Page 151 of The Route to You

Elle listened without interruption, her face passive, only occasionally flinching at some of his words.

When he finished, Kyle leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees. “So . . . that’s why I haven’t read her letter.”

Silence hung thickly as Elle blinked. Quietly, she stood, her face drawn. Almost tired. She sighed and came over to him, then leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Kyle. Please take care of it soon.” She started toward the door.

What?

“That’s it?” Kyle turned toward her.

She raised her hands in an empty gesture. “What else am I supposed to say? Life happens. Weird shit you wouldn’t expect gets in the way.”

He stood and cocked his head. “And you’re not upset?”

“I’m not thrilled, Kyle, but I just can’t afford to expend the energy getting worked up about it. You’ve got a lot you’re dealing with, and I want to be here for you. I am here for you. But I think the only thing my worrying and scolding and lecturing has gotten me is that you feel like you can no longer tell me things. And I’m sorry for that.”

She swiped her eyes. “So, you know where to find me when you want to talk about things. Or when you want help. And . . . if I’m not the one you need, that’s okay. Maybe who you need is Sloan. I get it. Honestly, I do. As much as I love you, Quinn is my person. I don’t really know what’s going on with you and Sloan, but if she’s your person, then I’m happy for you, and I understand if she’s who you want to talk to.”

He hadn’t expected her words. Or for her to be so calm.

And somehow, that makes me feel even worse about the way I’ve handled everything with Granny.

Kyle watched her from the top of the stairs for a few seconds, then jogged down them. Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Elle.”

She laughed lightly and wrinkled her nose as he pulled away. “You need a shower, bud. You might be Sloan’s idea of dreamy, but you’re still my smelly little brother.” She flicked him in the ear. “Don’t be a stranger. Tara’s waiting on bated breath for her next date.”

He chuckled as she opened the door. “That whole not scolding thing lasted two seconds.”

“That wasn’t scolding,” Elle said with a wink, surprising him with her good mood. “That was me being a tiger mom who will cut you if you make my baby sad. Love you.”

The glass door closed quickly behind her.

Kyle watched her go from the doorway, the house suddenly feeling emptier than ever. Closing the door, he turned and glanced up the stairs, a tight feeling stretching across his chest.

“I don’t really know what’s going on with you and Sloan,” Elle had said, as though Kyle had the answer but just hadn’t filled her in on it.

What was going on with him and Sloan?

Right now, he was a glorified dog sitter and roommate. Boyfriend? No. Not in any way that had been established. Sexual partner? On some level.

The pressure in his chest grew tighter as he went up the stairs slowly. He retrieved his glass of water from the living room.

As he sipped it, his mind filled with thoughts of Sloan.

The whole time he’d been going into this thing with her—the roommate situation, being her friend, crossing the line to more than friends—he’d had alarm bells going off in his head. Everyone always liked to tell him that he took risks as if daring God or the world to prove him wrong or incapable of something.

Was Sloan just another risk that he was waiting to blow up in his face? He knew she wasn’t good for him necessarily, but maybe that’s what made her so tempting?

But if that was true, then he’d been fooling himself about how difficult the crash landing would be. Breaking his collarbone, collapsing his lung, and dislocating his shoulder had nothing on what he was starting to realize he’d go through if Sloan didn’t come back.

She wouldn’t abandon the dogs, though, would she?

No, she loved the dogs too much for that.

He chugged some more water, feeling sick.

She’d definitely come back for them. Even after she’d run from Evan, her first instinct had been to go back for Sadie.

Kyle closed his eyes, gripping the countertop.