Page 59 of False Start

My eyes pricked again, and this time I couldn’t blink, because I knew if I did, I’d set the tears free.

Kyle leaned down, and with my breath still held captive in my throat, he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

We both stilled.

He froze like he didn’t actually mean to do that, but like he couldn’t help it.

I kept still so my tears wouldn’t stream down my face.

Kyle stood and cleared his throat. “See you in a bit,” he said, and then he rushed out the door like he was late.

As soon as he was gone, I closed my eyes, two parallel rivers of tears staining my cheeks.

I called my mom.

I talked to my son.

I changed into a fresh pair of underwear and oversized shirt.

And I crawled under those expensive sheets to have the best nap of my life.

Kyle

A few hours later, I slid my key card over the sensor on our hotel room door, opening it slowly and quietly just in case Madelyn was still asleep.

I was greeted by the soft sound of music, something old and familiar sounding, though I couldn’t quite place it.

Tossing my wallet and hotel key on the desk, I took in the room.

The bed was a mess, the comforter and sheets twisted up and pillows piled up like she’d made that fort around her even though I wasn’t here.

The tea I’d sent up was on the nightstand, a kettle as well as two mugs. One was untouched while the other had just a sliver of tea left in it. I lifted it to my nose and inhaled, smiling at the way that scent brought memories back.

I promptly closed my eyes and shook my head on an internal curse.

Keep it together, Robbins.

I knew when I had lowered my lips to her forehead earlier — without an audience to pretend for — that I was in deep shit.

This was all pretend. This was me doing what I could to protect her while selfishly using the situation to avoid being solo at another wedding.

Holding her hand in front of my friends? Fair. Stealing a kiss or two? Also fair.

But showing that kind of emotion when no one was around to see it?

It was dangerous.

I expected Madelyn would probably tell me so, too, as I followed the sound of the music. Now that she’d taken a nap and had some tea, she was probably overanalyzing that move I’d made and wondering what the hell I was thinking.

I was fully ready for her to lay into me just like she had that day I’d proposed this scheme at the house showing. I could hear her already, the way her voice would grow stern as she pointed her finger at me and reminded me we weren’t even friends, let alone anything more.

But when I made it to the bathroom, I thought I’d find her doing her hair or makeup in the mirror.

Instead, I found her in the bathtub.

It was only a split second. I turned the corner, ready to ask her how she was feeling, and my eyes had shot to where she was sprawled out in the water. Her eyes were closed, her head resting on the back of the tub, a thin layer of bubbles just barely hiding her breasts from view.

I jolted back out of view, praying she didn’t hear or see me. For a long moment, I stayed like that, back pressed against the wall and heart hammering out of my chest as I waited for her to yell at me.