Page 46 of Let’s Be Real

With another whimper, Kelly turned and fled back into my house, slamming the door behind her.

I arched a brow. “I think that’s your answer, asshole. She read all your texts with Scarlet. She knows everything. Do you actually think she’d ever forgive you?”

That sneer came back in full force. “I bet you’re loving this, huh? The black sheep finally gets to be the center of things? As soon as Kelly forgives me, you’ll be back in your spot on the outside—exactly where you belong.”

I shrugged, pretending the truth of his nasty words didn’t mean anything. “You’re probably right, but you’ll be outside with me because Kelly is never going to forgive you. Now get the hell off my steps.”

I spun around and ran back inside. Kelly was in the entry, chewing on her nails, her brow crinkled with worry.

“Is he going away?”

I checked the peephole. Josh was pacing at the bottom of my steps. “Doesn’t seem like it. Not right now.”

She tugged on my hand. “Please don’t leave me. Not with him out there. You probably think I’m an idiot for being afraid of him—”

“I don’t think you’re an idiot.” —not about this, at least.

“Do you think you could call Nate?”

“Nate?”

She nodded. “I feel bad you’ve been spending all your time with me instead of seeing your boyfriend, you know? But maybe if he comes here, he can scare Josh off.”

Oh, right. Nate was my boyfriend. I’d sort of forgotten that detail over the last week.

“I don’t want to drag Nate into this,” I said, which was true. He’d already done more than enough. But when I glanced out my peephole again, Josh was sitting on my bottom step, looking like he had no intention of going anywhere.

“Please?” Kelly whispered.

I really did need to go to work, but there was not a chance I could leave Kelly while Josh was camping out. I didn’t think he’d do anything crazy, but I wasn’t certain enough to take that chance.

“Fine. I’ll call Nate.”

Chapter Seventeen

Nate

Moving Samantha and her sister into my condo was the last thing I’d expected to be doing with my evening, but that was exactly what was happening.

“It’s really temporary,” Samantha whispered as Kelly went to settle herself in my guest bedroom. “She still thinks we’re a real couple, and I didn’t know what to say…”

Her words drifted off as I took her hand in mine and rubbed my thumb along hers.

“I didn’t assume you and your sister were moving in permanently.”

With a groan, she let her head fall against my chest. “This sucks. I’m so sorry.”

“You’ve been here five minutes. There’s nothing to apologize for yet.”

This hadn’t been the plan when I’d received Samantha’s call earlier. I’d headed to her place as quickly as I could and found Josh exactly where she’d said he would be. He’d been more amenable when I told him to move off Samantha’s steps, but he hadn’t gone far. He’d parked himself in his car, with a clear view of Samantha’s house.

The moment I laid eyes on Kelly’s frightened face and Samantha’s concerned one, I knew I couldn’t leave them there. Adrian would have taken them in. A hotel would have worked too. But what kind of boyfriend would I have been if I’d taken either of those options?

Samantha huffed a laugh. “I’m sure I’ll have plenty to apologize for by tomorrow. Kelly doesn’t know how to sit still. If you’re not careful, she’ll handwash your underwear. Don’t ask me how I know this.”

I slid my fingers through the side of her hair and pulled her head away from my chest. “It sounds like you’ve been doing some bonding over the last week.” I grinned.

“A time has been had, that’s for sure.” She returned my smile. “It’s good to see you again, despite the circumstances.”