“— and Kins …” he adds, I pause gripping the doorframe of the ensuite, looking back over my shoulder at him. “Can you leave the door open?”

A glance at my wrist and back towards him, causes my chest to ache and tears well in my eyes. He’s scared. I don’t say anything, I continue to walk into the bathroom and out of his line of sight, undressing and lowering myself into the bath; all whilst leaving the door open. If that’s the peace of mind he needs, I’ll give it to him.

Chapter Thirty-One

Tanner

Two days prior …

Jesse finally told me everything.

Now, I’m standing in Kinsley’s spare room, looking around at the mess of papers, the pinboards and notebooks. I’m not angry that she kept this from me, I’m hurt that she is going through this without my support.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle when I think of the final words Jesse left me with, ‘If she knows that you know, she will push you away. She can turn cold as ice and her words will hurt you. Just know that in her eyes, she is doing this to protect you.’

She wouldn’t push me away though, would she? She is fucking delusional if she thinks for a minute that I would walk away from her. Kinsley Mae Fallon is mine.

I can make it look as though I’m walking away, if that’s what she wants. But little will she know, I’ll be walking into battle right alongside her. I will let her believe she is protecting me. I will willingly walk away. Fuck, it will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but for her I would do anything.

Jesse seems to think he knows how she will react when she finds me in here, when she realises that I know the details of her past — or really lack thereof. Except, I’m hoping he’s wrong. I’m pacing the room when I hear the front door unlock and the familiar clicking of her heels on the tiles. From the entryway she will be able to see that the door to the spare room is open and the light is on. My chest tightens as I wait for her to notice. If Jesse is right and she pushes me away, we have a plan, a plan that ends with her back in my arms.

“Jess, is that you in there?” she calls out. “I’ll grab us a beer.”

Moments later she’s standing in the doorway, hazel-coloured eyes collide with mine and the beer bottles shatter onto the tiles.

“T-tanner, what are you —” She’s shaking her head, clearly not wanting to believe the sight before her eyes. The sight of me seeing her, really seeing her, for the first time.