Twelve

Two hours later Izabelle sat on the floor beside the coffee table at my dad's house sipping hot chocolate. I told her to meet me here knowing Dad was still at work, and Jack liked the company.

"I might have overreacted," Izabelle confessed. I'd never seen her look so forlorn, and it made me sad.

She was always strong and confident and full of life. "I'm scared for Kyle," she admitted, taking a sip of her drink.

"I know."

"Darryl was abusive to both of us, but Kyle had it much worse than I did. It was like Darryl hated him."

My heart pounded. I couldn't stand thinking of Kyle and Izabelle as children being hurt by the person that should have loved them the most.

"You know how awful Darryl was, but you don't know everything that happened." Izabelle's haunted eyes met mine.

I was suddenly uneasy.

"Kyle had a strong effect on women even when he was younger. When he was fifteen, he caught the attention of our landlord's wife. She was rich and beautiful, and she looked at Kyle in a way that no woman should look at a fifteen-year-old boy."

The hairs on the back of my neck lifted, anticipating what I knew was coming.

"Kyle and I both worked, but one month we just couldn't come up with the money for rent. Darryl didn't seem to care, but Kyle and I were desperate. The Fosters had already helped us out several times, and we couldn't go to them again.

That's when Mrs. Robins made a deal with Kyle. I didn't know about it until afterward, but I should have. I wasn't paying attention, and didn't question why our rent was suddenly paid in full because I was too relieved to care. It went on for months."

Tears slid down Izabelle's face and dripped from her chin. "Kyle slept with her in exchange for rent money."

I folded my arm over my belly, feeling like someone had punched me.

"Kyle was suddenly quiet and withdrawn. Ava was worried about him too. One day I came home from school and found them together." Izabelle closed her eyes.

I felt sick.

"He actually tried to protect her saying it wasn't her fault, but he was lying. The next day I went to see Mrs. Robins. I told her I'd go to the police and have her charged with statutory rape if she ever went near my brother again."

Izabelle brushed away her tears, and I was surprised to realize I was crying along with her. "Oh, Izabelle." I put my arm around her shoulders.

"Even though he's a grown man now, he's still my baby brother." She turned her head and looked at me, willing me to understand. "I can't stand him suffering. Lucy, you don't think Kyle has some commitment issues stemming from the abuse?"

"I think you should talk to your brother."

Izabelle looked at me with uncertainty. "I know he's seeing someone else. He didn't deny it."

"The lip balm is mine," I repeated. "Really."

"You're protecting him."

I shook my head.

"You don't want me upset. I get it, but my brother's happiness depends on him getting back together with the love of his life."

Her last four words pierced my heart. "Kyle's happiness depends on—"

"Do not say it!" Izabelle cut me off. "I don't need to hear about Jesus and neither does my lil bro. He's already starting to sound as cultish as you."

I knew nothing I said now would calm her, so I stayed silent. Lord, why am I such a failure at sharing you with others?

"I'll have to talk with Ava about this." Izabelle was clearly distressed. "She knows Kyle better than anyone, and she would know if he's having problems."

"They have broken up," I gently reminded.

She scoffed. "The breakup is temporary, and if Kyle is having issues he needs therapy, not Jesus."

I wanted to shake Izabelle and tell her that Ava and Kyle weren't getting back together and that Jesus was all anyone needed, but I remained silent.

"Lucy!" my dad called from the kitchen. He'd come in through the garage. Izabelle and I hopped off the floor as he walked into the living room still dressed in his slacks and dress shirt with a tie, gun, and badge.

"Hi, Dad." I hugged him. He kissed the top of my head and told me he'd missed me. "Dad, this is my friend Izabelle. Izabelle, this is my dad."

"Izabelle." Something in the way he said her name caught my attention. He smiled and took her hand. "It's good to see you again."

"Captain Huxley." She shook my dad's hand and echoed his words. "It's good to see you again."

"You know each other." I was puzzled. Kyle had said he and Izabelle knew my dad from the police station, but that was years ago when they'd been kids.

"You introduced us at The Pit," Dad reminded, smiling at Izabelle, who was still shaking his hand. As if suddenly realizing she still had his hand, Izzy blushed and dropped his hand like it had suddenly caught fire. I don't think I'd ever seen her flustered.

"I must've forgotten." They'd met almost two years ago, briefly. It was interesting they both remembered.

My dad was only forty years old. Izabelle was twenty-eight. Tonight had been wild. That was the only explanation I had for what was going through my mind as I watched her laugh at something my dad said.

It wasn't her usual flirty laugh. She genuinely enjoyed his company, and she couldn't take her eyes off him. Her eyes sparkled she glowed. It had definitely been a bizarre night.

I texted Kyle when I left Dad's house.

Me: Can I come over?

His reply came quickly. I'd learned over the last few weeks that Kyle, like Katie and I, didn't use acronyms in text. He wrote like he did in his emails.

Kyle: I want to get out of the house. I'll pick you up

Me: Ok

I went home, took a quick shower, and changed into a pair of denim shorts and an army-green top. Sliding my feet into my favorite flip-flops and pulling the ponytail holder from my hair, I ran my fingers through the waves and wondered if I should pull it back again.

