I frown at his answer. Surely it’s something. This is the first time all week that he’s been frustrated with me and I want to know what’s up with him.
“No, seriously. If you want to say something, you can say it,” I tell him.
Kayden hesitates. Instead, he rubs a hand over his mouth and releases a strained breath.
“I’m just saying that if you’re worried about training, don’t worry—I’ve got it covered,” he assures me in a serious tone. “Saturday is supposed to be rest day anyway. And I’ll make sure to squeeze in a session or two on Sunday when we get back.”
Somehow I doubt that that’s what he was going to say but I don’t push him because I don’t want to make a big scene. This was supposed to be a normal, casual night, and now everything between us feels rigid and tense.
“Okay. You just have to keep focused,” I urge him, scooting over and cupping his face between my hands.
“Seriously. You have to win, okay? This is what we’ve been working toward. So we gotta finish this.”
He nods wordlessly, his hands coming down on my wrist.
“Lucky, I won’t let you down.”
“All right.” I nod back, dropping my hands to my lap. I let out a sigh, dipping my head low as the nerves continue to wreak havoc inside me. “You’re right. I’m just nervous.”
I don’t elaborate because I don’t exactly know what I’m nervous about. The upcoming fight against Jax? Meeting his parents? Perhaps both.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about.” Kayden pulls me into his lap so I’m straddling him. He pushes my hair back behind my ears and slides his hands down my face. “I’ll protect you if anything happens. I’ll always protect you.”
I nod with a small smile. “I’ll always protect you too.”
Kayden brushes his lips over mine in a pleasantly loving kiss. I lean into him, craving the warmth of his body and the closeness between us that I can’t seem to get enough of. The hard muscles of his chest relax beneath me when I press a light hand against them. His tongue sweeps against mine tenderly as his fingers outline my back gently, a silent declaration of just how much he cares and wants me. When we pull away from each other, we’re both breathing hard, staring into each other’s eyes.
“So we’re good?” He whispers, tilting my head with his index finger to level his gaze with mine.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “We’re good.”
If meeting Kayden’s parents will make him happy, then I’ll gladly do it. I want to be there for him and I want to show him that I care. After everything that we’ve been through, we deserve to be happy for once, and I’m not going to let this gnawing, terrible feeling ruin the both of us.
Even if somehow, it feels like it’s already beginning to do its damage.
***
On Saturday Kayden and I load all our bags into his truck before driving it over to the dorms to pick up Evans and Brent. When we pull up at the entrance, Evans shows up with enough luggage for a two-week vacation around Europe.
“What the hell is in there?” I look at him curiously as he tucks in the handle to his monstrously sized luggage. He struggles to lift it into the truck bed, so I just nudge him away, preferring to do it myself. I haul it into the space with little effort. “You know we’re only staying there for one night, right?”
Evans blinks at me. “I have a lot of skin care.”
Brent, who drops his duffel bag beside the luggage, pats his hands together and shrugs. “He really does.”
“All right, fine,” I say, snapping the tailgate into place. I walk back to the front door and Brent intercepts me quickly, laying a hand over the door.
“I call shotgun,” he announces.
“No way.” I nudge his hand away. “I was sitting here just now.”
Brent narrows his eyes at me. “But I’m the brother.”
“And I’m the girlfriend,” I say defiantly.
“It’s only been a week. Who knows how long you’ll stick around after,” he mutters.
Beside me, Evans makes an oof face. I ignore him.