on the field, Tanner. This is a one-chance-is-all-you-fucking-get type of situation.”
“I don’t plan on messing up again.”
“Good. Good. Cool. Well, uh, I need some time tonotfucking think about this.” He opened the door and let it slam shut.
“Glad you pulled your head out of your ass, TJ. Not the best way to do it, but it worked. Happy for you both. I’ll make sure he doesn’t do anything crazy.”
“Thanks, Z,” I said, waiting for him to leave. The second he did, I moved my hands to Kenzie’s ass and pulled her against me. My face pounded, my head hurt, but she was with me and the coil that had wrapped itself around my chest sprang free, and my life didn’t seem so empty. “It’s going to be messy.”
“Yup.” She rested her forehead on mine. “I didn’t want to fall in love with you. I had all these plans.”
