“From the beginning,” I answered honestly. “I met Liv just before she found out she was pregnant. We became close, and I went to her apartment to meet Kaylee the day they came home from the hospital.”
His eyes searched mine as he asked his next question, “Have you and Olivia ever been together romantically?”
“No,” I said. I ran a hand through my hair and silently vowed never to keep anything from him again. He deserved the truth. The whole truth. “I’ve been in love with for her for years but I’ve never told her.”
“Why not?”
“Honestly? Mostly because I’ve been a coward. I love Kaylee so much, she might as well be my daughter too. If I told Liv how I felt and she didn’t feel the same and it cost me that little girl? I don’t know how I’d ever live with myself if I just disappeared from her life like that. Being without Liv and Kaylee just isn’t an option.”
Kayden nodded slowly and took a deep breath, adjusting his glasses.
“What’s Kaylee like?”
I chuckled. “God, Kayd. She’s so smart. She already knows all of her letters which her new preschool teacher was beyond impressed with. She carries books around everywhere. She’s super into MANGA-TILES and builds pretty elaborate structures out of those things. She gets most upset with Liv when she isn’t allowed to pick out her own clothes, and she is a world-class cuddler during movies. Oh, and she has a new obsession with her ant farm.”
His lips turned upward. “She sounds pretty awesome.”
“She’s so awesome.” I reached out with my foot and gently nudged his. “Honestly, she’s kind of brilliant. I’ve never met a kid her age this advanced and now I think I know where she gets it from.”
He chuckled and the sound made my heart skip a beat.
“I wanted to tell you, Kayd, but I couldn’t do that to Liv, and I couldn’t push her without revealing our relationship, especially not when seeing you was a huge shock for her too. I’m not saying that as an excuse, I just want you to know that I did my best to keep your secret too. Though I’m sure she’s suspicious now.”
He reached for my hand, and I inched a little closer to him. “That must have felt like an impossible position,” he said, rubbing his thumb over mine. “No wonder you look so tired.”
I snorted. “I really did work myself to death to avoid seeing you and pestering her anymore than I already was. I didn’t want to be with you while I was keeping something like that to myself. She promised to tell you today, and I know she would have. I have no idea how Kaylee ended up here, but I know that wasn’t how she planned to tell you. Olivia’s a really good person. She’d never ambush you.”
“Jace, I appreciate your loyalty to both of us over the last week more than I can explain. And I’m sorry because what I’m about to say is going to make you feel worse.” He sighed. “She knows I’m bi.”
“Fuck,” I groaned, grabbing my hair with both hands.
Kayden pulled me closer, and I moved to sit beside him. He rested his head on my shoulder and I slipped my arm around his waist. “I told her the night we met. She may not recall a detail that small, but I remember it vividly because she was the first person I ever told.”
My heart worked its way up my throat.They had a real connection, didn’t they? I’m so fucked.
“I don’t want you to have to lie to her for me,” Kayden said, pulling my mind from spiraling the drain. “You can tell her about us.”
I nodded against his head. “Okay. Honestly, I’m just glad there’s still anus.”
He lifted his head and faced me. “I’m falling for you, Jace. I can’t walk away from you. Especially not when you were clearly hurting over this all week.”
I kissed him deeply. “Good, because I’m not going anywhere, baby.” He kissed me again and I cupped his face. “Do you want me to comehome with you? I need to check on Liv and make sure that she and Kaylee are okay. I can meet you at your place afterward.”
“No,” he said. “I think I need a little time alone to let this sink in. You should make sure she’s okay.”
“Okay,” I said reluctantly as we both shifted to standing. “You can call me though. If you change your mind and don’t want to be alone. I’ll be there if you want me.”
“Thank you,” he said wrapping his arms around me in a hug. I pressed my lips to his one last time, released the emergency hold on the elevator, and waved goodbye as he stepped into the lobby.
When the elevator openedback into my office space, I spotted Olivia sitting at her desk with her head in her hands. I went straight to her and put a hand on her upper back. “Where’s Kaylee?” I asked.
“She’s in your office still. I needed a few minutes.”
I pulled her up to standing and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“You ran after him,” she said, her voice shaky.
“I did.” I had no idea how to wrap my head around my feelings for these two people, not when they were both in need of support for a reason far beyond my relationship with either of them. Helping them through this was more important to me than sorting that out just yet.
