Page 98 of Rumor Has It

“A damn fine one at that.” I put my arms around his back, swallowing past the regret forming in it. “Will you do something for me, well—us?”

He rears back, cocking his brow. “No, I will not promise to not kick his ass again.”

“No! I wasn’t asking that,” I stop, replaying his words. “Wait.”

“Okay.” He smirks, and I know without a doubt that wasn’t a slip.

I cover my mouth with a gasp. “You did not?”

“Fuck yes I did,” he growls. “And I’ll do it again.”

“How? When?” My mouth hangs.

A smile plays on his lips. “He decided to follow me to Stanford, because UCLA wasn’t close enough for me.”

“Why did you get into a fight?” My brows tighten.

He avoids my eyes. “I didn’t say he fought. I said I beat his ass.”

“Boone…” I trail off when his eyes shoot to mine.

“No, Mackenzie. He damn well deserved it long before you, but definitely after.”

He has no idea how happy that makes me, but sad he had to do it. But he can’t do it again. It’s not fair to Rumor when he might be her dad. He and Boone will never get along, and that can’t happen.

“What I was going to ask you was…” I pause, readying for his response. “Would you like to go get a DNA test with us?”

He blinks, slowly at first, then rapidly. “Really?”

“Yes, Boone. I explained the issue. We need you there.” I drop my head, followed by my heart sinking with my stomach.

He nudges my chin up. “Anytime, any day. Hell, any time of day!”

“I want us to go together before I have to ask him.” I rub my neck, hoping to relieve some tension.

“Okay, let’s do it as soon as possible.” He nods, reassuring me as only he can.

A thought hits me, deepening my frown. “When are you leaving for home?”

“Now that’s something I wanted to talk about with you.” He bites his lip, rolling it around before spitting it out. “I am home, Kenzie.”

I catch my breath when butterflies flip and spin in my belly. “Come again?”

“I’m home.” He grins coyishly. “I’ll be commuting to California from this point on; it was always the plan.”

A light, low but bright, peeks through the fissure in my heart, created by me and planted by him. “You’re staying with us?”

“I’m staying for us, Kenzie.” He presses his lips to mine, capturing me and lifting me higher than all my mistakes. “Always.”