Page 42 of Bittersweet Redemption

“Well, did you sleep with him?”

My face immediately heats. “Yes.”

She smiles and playfully shoves my arm. “That’s all I wanted for you anyway, girl. I just want you to move on and do something for yourself. If that’s Jason, great. If it’s Kai, that’s also great. I just want you to be happy. That’s the goal here.”

“I am happy. I don’t know if things with Kai will go anywhere, but I’m happy. I’m happy with Ro, I’m happy with my job, I’m happy with you.”

“Damn straight.” We both laugh.

“Over the past year, I’ve learned that I don’t need a man to make me happy. Do I want to have a partner to share my life with? Yes. But I want it to be the right person. Not just any rando because I’m lonely.”

“I get it. And I’m proud of you. I’m also really freaking happy you finally got laid, even though it wasn’t the guy you went on a date with.”

“Shut up.”

She finally lets me inside, where I find Roman sitting on the couch watching some insane kid’s show on TV. I rush over and squeeze him in a hug, making him laugh.

I grab Roman’s things, and on our drive home, he tells me how he and Kayla made cookies, watched movies, and played a few board games. It sounds like he had a good night, and it makes me so happy to know that Kayla took the time to make the night special for my son. Maybe this is a sign that taking some time for myself isn’t always a bad thing. If I’m happy, I can be a better mom for him.

Chapter 21

Kai

The soccer ball flies several feet farther than it should to make the goal.

“Dude, what was that?” I ask Roman, who’s attempting to warm up for his practice and game. When Willa brought him home, they immediately started playing cars, so I gave them some time since I’m sure they missed each other. But after lunch, Roman asked me if I’d kick the ball around with him, and I couldn’t say no. This kid has wrapped me around his finger so quickly that it’s scary.

“I missed,” he says with slumped shoulders.

“Yeah, you did. Try again and aim for me this time.” I kick the ball back to him. He does a slow, awkward dribble with the ball before he shoots again. This one is better, so I let the ball go into our imaginary goal. Roman jumps up and down. “You got this, kid. Just remember to focus and watch where you’re kicking, and you’ll be the best one out there.”

Just as I kick the ball back to him, my phone rings. “One sec, kid. This is my brother. I’ve got to take it.” He nods and continues working on his dribbling while I step over to the side of the yard. This isn’t a conversation I want him overhearing.

“Kel, hey.”

“Sorry I missed you earlier. What’s going on?”

“Willa got another note.”

He lets out an exaggerated exhale. “Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“What did it say?”

This is the part I’ve been dreading telling him. I already know he won’t be happy about it, but I can’t keep things from him, and I need his help. “It was a picture.”

“Of?” he prompts.

“Willa and me. . . being intimate.” I close my eyes as I say it, expecting blowback from my little brother for sleeping with the woman I’ve told him multiple times was my enemy. She’s still my enemy, but my enemy with special benefits. Enemies with benefits. Is that a thing?

“Does she have any idea who could be sending them? Is your security system not installed yet?” He surprises me by not mentioning anything about me admitting to being intimate with Willa. This must be Kellan in work mode.

“No, it’s getting installed tomorrow. She called her ex. He obviously didn’t admit to anything, but he sounded unbothered. She doesn’t think it was him, but I don’t know if we should rule him out just yet.”

“Yeah, probably not. She couldn’t think of anyone else who might be jealous of the fact that she’s with someone else?”

“She didn’t mention anyone else, but I can ask. I haven’t seen her hang out with anyone since she moved in.”