Zenith in Love (Zenith Series #5) - Leanne Davis Page 0,90

Jim could and would stop. She wasn’t ready, not yet, to give up on him; but the idea of starting a relationship with an alcoholic was definitely not something she wanted to sign on for.

What if it was already too late? She buried her head against Rob’s shoulder at that thought. As if his warm hug could stave it off. When she was a little girl, and a teenager, very often Rob’s hugs did solve her problems. Her own father was nice. He was never as intense or serious with his care, concern and affection as Rob was and her mom. Her dad patted her shoulder awkwardly and that was it. She couldn’t have told him any of this. There wasn’t much she could say to him honestly. “I’m fine,” was the only answer he sought from her and he stopped asking about her opinions. But Rob rarely believed any teenager when they said they were fine.

The room grew quiet and finally, Kathy spoke. “Why don’t Eric and I go out and get some food? No one wants to cook tonight.”

“I’ll come too!” Karlee exclaimed as she jumped up.

Kayla sensed they were intentionally leaving her alone with her parents. Rob released her.

“I’m going to lie down,” she muttered as she dragged herself up the stairs. Curling up on her bed, she stared out the window. It was still early. It seemed like a month had passed since just last night when she’d popped into Jim’s apartment. Hugging a pillow to her chest, she curled up into a fetal position.

Her door clicked and she didn’t have to turn over and look to know it was her mom. Rebecca set a cool, loving hand on her shoulder and slid into bed behind her. “I’m so proud of you. That was pretty hard to do, pulling us all together and talking about that stuff.”

“It was.” Kayla squeezed her eyes shut to stop the fresh tears. “I’m scared, Mom.”

“I know. I can’t help that. But we, I will be right here for you, to assist you in every way I can.”

“I just didn’t know.”

“Do you really think you’re in love with him?”

“Yes,” she replied softly. That was what defined the difference: all these feelings she had for him. The source of her confusion. Now what did she do with it?

“I just wanted you to know I’m here for you.”

“Were you ever scared? With Rob, I mean. I know you met him when he was sober, but you also knew about all the sordid details in his past before he entered your life. Did it scare you?”

“Oh, God, yes. I had you three girls to look after and he was not what I pictured in the way of a partner. I mean, the cliché he portrayed made me wince. But then, as I got to know him better, he was no cliché. I took a huge risk. I didn’t know if he would stay sober. I hoped he would but there was no guarantee.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to date an alcoholic. I had no idea Jim was like that.”

“I know. I didn’t either. He seems so stiff and starched, I worried he’d be way too judgmental with Kathy. And she was so pristine in her behavior, as proper as anyone could be. I didn’t and couldn’t have imagined any of this. I’m honestly proud of you for seeing the best instead of the worst.”

“What if he just says no? Or tells me he hates me for doing this? What if it ends here?”

“I guess you just have to deal with it. You had to try. This is what you did. If he can’t stand to hear what Rob has to tell him, then nothing you did for or with him matters.”

Kayla nodded and let her fearful tears flow. She cried hard. She sniffed and snuggled into her mom’s embrace. Rebecca hugged her like she was a child and a hug was all it took to fix the problems of the world. For a moment, it felt so nice for Kayla to believe. That her mom could really fix her feelings. Rob could fix her boyfriend. And Jim could fix himself.

It was the only thing that calmed her. Even if it weren’t true.

Chapter 15

THE LOUD KNOCKING MADE Jim stumble from the couch. He’d been half sacked out on it all morning after being dead to the world last night. He woke up at four AM unable to sleep anymore and went to the couch, thinking