be?”
Kelly took a step toward me, raised her hand, and sent it flying to connect with my cheek before I could make sense of what she was doing. Her palm stung my cheek as she slapped me, surprising the ever-loving shit out of me.
My eyes flew to hers, and I saw renewed determination there, but also exasperation and hurt. She’d slapped me. Where the fuck did she get off being hurt by it? “What the hell was that for?”
“You were being an ass,” she told me calmly, tucking a wave of hair behind her ear. “You know that I’m not like that. I’m not planning on telling them for my ‘fifteen minutes’. Contrary to what you might believe, if I ever get famous, I want it to be for something worthwhile I’ve done. Landing on my back with my legs spread for a rock star is hardly an achievement. Get over yourself, Caleb.”
“Why then? Why now?” It didn’t make sense, though I did know deep down that Kelly wasn’t like that. She was a professional, and she was damn proud of her work. She wouldn’t really exploit her relationship with me for that.
Which begged the question, what was her motive? Kelly sensed my uncertainty and sighed heavily.
“I want to tell them I want to be with you, but I need to be honest and to stop sneaking around. I might end up losing my job over the whole thing, but I can’t keep lying. This is a huge opportunity for me, and I’m not going to blow it. Well, not any more than I already might have. I’m not sure what it’s going to mean for my job.”
“Then why do it?”
“I told you, because I want to be with you,” Kelly admitted, vulnerability replacing the determination in her eyes for a second. Then it was gone, and a gleam stole into them that I hadn’t seen before. “But Caleb, I’m not going to take your crap because of Elizabeth.”
Hearing Kelly say Liz’s name made my spine snap straight and my head spin. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. Alicia told me all about her. I’m not putting up with all that crap. Not anymore.” Kelly stuck her chin out. She meant business.
It felt like she’d ripped a rug right out from under me as I reeled, trying to put together the fact that Kelly knew about Elizabeth. I didn’t know how much Jared had told Alicia, or how much of that Alicia had told Kelly, but then I remembered Jared’s promise to me that day when he’d come to my place, and I just knew that Kelly knew everything.
“I’m going to kick the shit out of Jared for spilling all that,” I vowed, a chill creeping into my bones. “That’s none of his business, and it ain’t any of yours either.”
“It’s not?” Kelly deadpanned, both hands on her hips. There was fire in her eyes and fight in her stance. It was the single sexiest thing I’d seen in long fucking time. “Because the way I see it, the ghosts of those issues with her are making you say and do stupid shit now, with me. That makes it my business.”
“Nothing is making me do or say stupid shit now. I was being serious. It’s one thing to say you’ll stand by me. It’s another thing to do it.” My voice was rough, firm. But Kelly pursed her lips as if she were frustrated and ran her hands through her hair, practically yelling now.
“And I’m doing it. I’m telling my boss about us, even if it means losing my job. Did you miss that part? And isn’t that exactly what you asked me if I’d do?”
I blew out a breath and turned to the windows before facing her again. “Is that why you want to tell them? To prove to me that you’d give up your job for me?”
“Oh my god!” she exploded. “Stop being an ass. I don’t have any hidden agendas. I’ve told you exactly why I’m telling them now. I don’t have anything to prove to you, Caleb. I’m here, and I want to be with you. That’s all there is to it. If you don’t want me, then just say so, and I’ll be gone, but don’t do this. Don’t hide behind bullshit façades and old fears.”
There weren’t any signs that she was lying to me or trying to manipulate me, no defeat in her voice when she told me that she’d leave if I wanted