Torn between my desire to rush after her and make sure she’s okay and the understanding that sometimes people just need space, I remain rooted in my spot, watching her retreat until she’s no longer in my line of sight.
It’s only when I can’t see her anymore that I trek back toward the church.Even though my thoughts are still on the beach.
“How are things working out with Katelyn?”I ask Anastasia as soon as I take my seat at the table in Linda’s kitchen.The entire duplex smells absolutely delicious, thanks to the roast Linda prepared for dinner tonight.
“She’s great.Super hard worker and really sweet.Why?”She wiggles her eyebrows.“Interested?I think she’s single.”
“Pepper spray is the first step of true love, I’ve heard,” Sawyer adds, his tone dry.
Anastasia’s boyfriend, Jack, laughs, which wipes the smile off of Sawyer’s face.Over the past few weeks, he’s made more of an effort to be here on weekends, and while I can honestly say I like the guy, Sawyer hasn’t even tried to hide his disdain for the FBI agent.
Still, he’s good to Anastasia, and she seems happy whenever he’s around.So, until there’s a reason not to, I remain neutral when it comes to Sawyer’s issues with him.Especially since we both know he only dislikes the guy because of his own feelings for the woman sitting between them.
“Doyoulike her?Katelyn is a sweetheart!”Linda exclaims after taking a drink of water.
“I was just curious.I haven’t really seen her around lately, so I wanted to know if things were working out.That’s all.”To avoid any further questioning, I shove a bite of Linda’s delicious roast into my mouth.
“Yeah.Okay.”Anastasia grins at me.
“How are things going with Kyle?”Ryker questions.He’s been relatively quiet over dinner, as has Weston.Though that’s not unusual for either of them.Especially since, more times than not, Weston is in a surly mood.
I finish chewing and swallow, then wash the bite down with some water.“He’s a great kid.Just needed some direction.”
“As long as you’re not leaving your keys anywhere around,” Weston growls.
“He was just trying to get help for his family,” I defend.
“By getting my friend gutted?Nah.He’ll need a better excuse than that,” Weston says.“A poor choice is a poor choice despite one’s reasoning.”
“What charges did he end up getting for the school incident?”Jack questions, pulling my attention away from Weston.Which, in my current mood, is probably a good thing.His verbally attacking Kyle won’t go over well, no matter his reasoning.
While I’m not overly thrilled that the FBI agent is involved in this particular conversation, I also appreciate Jack’s moral compass.We kept the truth about his involvement in what happened to me a secret, so as long as Jack doesn’t decide to shove his nose into it, that’s how it will stay.
Hopefully.
“They dropped it to a misdemeanor,” I say.“Kyle has community service, and he won’t be allowed back at the school, but he’s honestly thriving with the charter school route.”
“That’s good to hear.”Jack takes a bite of his food, and Anastasia smiles over at him, adoration in her gaze.
I glance over at Sawyer, not at all missing the jealousy clinging to him like a second skin.
Not that I can exactly blame him.
I wouldn’t handle it well if the woman I loved was in a serious relationship with another man, either.Though I’d like to think I wouldn’t have sat on those feelings for six years like he has.
For some reason, Katelyn comes to mind.
Isshe seeing anyone?I haven’t caught wind of anyone in her life, but is that maybe why she’s backed off from me?Or did it have something to do with what happened earlier on the beach?Is she afraid of relationships because of a previous one?My initial assessment was that she’s been abused...how true is that?
“I, for one, am so glad that you’re helping him,” Linda says.“Sometimes people just need a nudge in the right direction.”She gently elbows Weston, who grunts in response.He’d gotten into some trouble when he’d been a teenager, too, though none of his incidents involved anyone dying—or almost dying.
If I thought for a second that Kyle was an actual threat, or that he’d done what he’d done out of anything but desperation for his sister, I wouldn’t have put my neck out the way I did.But he’s agoodkid who just needs a second chance.One I knew I needed to give.And the last month has done nothing but prove that.
“He’s a good kid,” I repeat, then continue eating.
Anastasia stands to carry her plate in, but Jack takes it from her and carries it into the kitchen.“I’ve got it, babe,” he says.
“Thanks,” she replies, then turns back toward the table.“What?”