Kyle
“THIS ISN’T funny,” Andy pouts.
“Yeah, it is. You see what I mean about my life. Nothing I do is private. This is some straight-up bullshit. I bet it was our waitress or some of the staff that took them,” I mumble, still amused at Andy’s pouting.
“The world thinks my sister is your new love interest. Look at these pictures. From those angles it really looks as if the two of you are in love,” Andy says in disgust.
“True. If I weren’t there, I’d totally believe what they’re trying to sell. That shit is crazy.” I wave the story off.
Andy continues to flip through the social media sites, looking at all the pictures that were posted from our lunch. It’s a total invasion of privacy, but I’m used to it by now. Andy seems to have gone through shock, annoyance, and now he’s settling on a smoldering jealousy.
I’d run over to his apartment, thinking something serious was going on when he called me freaking out. When I arrived to him shoving a tablet under my nose, relief washed through my body. I laughed hysterically once I knew he was safe. He’s so far out of his depths, and it’s very comical to watch. He’s adorable.
I lean in to nuzzle his neck. He smells delicious, a fresh and clean scent that’s light like an ocean breeze with a hint of something sweet like lavender or apple, maybe even a note of citrus. Whatever he wears, his cologne fits him just right.
I’m glad I had some free time to rush over. Mason has been taking a few mixed martial arts classes with Beau at the gym. It’s been giving me some time to decompress while Beau gets to play the cool uncle.
“So what do we do about this?” Andy huffs.
“Nothing. It’ll die out in a few days. Maybe a week or two. I don’t answer questions about my personal life. They can ask, but I don’t answer. I’m not about to start now,” I reply with a shrug.
“Oh… seriously,” Andy grunts, drawing the tablet closer to his face.
“What?”
“Look, this site has a few of me and Emma. It’s incredible the narrative these photos give. I mean, I almost believe what they imply. Look at how we’re looking at each other,” Andy says, frowning as if his words taste bitter.
I scratch my chin as I look at the photo. He’s right. The photo looks as intimate as the ones of myself and Tara. I just roll my eyes at it. There’s always someone looking for some story to sell.
“Listen to this,” Andy says indignantly. He begins to read the caption in horror. “Kyle Tyson and his assistant and longtime girlfriend, Emma Dalton, have called it quits. Emma was spotted with her new beau. We wonder if her brother, former boxing champ and Kyle Tyson’s best friend, Beau Dalton, has given his approval.”
I groan, letting my head fall back onto the sofa. I rub my left temple. The last thing I want to do is dwell on this. I’m sure it won’t be the last time Andy will see a bunch of lies surrounding my life.
“Babe, you can’t get caught up in reading all of that shit. I don’t. Those gossip rags have been publishing that Emma and I have been in a relationship for years. If they did any type of research they’d know she’s my adopted sister,” I say, exasperated with the topic already.
“Aye, I’ve been meaning to ask about that. I was curious when Emma mentioned it at lunch,” Andy replies, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.
My own curiosity raises. That Irish accent that slips at rare moments is sexy as fuck. It doesn’t happen often enough if you ask me. Instead of prying into that, I answer his question.
“When I was sixteen, my aunt got pissed at Savanna because she caught my uncle harassing her. Savanna was nineteen, but she didn’t want to leave me in that place alone. She was planning to take me and leave as soon as she had the money.
“My aunt tried to throw her out and make her leave without me. Savanna called children’s services, and I was placed with Beau and Emma’s family. They were so damn country.” I give a short laugh. “But they were nice as shit. We all had to adjust to one another. Being newer to New York, Beau and Emma were teased in school for being country, and I was teased for living with a white family. Beau and I stuck together and have been best friends since.
“My aunt washed her hands of me after a few months. The Daltons adopted me about a year later,” I explain.
Andy nods, looking down into his lap. I can see his thoughts turning in his head. I wait for what I have a feeling is coming. When he opens his mouth, I know I’ve almost read his mind.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” he starts. “Your uncle. He molested you both, didn’t he? You’ve said… I…. I…. A few times, I’ve noticed the way you’ve said certain things.”
I push out a breath, drawing a hand down my face. I think I would prefer to talk about the photos. I’ve known that I’d have to share this with him someday. Those years shaped so much of my life.
“Yeah, it started with me. Savanna figured it out and offered herself so he’d stop,” I reply, feeling the tears burning the backs of my eyes. “My sister was a fucking superhero. She took that shit for me until the bitter end. He used it against her and me. Promising to make her watch while he made me do things if we didn’t keep it a secret or do the shit he wanted. Not that my aunt would have believed us if we told her. She knew that man had a wandering eye. Again, if it wasn’t her way it was the devil.
“Savanna was a whoring demon that needed to get out of her house. My aunt walked in on him pinning Savanna to the kitchen counter, and it was still all Savanna’s fault. I wanted to go back and kill that son of a bitch, but Beau and Savanna convinced me that it wasn’t worth it.”
Andy moves to sit in my lap. I blink away images of the past, returning to the room before me. My jaw feels like it’s going to snap from the rigid bite I’m holding.
“You….” Andy shakes his head as if to clear it. “You are such an amazing man. The more I learn about you, the more I feel lucky to know you. You should be so jaded by the world. Yet you give back whenever you can and you’re so loving. You’re gentle when you need to be, but I get the sense that you’re fierce when necessary. I think I’m falling in love with your wounds as much as I’m falling for your perfection,” he says.
I cup the back of his neck, drawing his lips to mine. Pushing away all the demons and tainted memories from the past, I devour every inch of his mouth. Andy groans into me, encouraging the possession I’ve taken of the sweet cavern that just spoke words that are a balm to my soul.
“I know I’m in love with everything about you,” I breathe.
Andy pulls away with bright eyes and red cheeks. A smile takes over his face. He leans his forehead into mine. I close my eyes, absorbing all of him, his warmth, his love, the energy that makes him distinctly him.
“I love you too,” he whispers.
“Consider yourself stuck with me now,” I tease.
“Not complaining in the least,” he replies.
I go to pull him into an embrace, but his phone rings. I twist my lips in annoyance. We’re always getting interrupted. Andy rolls his eyes and sighs.
“Hello,” he says into his phone.
When he moves off my lap and palms his forehead, I get the feeling we’re not getting back to our moment for a while. He sits listening for a bit before he grunts and looks up at me. I lift a brow in question, but his next words answer all.
“Yes, Mom, I already saw them. I texted Tara about them earlier. She feels like quite the celebrity,” Andy says dryly.
My shoulders sag. I look at my watch. I don’t have much more time anyway.
“No, Ma. I’m not jealous of her dating the big sexy black guy,” he says after a pause.
I bite back a laugh. Andy shoots me a death glare. I actually laugh at his next response.
“No, I’m not hating on my sister. Hating on? Where’d you get that from anyway? Wait, never mind don’t answer that. I’m not jealous because she’s not the one dating him. Ma, listen, I’ll explain,” he mutters.
I stand, bending to kiss him on the forehead. He looks up at me with sad, pleading eyes. We already discussed him sharing our relationship with the rest of his family. He and Tara reassured me that they would keep our privacy.
I have to go. I’ll call you, I mouth.
“I love you,” he covers the phone to whisper.
“Love you too.” I peck his lips and turn for the door.