The Rebound - Noelle Adams Page 0,39
wasn’t from instinctive defensiveness, although he did feel a little bit of that. Mostly, it was because he knew Katie was right.
He’d known it all along and been too afraid to admit it.
Because the moment he admitted who he really was and what he really wanted, he would lose what he had with Madeline.
But it wasn’t fair to either of them to go along with something he didn’t really want just because he was afraid of what would happen when he revealed the truth.
He deserved the kind of relationship he wanted—a real one, one that could last—even if it meant he could never have it with Madeline.
It was a hard truth to process. It took time. Katie waited, scanning his face and at one point reaching out to squeeze his arm in support.
“I know it’s not my business,” she said at last, when he was capable of taking a real breath.
“No, no, it’s fine. I... appreciate you saying that.”
She leaned over to press a chaste kiss on his cheek. “You deserve every good thing, Ken. You’re the strongest, most generous man I’ve ever known. And I know you’re strong enough to ask for everything, if that’s what you want. If she has any sense at all, she’ll want everything from you too.”
She didn’t wait around for him to answer. He wouldn’t have been able to say anything anyway. She walked off to rejoin the man she’d been dating for a few months now.
And Ken was left alone against the wall, looking at the woman he loved, laughing with his daughters.
Katie was right. He had to say something. He had to ask for what he wanted.
Even if it meant he’d lose everything.
THAT EVENING, MADELINE showed up at Ken’s house at just after ten in the evening, feeling more fluttery than ever and also very nervous. She didn’t even know why.
She’d talked to Heather and Jessie for about a half hour. They seemed to like her and both had a lot to say. Then she’d returned to her friends and hung out with them for the rest of the time. Ken stopped by their table once and chatted for a few minutes. He’d looked at her a lot but had mostly talked to Jacob.
And that was fine. That was how she wanted it.
Things didn’t feel quite right between them anymore, and she knew enough to realize the weird feelings were signs that something was wrong. Something couldn’t continue the way it had been up until this point.
But the thing she wanted to happen was also the thing that terrified her, and that couldn’t be right either.
She had no idea what she should do.
Ken was waiting for her when she got there. It smelled like he’d taken another shower. He looked clean and handsome and sexy as hell in the clothes he’d been wearing earlier—tan pants and a plaid button-up shirt, now only halfway tucked in.
She greeted a slobbery, affectionate Marlowe and then blinked in surprise when she saw that candles were lit in the dining table and there was a vase of gerbera daisies. “They’re beautiful!” she said, her heart jumping and then continuing to bounce in her chest.
“Ria said they were your favorites.” Ken looked as relaxed as always, but there was an edge to his expression that was different. That was almost—almost—nervous. She’d never seen him like that before.
“I love them,” she admitted, staring down at the flowers since they were safer than looking at Ken at the moment. “They’re gorgeous.”
“Good.” He came over to stand beside her, pushing Marlowe back down to the floor when he got too excited over the tension in the air. “You want some wine?”
“You got wine?” She couldn’t help but look at him now, needing to see his expression so she’d know how to take this.
“Uh, yeah. I thought it might be nice. But it’s fine if you don’t want—”
“I do. Wine would be great.” Her stomach was so twisty that she wasn’t actually in the mood for food or drink, but alcohol might help to ease her nerves, so she thought it was worth a try.
Ken had a bottle of a cabernet ready. Not a cheap bottle either. He poured them both glasses, and they took them to the living room to drink. There were a couple more candles lit on the coffee table.
They sat in silence for a minute with Marlowe as the only distraction. Finally Madeline couldn’t stand the flood of mental questions so she asked, “Is something... going on?”
“No. No.