I left it down and applied peach lip-gloss. Grabbing my purse, I hurried out the door to meet Kyle. Our apartment was on the second floor, and I didn't want him to have to try and make it up the stairs.

"Hey, Lucy!"

I turned and smiled at my neighbor's son. "Hi, Tyler." I glanced at the skateboard under his left arm. "Be careful."

"Always." He grinned with the cockiness only a twelve-year-old boy could manage.

"Are you going to the skate park?" I asked, frowning because of how late it was.

"Nah, Mike and I are hanging out here. We'll be careful. You don't need to worry," he promised.

He was a good kid. I walked on with a wave.

I'd just gotten to the parking lot when Kyle pulled up in his truck. I pulled the door open and climbed in before he could get out and open my door, which I knew he would do. Kyle was a gentleman.

I felt his gaze on me as I got in. "You shouldn't be out here alone. I would've come inside."

"I don't mind. It's a gorgeous night."

"You didn't want me to walk up the stairs. That's sweet but unnecessary."

"I know. It's not that," I said gently, not wanting to hurt his feelings.

"You're hiding Hot Kiss in your apartment?"

I turned to him, unable to tell if he was joking, but he was staring straight ahead at the road.

"It was kidding."

I exhaled a soft sigh of relief. "I can drive if you want."

"No, thanks. The Doc has cleared me to drive. It's safe."

"I always feel safe with you." The words were whispered so softly I wasn't sure he'd heard, but he glanced over making me think he had.

A few miles later he parked in a vacant lot behind the runway of the airport. "I used to come here when I needed to think. Watching the planes take off and land puts things in perspective."

"I know what you mean. Dad used to bring me here. It's one of my favorite places."

Kyle got out of the truck, came around to my side, and opened the door. Walking to the back he let the tailgate down, and I hopped up before he could help me, not wanting him to put the extra weight on his leg. He lifted himself up easily with his arms. I tried not to stare, but he looked good in a blue t-shirt and shorts.

It was a warm night with a gentle breeze, crickets chirping, and the smell of fresh-cut crass mingling in the air with honeysuckle. I tried focusing on the memories of dad and me here but it was impossible. Tonight I was keenly aware of the man sitting next to me, and yet he seemed far away because of the space between us I created.

A plane taxied down the runway preparing for flight. I watched intently. Finally, I dared a glance over at Kyle and found his attention riveted on me.

"I really am sorry. I should have told you." I didn't know what else to say so I looked up.

The plane gained speed until it lifted into the sky like a giant eagle soaring over us. It made me feel small. I imagined that was what God thought when he looked down on us. He held us in the mighty palm of his hand, knowing our weakness and loving us despite it.

God knew how I felt about Kyle. If it was wrong, surely he wouldn't have let these feelings grow, but they had grown into something beautiful and strong.

"Kyle, I lo—"

His big, warm, hand covered mine, stopping my confession. "Hey, we make all make mistakes. I'm not mad." He gently chucked me under the chin so my gaze collided with his. "Whatever you're about to say—you don't have to say it."

Message received—don't say it if you don't mean it. I didn't hesitate. "I love you."

I think his breath caught or it might have been mine. I wasn't sure.

He leaned into me, and I started talking. "I loved you even in high school, and when you came home that night...It was like I'd found the missing piece of me. Oh. My. Gosh. That sounded so cringy. I should have just said it was because you're a heartthrob.

Three heartbeats of silence and then, "Heartthrob?"

Face flaming, I glanced away but I heard the amusement in his voice.

"All the girls thought that."

He was quiet as if waiting for me to finish. Kyle always made me feel like there was nothing more important to him than what I was saying.

"When you asked Katie to homecoming, you stole a piece of my heart. Everyone knew she had a crush on you, and some of the kids bet she couldn't get you to dance with her. Watching you dance with Katie was one of my favorite moments in high school."

"I should've asked you to dance."

"That night was Katie's. Even Ava knew that."

"You gonna look at me again?" A soft, deep chuckle. "I am a heartthrob."

Smiling, I turned. The look in his eyes filled me with delicious warmth. "How I can get the rest of your heart?"

"It's yours."

Kyle's hand slid behind my neck in a light touch that created a firework of tingles. My breathing was ragged. Somehow I knew he was waiting for me to look at him. Lifting my eyes, our gazes crashed. "I love you, Lucy."

"Oh," I breathed, not stopping to think before I reached up and touched his face, marveling at the feel of the stubble against my palm. I felt his sharp intake of breath against my palm.

"Lucy..." His gaze slid to my mouth.

He was going to kiss me.

I saw his eyes darken, felt him lean in, and I waited.

His mouth brushed mine. It was a tantalizing brush of lips that created powerful emotions. It might have spread like wildfire, but he pulled away. I tried to catch my breath and slow my racing heart.

A plane raced down the runway, engines roaring as it picked up speed until it suddenly sailed into the air above us, accelerating until it was just a blur of light in the starlit sky.

We glanced at one another and he reached for me again. He smelled like soap and a hint of after-shave. I longed to bury my nose in his chest and breathe in his scent.

He dropped feathery kisses against my temple before his mouth settled over mine in a sweet kiss that melted into more delicious kisses.

We were wrapped in the moment, mesmerized and only aware of each other. That was why we didn't notice the blue and red flashing lights until the cop car pulled alongside Kyle's truck.