Page 82 of The Betrayal You Serve

It's long past lunch when we finally leave the house for wherever we're going. After our extended shower, Kane found some bacon in the refrigerator and made us a really late breakfast. Despite my argument that I was fine and could wait a little longer, my overly loud growling stomach made him pin me with that look that says he's either going to kill me or ruin me and I stopped arguing, instead, getting the privilege of watching him work the kitchen like a pro.

"So are you going to tell me where we're going yet?"

"Nope." I sit back in Kane's passenger seat and look out the window as he drives down the coastal road as if we're heading back toward Maddison. All of my bags are still in his house, so I'm assuming he's not taking me back there.

After a good twenty minutes or so, lights catch my eye up ahead.

"Is that a fair?" I ask, noticing the top of a Ferris wheel.

"Sure is, Princess. What do you say?"

"I say hell yes," I squeal, already feeling like a kid again.

The one thing we used to do every single year as a family was to go to the fair when it was in town. I have incredible memories of eating cotton candy with Zayn and Harley until we were all sick and scaring the crap out of ourselves on the rollercoasters that, looking back, were tame as fuck.

"Thank God for that because we've got a couple of people waiting on us."

I glance over at him and the wide smile on his face makes something sing inside me. Knowing that I'm part of the reason it's there and that he looks genuinely happy and relaxed right now means a lot to me.

"I'm excited," I say, bouncing on my seat, more than ready to get out and let my inner little girl free.

"You don't even know who's there."

"Do you think I'm an idiot, Kane?"

"Absolutely not. Can you just pretend to be excited when you see them then?"

"I am excited."

He glances over at me, still smiling before resting his hand on my thigh and squeezing gently.

"I don't deserve you."

"You're right, I'm way out of your league," I deadpan.

"Exactly my point."

"Oh shush, have you looked in a mirror lately. And despite recent revelations, you're a Maddison Kings freaking Panther. Starting Panther. That puts you right at the top of the eligibility list at college."

"Was a Panther," he mutters sadly.

"Nope, I refuse to accept that this is it. We'll figure out a way, Kane. You deserve your place on that team."

"I love you."

His words hit me right in the chest just like the previous times he's said them but despite how my heart aches, I can't say the words. Not yet. Too much has happened between us, too many things need fixing for me to dive straight in like he has.

"Come on." He kills the engine and I realize that we've come to a stop in the parking lot.

The second I'm out of the car, I see Harley and Kyle waiting by the entrance for us.

Taking my hand in his, the two of us walk over. Harley is smiling at us like it's the best day of her life, Kyle looks happy but a little more apprehensive and it physically pains me to keep my straight face.

"I can't believe you, Harley Hunter. You lied to me. You played me," I say, poking her in the chest once we're toe-to-toe.

"I'm… um…" She looks down at our joined hands with her brows drawn together. "So you didn't have a good night then?"

"You're in so much fucking trouble," I warn before my smile breaks and I pull her into me with my free arm. "Thank you," I whisper in her ear.