He smirked at her. “Are you accusing me of being attracted to Bailey?”
“My God, motherfucker, can you stop already? I know it’s only Meggie you’re obsessed with. Now that we’ve cleared up your fondest adultery prayer, what do you need toapologize to me for? Because as we’ve established, my conscience is clear.”
“I doubt that,” he sneered. “I think you’ve fucked both of them.”
Johnnie exhausted her. If he wasn’t accusing her of one thing, it was something else. Still, she couldn’t let his fucking insult slide, especially since his own fucking guilt led him to his low opinion and lack of faith in her. “That amazes me.”
“I’m amazing.”
Once, he had been. “Notyou. You said ‘you think’.That’sfucking amazing. Brainless fuckheads—”Brainless blonds— “usually don’t have that capacity.”
“I come to you in good faith and you throw juvenile insults at me.”
“Good faith for what? I still don’t know what you are sorry for.”
“I’m sure you do. I’m sure Ryan couldn’t wait to blab how he came to me to help Molly and I refused. I wish I would’ve known Mattie was involved…” He closed his eyes. “That’s what I want to apologize to you about, Kendall. I never would’ve…to protect our daughter, I would’ve helped Ryan.”
Kendall thought about how Rory sounded when he’d asked about Harley. It was guilt, she realized. Guilt, because he’d known what was happening and hadn’t toldanyone.
Of course Johnnie knew, too. Bash had been able to infiltrate their lives so deeply because of her husband.
Neither her husband nor her son would’ve cared if only Harley and Rebel had been affected. They would’ve continued on about the business, not fucking caring.
Swallowing, she thought of Ryan. How unforgiving her thoughts had been. She’d agreed to keep his secret on behalf of Zoann because she hadn’t thought…
Who was she kidding? Johnnie didn’t care about anything other than what he wanted and her son idolized his father.
“You knew what I went through,” she started, her voice trembling, “and you…you could’ve helped Molly…you knew about…? How could you?”
Johnnie didn’t meet her gaze. “I’m sorry.”
Instead of answering, she turned and ran to her bedroom, as sorry as she’d ever been for too many reasons to list.
After walking outside with his brother, Grant and CJ, Kaia decided to hang around. As long as he steered clear of Diesel and his friends, he enjoyed himself and the attention from the girls, especially Fia, who’d slipped her number in his pocket during one of their dances.
He didn’t intend to call her. If Rebel found out, she wouldn’t forgive him this time. Yet just knowing Fia’s number was in his pocket tempted him. If only Rebel had taken him up on his offer.
In hindsight, he realized he’d been pressuring her. Was it so bad that he wanted to spend hours kissing her?
And more.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t ready for more.Hewas, specifically tonight when those girls—Fia—had grinded all over him, wearing next to nothing.
Standing outside with alcohol buzzing in his veins and lust percolating in his balls, the idea of returning to his room alone and rubbing one or three out while dreaming of a girl he couldn’t have right now wasn’t the least bit appealing.
As much as he didn’t want to betray Rebel, he wanted relief that only a girl could give to him.
He was already walking a fine line, though. If he fucked Fia, he had to make sure she kept her fucking mouth shut. Because, though the beer and tequila shots had lowered his guard, the idea of Rebel’s anger and hurt seeped into his brain and wilted his hard cock.
Scowling, he lit a cigarette, flip-flopping between pleasing himself—which a kid Rebel’s age couldn’t do—and behaving and waiting until that kid was of age.
“Heading home?”
Ryan’s voice startled him and he glanced in the direction it had come, toward the parking garage.
Kaia turned and watched as Ryan closed the distance between them. He was dressed in jeans and a Polo shirt but Kaia preferred his black wide legged pants with a matching blazer that had a red rose on each side, which made his red cashmere sweater all the more outstanding. He’d purchased this outfit himself from his firstpaycheck he received from Meggie. Ryan wore black boots, but Kaia thought his red patent leather lace-up Oxfords matched his outfit better.
“We can walk the trail together,” Ryan offered.
