Chapter 149.

Christian shut his eyes dramatically. "Ouch." He pressed a hand on his heart. "That hurts." He parted her eyes. "You are way too blunt."

"Where hurts?" she asked, her smile turning tender.

"Here." He pressed a hand dramatically against his chest.

Kylie rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth lifted. "Let me see."

Before he could react, she reached for his wrist, trying to pull his hand away from his chest. Christian laughed, resisting just enough to make it difficult.

"Kylie...."

"Stop moving."

"I’m injured." he sighed.

"You’re dramatic."

"I’m dying."

"That too."

He finally let her win.

Kylie looked at the spot he had been holding, then, almost without thinking, gathered her bangs away from her face and leaned forward.

She pressed a small, soft kiss over his heart.

Christian went completely still.

Kylie pulled back just as quickly, suddenly realizing what she had done. Her cheeks warmed, but she didn’t look away.

"There," she whispered. "Better?"

For once, Christian had no clever answer.

He only stared at her.

Kylie held his gaze, and the silence stretched. She shook her head, and looked away first.

"I just left my mum." She took the conversation back to her mum.

He nodded, and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"She remembered me today."

His eyes softened. "Really?"

Kylie nodded. A smile appeared on her face. "She called me by my childhood name."

Christian smiled faintly. "That’s good."

"It was." Kylie looked toward the building. "I don’t know how long it’ll last."

Christian didn’t respond.

"But I got today." She looked at him, and smiled warmly. "I got today."

Christian stared at her. He smiled back.

Kylie continued.

"So when I heard what happened to your grandfather..." She looked away. "I kept thinking about how I would feel if someone took that away from me."

Christian’s jaw tightened.

Kylie nodded. "I don’t know exactly what you’re feeling." She looked back at him. "But I can imagine enough to know you shouldn’t be alone right now."

Christian stared at her.

Kylie stood.

Christian looked up at her.

She hesitated. For a second, she looked as if she would walk away. Then she stepped forward, and held out her hand.

He softly took her hand, and stood straught. Kylie blinked at him, and then she hugged him.

Christian froze completely.

His arms remained at his sides.

Kylie wrapped her arms around him anyway. She held him. Not tightly enough to trap him, but enough to tell him she wasn’t leaving.

Christian didn’t move.

Kylie rested her cheek against his shoulder. She said nothing. There was nothing to say.

Christian’s body was rigid beneath her arms.

She could feel his breathing, fast, and uneven.

He didn’t hug her back for a second, and then she felt his hands move. One hand came around her back, and the other followed.

Then suddenly he pulled her closer. He pulled her so quick and suddenly that Kylie gasped softly.

Christian buried his face against her shoulder. His eyes closed, and he broke. He took in a deep, shuddering breath that seemed to tear its way out of him.

His arms tightened around her.

Kylie held him.

Christian pressed his face into her shoulder. His breath was warm against her neck.

His body shook.

Kylie closed her eyes. One hand moved slowly over the back of his head.

"It’s okay." She hushed.

Christian shook his head against her shoulder.

Kylie corrected herself immediately.

"No." She stroked his hair. "It’s not okay."

His grip tightened.

"You can be angry."

His shoulders shook again.

"You can be angry." She reassured him. She held him. "You can hate what happened."

Christian’s fingers curled into the fabric of her coat.

"You can miss him."

His breathing broke.

"You can wish you had been there." Kylie swallowed.

Christian remained buried against her shoulder.

She felt his tremble more, and then his tears soak through the fabric.

Kylie shut her eyes. She didn’t move.

Christian’s voice finally came. Barely audible. "I should’ve been there."

Kylie held him tighter.

"I should’ve said goodbye." His breath shuddered. "I didn’t get to say goodbye."

Christian stayed there. His face remained buried in her shoulder. Eventually, Christian’s breathing began to slow.

Kylie didn’t let go.

After several minutes, he whispered, "Thank you."

"Thank me when you stop hitting on me."

He didn’t answer, but he got the joke. His lips curved into a small smile.

She felt his arms tighten again.

After several minutes, he whispered, "Thank you."

"Thank me when you stop hitting on me."

He didn’t answer, but he got the joke. His lips curved into a small smile.

She felt his arms tighten again.

For another few seconds, neither of them moved.

Then Christian slowly loosened his hold. He lifted his head from her shoulder and looked at her.

His eyes were red. There were still damp tracks beneath them, and his face looked tired in a way Kylie had never seen before.

He took a small breath and finally stepped back.

Kylie didn’t immediately move away. She looked at him for a moment, then gently lifted her hand.

Her thumb brushed beneath one of his eyes, wiping away the remaining wetness.

Christian went still.

She moved to the other side and did the same.

His gaze stayed on hers.

Kylie gave him a small, tender smile.

"I believe I might have some free pass to use today, right?" Christian’s brow lifted teasingly.

"A free pass?"

He nodded. "For today."

She stared at her for a second.

A familiar glint returned to his eyes.

"You absolutely do." Kylie smiled faintly.

Christian glanced down before looking back at her. "You promised me we could have another night to ourselves."

Kylie raised a brow.

He searched her eyes. "Can that be tonight?"

She blinked.

Christian continued quickly, almost as though he needed to make sure she didn’t misunderstand. "We watch a movie, or something."

His voice softened. "And just go to bed."

Kylie stared at him.

The disbelief on her face was immediate. "You really just want to watch a movie?"

Christian placed a hand over his chest.

"I’m wounded that you would question my intentions."

"You’ve given me plenty of reasons to question your intentions."

"I am a changed man." Christian’s mouth twitched. Then he leaned slightly closer. "Trust me, señorita."

Kylie narrowed her eyes.

"That’s exactly what someone I shouldn’t trust would say."

He smiled.

"Then don’t trust me."

She stared at him.

He held her gaze. "Just come with me."

"Fine."

Christian’s smile widened.

"But if you try anything—"

"I won’t."

"Christian."

"I won’t," he repeated, raising both hands innocently.

"Let’s go." She led the way to her car.