Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 114775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Opening my eyes, I close out the opened windows, clearing my screen of the news stories.
I can’t think about it now.
Right now, I just need to look up the train times for tomorrow. I need to focus on Jesse. He’s what matters.
And Kas…he matters, but I just don’t know how to handle this.
It’s my own fault for snooping, but now, I know, and I don’t know what to do.
I should ask Cece for her advice. But I feel like, if I told her, then I’d be betraying his confidence. Technically, I wouldn’t be, but I’ve invaded his privacy enough. I have to keep this to myself.
I’ll just have to figure out what to do.
Maybe, when I see him next, I’ll just know.
But, right now, keeping it to myself seems like the safest option.
I type in the train website and start to look up the train times. I focus my mind on that and the fun I’ll have with Jesse tomorrow, keeping my thoughts off of anything related to Kastor Matis.
Twenty-Five
Kas is here again, outside the station, waiting for me. I don’t even bother to fight it. I just walk over to his car and get inside.
“Hi,” I say quietly as I click my seat belt in.
“How was your weekend?” he asks, pulling the car away from the curb.
“I saw Jesse.” I chance a glance at him.
He meets my eyes, a softness in his. “How did it go?”
“It was good.” I smile at the memory of my day spent with Jesse. It was the best day I’d had in a long time. “We went to Brighton for the day. Hung out on the beach, ate ice cream, rode rides at the fair.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It really was.”
“I’m glad for you, Daisy.”
“Thanks.” I swallow. “How was your weekend?” I ask, looking away.
“It was okay.”
He offers nothing more. I could ask to know more about what he did, but I don’t.
My mind is feeling all jumbled up from being here with him.
I had a great weekend. I spent all of Saturday with Jesse. And I spent Sunday with Cece. We went shopping and caught a film at the cinema.
I didn’t allow myself to think about Kas…or Haley. But, now, sitting here with him, it’s all I can think about.
I’m filled with empathy and compassion for this man sitting beside me. All the anger and resentment I felt last week are now gone.
But I still feel confused and guilty over what I know. I feel like I’ve somehow betrayed him with my curiosity and snooping into his life.
We don’t talk for the rest of the short ride to the estate.
He parks outside the house.
“Thanks for the ride.” I take off my seat belt and let myself out of the car.
I walk toward the front door. Kas is behind me.
Inside the house, I take my shoes off and hang my coat in the closet.
When I turn around, Kas is standing in the middle of the hallway, his hands in his trouser pockets. He looks unsure.
And I hate this animosity between us.
“Do you want me to get you a coffee?” I ask, offering an olive branch.
He seems surprised at that. “Coffee would be great. Thanks.”
I give him a brief smile and then head for the kitchen. I smile again when I hear him following behind me. I thought for sure that he would go straight to his office.
I busy myself with making the coffee. Kas takes a seat on a stool at the kitchen island.
When the coffee is ready, I take his over to him.
“Thanks.” He offers a smile.
Still standing, I lean my hip against the island and take a sip of my coffee.
Kas wraps his hands around the mug and stares down into it. “I’ve thought a lot this weekend.”
“About?” I ask quietly.
“You.” He lifts his eyes to mine, and the look in them makes my heart beat faster.
“I can’t change the way I behaved, and I can’t explain why I walked out on you. It was the truth when I said I didn’t know how to do this kind of thing, how to treat someone I like. Because I do like you, Daisy. A hell of a lot. I think you’re smart and strong and challenging—”
“Challenging?” I lift a brow.
“I mean it in a good way.” His lips tip up. “I like that you don’t take my shit. You’re a fighter, and I fucking love that. And the way you love your brother and have sacrificed so much for him…it’s inspiring. You’re compassionate and loyal and beautiful. So very fucking beautiful.”
He thinks I’m beautiful. And he sees me in this crappy work uniform, stinking of cleaning products.
My cheeks flush at his compliment.
“And I know you said that you were done, but I’m asking you to reconsider. To give me another chance. I’ll beg if I have to.”