Mason (Carter Brothers #2) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,114

you wasn’t it, the other witness?’’ is the first thing I blurt out jumping to my feet.

“Yes,’’ she whispers in a small voice, before looking around the room with wide frightened eyes. It’s then I look at everyone and see what she’s seeing and can’t help but want to cuddle her close. Although all the Carter brothers are soft as teddies, to an outsider they are a bunch of strong, muscled alpha males. With what Kayla has gone through they most likely look like The Hulk to her.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?’’ I ask, feeling like shit that the first thing that comes out of my mouth is to question her that. I’m just so surprised to see her. When she moved away I never expected to ever see her again. I’ve missed her. It’s then that tears fill my eyes and I struggle to keep them at bay.

“Yes, can we talk?’’ she asks looking around the room unsure. “Alone?’’

“Um yes, of course,’’ I tell her then look to Mason and give him a look to clear off and take his brothers with him. He nods his head getting what I’m silently telling him, but when my eyes drift to Myles, his face is completely pale, his eyes wide and mouth agape staring at Kayla. I notice Kayla giving him sideward glances and I try to figure out what’s running through her mind, but it seems since the last time I saw her she’s perfected hiding her emotions. Well, most of them anyway.

“Myles, bro?’’ Mason calls standing next to him. Myles shakes his head, looks at Mason then back to Kayla and nods his head getting up. He follows Mason out of the room, but not before giving Kayla another one last backward glance.

I knew he said they spoke a few times in the library and once after her attack, but it feels like something else is going on that he totally forgot to mention. The tension in the room was thick enough you could cut into it.

“How are you?’’ I ask again, feeling awkward about what to say. I gesture for her to take a seat and she does, so I take one down next to her.

“I’m okay, better than I have been in years actually. I needed to come and see you, to explain about why I left things the way I did.’’

“I understand Kay. You don’t need to explain anything to me-‘’

“I do. I pushed you away. You were my only real friend apart from Charlie. I shouldn’t have done that to you, I realise now that I needed you more than I let on, and for that I am sorry. I was so harsh to you, for no reason.’’

“I understand why Kayla. What happened is not your fault. You did what you did to protect yourself. Did I get upset I couldn’t be there for you? Yes. Did I hate you for it? No. I knew you wouldn’t have done it maliciously, so please don’t threat over it.’’

“You’ve always been too kind,’’ she smiles, tears in her eyes.

“So they say,’’ I grin, but then lose it when she looks up at me with so much guilt and sorrow.

“Is the girl...’’ she starts, but then takes a huge swallow. “The girl he... is the girl here?’’ she asks, twiddling her fingers on her lap.

“Harlow?’’

“Yes,’’ she nods, her face losing colour, and I can tell she’s scared and nervous as hell.

“Hold on I’ll go get her,’’ I tell her. “Would you like something to drink?’’

“No thank you, I can’t stay long,’’ she tells me sadly. I smile sadly back, not wanting her to leave again. Hopefully this time we will remain in touch.

I leave the room and rush into the kitchen where everyone is standing around and waiting. Mason walks up to me first, wrapping me up in his arms. The feel of him has me wanting to cry, to cry for the broken girl that she now is, for the girl she used to be but lost.

“You okay, Baby?’’ he asks.

“Yeah, just emotional,’’ I whisper. “She wants to see you?’’ I tell Harlow, who is now standing in Malik’s arms. He must have come downstairs when he heard her walk in and looking by the tense expression I can see he’s unsure about letting her go.

“Me?’’

“Yes, please,’’ I beg her, my eyes pleading with her.

She nods her head before turning to give Malik a kiss, I think more to relax him than anything, and then follows me