“That’s not true,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I’m scared all the time.” Terrified as fuck to lose her, twenty-four-seven. Kiera pulled back to look at me, confusion on her face. I swallowed the tight knot in my throat. She wasn’t going to like this…but it was the truth. “I remember, Kiera. I remember when Denny left you…what it did to you.” My eyes searching hers, I whispered, “I remember how we got together.”

Anger burned in her eyes; anger mixed with understanding. She knew why I felt the way I did, but even still, it bothered her. She pushed me back. “You won’t leave me because when Denny left—”

“I know you don’t like being alone.” I remembered all the innocent flirting…that had never actually been innocent.

Her jaw clenched as heat filled her voice. “I’m not going to freak out because you’re gone and cheat on you. I’m not…I wouldn’t…Why would you think I would do that to you?”

You know why. “Because I was there…when Denny thought the exact same thing, when he thought you’d never cheat on him either.” Guilt flooded me with shame. I couldn’t solely blame her for that; I’d been an active participant in her betrayal. But still…it had happened, and it was on my mind. I tried to hug her, to take away the sting of my truthful, painful words, but she kept me away.

Her chin quivered with barely contained emotion. “That’s not fair. I’ve grown, Kellan. And you and I were a completely different situation. You can’t throw that in my face.”

“I know, I do know that. And I know you’ve grown, Kiera, but still…” Closing my eyes, I looked away from her. How could I squelch the fear? How could I believe, without a doubt, that I completely had her heart, when I knew—I knew—Denny had felt the same way, once upon a time.

She was silent for a long moment. “Are you always going to wonder about me?” she asked.

A dark humor filled me. Raising my eyebrows, I said, “Just like you wonder about me? Just earlier today you thought I was cheating on you. You won’t worry when I’m gone? I mean, if I go on the road for months…with Griffin…it won’t cross your mind?”

“Well, now it will,” she said, venom in her eyes. Crossing her arms, she glared at me like I’d already committed a dozen atrocious acts. With a sigh, I turned away from her. We were already mad and suspicious…and I hadn’t even left yet. Was I leaving?

I heard Kiera sigh, the resigned sound matching mine. Then she quietly said, “I guess we’ll just have to try and trust each other.”