“What?!” she shouts. “You told him where you were?! Ayden!”
“No, no. I swear that’s not how it happened. He was tracking my phone. It’s why I got a new number.”
The way her voice trembles ties my stomach into knots. “What happened? Did he hurt you? I swear to god, Ayden, I’ll kill him.”
That makes me smile, despite everything. “I’m fine, I…” My throat closes. Funny how the Michael stuff is easier to admit than this next part. “I had Keoni here to help.”
“What?!” she practically shrieks. “Keoni? Like, our stepbrother Keoni?”
I wince. If I could go back in time and make sure Dad never met Leilani, I would.
“Yeah. Our Keoni.”
MyKeo. It’s what I want to say, but can’t.
“He just… showed up?”
“It’s a long story…”
And it takes nearly an hour to tell her. How he found me in the cabin, how we’ve talked through why I stayed away, and how we have rekindled our… friendship. Especially these last few weeks. I tell her about his work as a firefighter, about the idea of staying here long term, about the restraining order.
I don’t tell her about the night we shared the same bed, or the way he held me like he didn’t want to let go. I definitely don’t confess how often I’ve thought about him in the shower, or how desperate I am for him in ways I shouldn’t be.
But I do tell her about how he beat the hell out of Michael, and I swear she could’ve woken the neighbors with how loud she cheered.
By the time I’m done, I catch the sound of her sniffling.
“Oh, Ayden,” she says, voice thick with tears. “I’m so fucking glad you two found each other again. My family, right where they’re supposed to be—there for each other.”
Sigh.
“Are you coming out for Christmas?” I completely move on. No point in being upset about what I already know to be my reality.
I can’t have Keo the way I want him.
Speaking of the man himself, the front door opens. Keo steps in with grocery bags clenched tight in both hands, veins bulging up his forearms from the weight.
Something is definitely growing in my pants at the sight.
“I am. Please, please, tell me we’re all going to be together,” Alysa begs.
His eyes don’t meet mine, but he turns slightly. I can just slightly see his half smile as he crosses the room.
I whisper, “Need help?”
He shakes his head, so I rush out, “Yes, we’ll all be here.”
Alysa squeals through the phone. “Is that Keoni you’re whispering to? Put me on speaker.”
I thumb the button and set the phone on the table. “Go for it.”
“Keoni! How did I miss you at the funeral? I’m so upset.”
He sets the bags down with a groan. His voice is low, rough. “I know, and I’m sorry, Aly. I thought neither of you came…”
“As if I’d ever miss that. You know me!”
When his eyes lift to mine, they’re bloodshot, rimmed in red. My chest twists.Oh shit.
