Page 16 of Belonging: KT & Lolo (Good Hope: The Next Generation #2)

“I did. That’s when we broke up.” He offered a rueful smile.

“That’s what I meant about her hiding her true self.

I believe she had a certain type of partner in mind and wanted to squeeze me into that mold.

Not until I refused to be put there did she confront the fact that when I was being my true self, I wasn’t what she wanted. ”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about,” KT said matter-of-factly. “Calling it quits was best for both of us. What about you?”

“I’ve been in several relationships over the years. I went into the last with high hopes, only to discover we weren’t well-suited.”

KT cocked his head. “How so?”

“Well, fidelity is important to me, but not to him.” To Lolo’s horror, her voice cracked.

“Fool.” He spat the word like an epithet, bringing a smile to her lips.

“I think so. I’m a great catch. Who’d want to cheat on me?”

Her words, intended to lighten the mood, fell flat.

“He was a fool,” KT repeated. “How did you find out?”

“Walked in on them.” Lolo gave a humorless laugh. Seeing the compassion on KT’s face gave her the courage to continue. “Lots of people think he’s this stellar guy. He’s very successful and well-respected in his field.”

“He’s a cheater and a liar.” KT leaned closer, the warmth of his presence steadying her, but he didn’t rush to fill the silence.

“No argument here.” Lolo inclined her head. “Do you think if someone is dishonest in one aspect of their life, they’re more likely to be dishonest in another? Like in his career?”

“Do you really want my opinion?” KT’s voice was calm, laced with a quiet sincerity that made her heart ache.

“Yes.” Her words were almost a whisper as she leaned toward him, the desperation for guidance fueling her movement. “I’d very much like to hear your thoughts.”

“There’s no way to know,” KT began, his voice as steady as his gaze.

“For me personally, honesty and integrity matter. I couldn’t work with someone professionally if I didn’t think they could be trusted personally.

But companies are different. Some care about character, some care only about the bottom line.

Plus, I suppose legally you can’t regulate someone’s private life. ”

Lolo stared out the window. “I feel like this situation is a little murky. He didn’t do anything illegal, more like unethical.

But I don’t want to tank someone’s reputation just because I’m angry.

Plus, there is a third person involved, and she didn’t ask for this mess.

I honestly don’t know what’s the right thing to do. ”

He reached out and gently stroked her arm, the gesture grounding her. “If his employer finds out, it’s on them to decide what’s acceptable within their organization. That’s not for you to control or shield him from.”

His fingers lingered, a comforting anchor, and his eyes searched hers with an intensity that left her breathless. “You deserve to stop carrying this weight alone.”

Lolo blinked back tears, his words breaking through the tangled mess of her emotions. For the first time in weeks, she felt a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could find peace in letting go.

The rain had left the world hushed and glistening, and the windows of KT’s cabin glowed soft gold against the dark.

Inside, KT dipped his brush into a palette of moody blues and storm-swept grays.

His strokes were broad, deliberate, echoing the residual pulse of the summer storm—and something else entirely.

On the nearby love seat, Lolo was curled sideways, barefoot, sketchpad propped on her knee. A pencil moved swiftly in her hand, her brows drawn in focus. Her hair had come loose from whatever had held it earlier, and the curls now spilled over one shoulder, softening her profile.

KT stole another glance. The way her fingers moved, precise and quick, how her lips curved as she concentrated—he wanted to memorize every detail.

“You always do that thing with your mouth when you’re focused,” he said quietly.

Lolo looked up, amused. “What thing? ”

“That little half smile. Like you know something the rest of us don’t.”

“I probably do.” She flashed the full version of that smile, and his chest tightened.

They worked in easy silence after that. Every so often, her bare knee brushed against his thigh. The warmth of her next to him, the scratch of graphite, the smell of paint, was intimate in a way that didn’t need words.

She leaned over to peer at his canvas, her arm brushing his.

“I see the storm,” she murmured, head tilted. “But it’s more than that.”

KT didn’t say a word. He let the moment stretch, let her stay close.

“I wanted to kiss you when we were sitting together on the sofa,” she whispered, her voice low. “I almost did.”

He turned, and the moment crackled like electricity before a lightning strike. “What about now? Now works for me.”

Their eyes locked. The space between them felt fragile. Charged. His hand found the inside of her wrist, lightly, just enough that he could feel her pulse stuttering under his thumb.

She didn’t pull away.

Then a sharp knock shattered the quiet.

They both froze.

KT exhaled slowly, frowning. “This better be important.”

When he opened the door, wind swept in…along with Braxton. “Miss me?”

KT grinned and ushered his brother inside. “This is great. When did you get here? You didn’t say anything.”

“It was an impulse. I finished a project and had time before I start another, so here I am.” Braxton swept his hands up.

“You should stay here,” KT said at once, no hesitation.

“No can do.” Regret sounded in Braxton’ s voice.

“Why not?”

“I made the mistake of stopping by Grandma’s first. She grabbed my duffel and told me I was staying with her and Len. When I said I wanted to see you, she shoved cookies in my hand to bring to you.”

“Of course she did.” KT laughed. “Well, even if you’re staying with her, you and I are spending time together.”

“That’s the plan.” Braxton’s gaze moved past him, and he appeared to notice Lolo for the first time. “Looks cozy in here. Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all,” KT said smoothly. “You remember Lolo Kendrick.”

Lolo stood, setting her sketchpad aside. “Hello, Braxton. It’s good to see you. It’s been…a while.”

“It has.” Braxton’s eyes slid from the canvas to the two of them. “I am interrupting.”

“You’re not,” Lolo said, reaching for her bag. “It’s getting late anyway.”

KT turned quickly. “You don’t have to?—”

She smiled, soft and calm. “The rain’s stopped. It’s a good time for me to go.”

“Make yourself at home, Braxton,” KT called to his brother. “I’m going to walk Lolo to her cabin.”

“No rush.” Braxton held up the plate of cookies. “I’ll be here. Bonding with baked goods.”

Outside, the night smelled like earth and rain and pine. Damp leaves clung to the path as they walked side by side in a silence that felt like it held more than it said.

When they reached her cabin door, they didn’t speak right away.

KT lifted his hand and gently tucked a curl behind her ear, letting his knuckles linger against her cheek.

“I wish tonight had gone differently,” he said quietly.

“I know,” she whispered. “But your brother is here, and that’s a good thing. I’m glad we had what we did. ”

She leaned in and brushed her lips against his—light, lingering, tender. “I couldn’t let the evening end without a kiss.”

He caught her waist and pulled her closer. This time, when he kissed her, it was fuller, deeper, humming with want and promise and the ache of almost.

When she stepped back, her breath was shallow. “Good night, KT.”

“Good night, Lolo.”

He waited until she stepped inside and the door clicked softly shut, then stood on her porch for a long beat, lips still tingling, his hand still warm from her waist.

Only when the porch light flicked off did he finally turn and head toward the other cabin and the brother who had, with impeccable timing, just upended the best night he’d had in a long time.