“No.” Speaking about my feelings has never been easy for me but with a deep breath I continue. “When I saw you here, in my space doing this for me, just as we have always done so easily for each other —” I pause to take another deep breath because I’m rambling; as always he is so patient. He tightens his hold on me and waits, “— it’s the thought of you having a partner and not being able to lean on you whenever I need you.” I’m a sobbing mess now, what am I even asking him?

When I turn to face him, his brows are furrowed. He tucks the loose strands of hair that are falling into my eyes behind my ear before he speaks.

“I’ll always be here for you, Kinsley. Day or night, if you call me, I will move heaven and earth to get to you. Do you understand me?”

Until he finds her. Until he finds the girl who can give him everything that I can’t.

He kisses my forehead, encouraging me to stand, then leaves me alone to the bath he has drawn for me.

Chapter Fourteen

Tanner

I’m fuming as I take the exit towards Kinsley’s apartment. I had to find out through work that there was a break-in at Twisted Sister. We were notified so we could keep an eye on the other businesses in the area which we manage and to report any suspicious behaviour. It’s not just the break-in that has my knuckles turning white against the steering wheel, it’s the fact that something could have happened to her.

I’ve been patient with her, waiting for her to be ready to go all in, but I can’t protect her the way I want to — the way I need to — if I continue to wait. It’s time to show her, and everyone else, who she belongs to.

Jesse’s car is parked out the front, but I already knew that. After I got the call about the break-in I looked over the cameras at the apartment. I saw him come over last night and surprise surprise, the bastard hasn’t left yet. It’s not that I dislike him, I’m glad she has someone looking out for her. It’s the fact that I want to be the one she runs to. I open the door to the apartment without knocking, I’ve never knocked before, why should I start now?

Jesse is standing in the kitchen and his eyes dart to mine. His initial expression of shock quickly turns to unease. I enter the apartment and he greets me with a fake version of the cheesy grin I know Kinsley loves.

“Hey, Tanner,” he says as he leans back on the kitchen counter. The same kitchen counter I have eaten off multiple times, in more ways than one. If only he knew.