Page 101 of Saving the Rain
“Nah, I’m here. Thank you.”
There’s a noise in the background, and I hear a deep voice talking quietly which I’m guessing must be Beau.
“Shit, I feel like the world’s worst agony aunt right now...”
“Please don’t. You go. I’ve got a hot date to get to, remember”
She sighs wistfully. “Can I at least text you my tip about the tongue thing?”
“Bye, Sage.” I smirk.
“Ok. But your boy toy will thank meeeee.” She whisper-shouts as I end the call.
After quickly texting Raine to let him know I’m on my way, I set my phone aside, with a grin firmly on my face. Of course I could count on Sage to somehow give me wise advice while at the same time also making me laugh about something that had felt heavy only a few moments ago. Her words just gave me a confidence boost, the exact type I needed in order to make a plan. I can do this, even if it’s just one person at a time, as she suggested.
I don’t have to shout it out to the world—don’t have to holler from the rooftops about Raine. But I can at least start opening up about who I truly am.
That part of me... I don’t want to hide anymore.
Figuring out how to explain more than that can come later... maybe after we’ve had more of a chance to be together.
Just as I shift into reverse, my phone bursts into life. I swipe it up without a second thought, assuming it’s Sage calling back. I’m halfexpecting her to be coming in hot with another outlandish tip for my sex life.
But the voice on the other end of the phone is clipped. Functional. And there are all too familiar sounds in the background making it clear this is a call I really, really don’t want to be receiving.
“Am I speaking with Mr. Wilder?”
Chapter 41
His footsteps sound different tonight. Before I’ve even opened the door I can already tell that this isn’tKaycebounding up with takeout to spend a night together.
When I wrench the door open, light spills out onto the small landing at the top of the stairs.
Red-rimmed eyes. Mouth turned down. Jaw tight.
He’s carrying a box that I immediately take from his hands and put it down before it tumbles to the floor.
“I need you.” The words come out in a cracked whisper, and I barely catch him as Kayce slumps into my arms.
“Hey, I’ve got you.” I swallow hard, arms banded around him. We stay right there, with Kayce buried in the crook of my neck. Emotion ripples off him, thick and heavy, as he winds his fists tightly into the back of my shirt. Tension fills each one of his muscles, it’s almost like hugging a block of concrete at first, he’s rigid from head to toe.
“You’re safe.” My mouth moves against his hair. Fuck knows what happened between him texting me and stumbling through the door. A multitude of possibilities fly around my mind. Did something happen at the Hog? To be honest, I know he trusts himself and doesn’t mind being around other people drinking, but I can’t help feeling uneasy onhis behalf. Or, even worse, did he run into someone, try to maybe come out to them and they weren’t supportive?
Fuck. If that’s the case, I’m gonna have to use every bit of self-restraint I can muster not to go do something reckless.
“Wanna come inside?” After a few minutes, sensing the moment his muscles unclench gradually, his body sags into mine. Those ragged breaths he draws begin to ease a little, and he nods against my shoulder.
Kayce clears his throat, but his voice is strained. “Sorry.”
“I don’t see anything that needs apologizing for.” I squeeze him a little tighter, before easing back. “Unless that box doesn’t contain dinner like you promised.” Cupping his nape, I softly bump our foreheads together.
That makes his lips twitch a little, even if his face is still contorted with the impact of the shock he’s evidently suffered.
“You’re such an asshole.” He shakes his head and lets his hands slide up to rest at the back of my neck, holding me there for a few more seconds. On a deep inhale, he squeezes his eyes shut, and those fingers I’ll gladly have on me any time of day or night play against my skin. It’s almost as if he’s testing to check I’m really here before carefully releasing that breath.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Lifting my chin, I drop a kiss onto his brow and really fucking wish he wasn’t going through something so distressing. The way I want to be able to lift those hurts, to carry his pain, to be the one who can take the blows on his behalf. “I’ve got those shitty slasher movies you wanted to watch loaded up, but if you don’t feel?—”
“Sounds perfect.” Kayce cuts me off and gives me the kind of smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. It’s the hollow expression you compel your face to twist into when your mind is anythingbuta good place to be.