Page 112 of Heimlock

“I trust you,” she assures me, leaning forward. “But I know you, Kyri. You’ve never dated anyone for long. As far as I know, you’ve never had a relationship.” Talia, normally carrying a friendly expression, looks more serious than I’ve seen in years. It’s awful to be on the receiving end. “That boy has been through enough, love bug. I want to make sure you’ve thought this through.”

Okay, first off, what the fuck?

Second, what the fuck?

Her words hurt far more than expected. Anger heats my skin. “I thought we were meeting to catch up, not to chastise me for something I haven’t done yet.” My fist clenches the cup, threatening to crush it. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Talia’s eyes look around the shop as she contemplates her words. When she speaks again, it’s to stab me right in the heart. “Kyri, you were literally living on the streets when I met you. Through the years, I’ve seen you scrape and claw toward something all of your own. But never in that time have you truly let anyone in, aside from Orliana and me.”

Tears well in my eyes; from sadness or fury, I can’t tell.

She frowns at my expression. “Trinte is a kind soul, and so are you. But that boy …”

Talia shakes her head. How much does she know about him? Does she somehow know more than me? Unfamiliar jealousy rears its ugly head. Not because she knows more, but because I want to know more.

I’m two seconds away from walking out. “Maybe I just haven’t had a relationship because no one is good enough. Did you ever consider that?”

“Of course,” she says with a soft smile. Her quiet tone does nothing to calm the rising indignation. “And no one is good enough.” She pauses, then adds, “Except maybe him.”

My jaw flexes as I grind my molars. She knows damn well I won’t disagree. Trinte is easily the most worthy of me. “That’s not the point.”

Talia sighs, takes a sip of her coffee. “I want both of my girls happy. Whatever that looks like for them. You just spent how many days with him? Baby, you’re practically glowing. I’m sure if he was in front of me right now, he’d be doing the same.”

The grin on his face today was otherworldly. It still gives me flutters in my belly, knowing it’s me who makes him so happy.

“But you think I’m going to hurt him,” I say flatly.

Talia’s expression gives nothing away as she says, “I think that when things become too vulnerable, you leave.”

“Men are unimaginative and boring,” I shoot back. “They’re threatened by me. Why would I tolerate that? Do you want me to tolerate that?”

“Kyrielle,” she says patiently. “Have you paused and considered why you’re so defensive about this right now?”

My lower lip wobbles as my voice trembles. “Maybe you’re just hurting my feelings.”

She shakes her head slowly. “Kyri, I’m not trying to hurt you. In fact, I’m hoping you take this conversation at face value; I’m trying to make sure you’re thinking things through before you dive so deep you both drown.”

Talia is nothing but reasonable and motherly. She literally plucked me from the streets and gave me a life I barely deserve. It’s the only reason I’m not screaming at her, even though I want to. Mainly because a part of me knows she’s right.

If I’m not careful, I could hurt Trinte. Deeply.

A tear tracks down my cheek as I whisper, “I just want to help him.”

Talia leans forward so no one else can overhear our words. “But you need to ask yourself why. You’ve never backed down from a challenge, but are you positive you aren’t treating him as a project? As one of the women you’ve helped build a future from their traumas?”

Her questions leave me speechless. Because I don’t know. Part of my motivation is definitely due to the guilt I’ll always carry about Orliana. But Trinte and I have gone far beyond that. Our connection is deeper than trauma.

Right?

There simply isn’t enough space from him right now. These last few weeks, he’s consumed my thoughts. It’s terrifying and exciting. My rule about not dating anyone from the battle gym feels so frivolous now. A barrier that doesn’t need to exist.

But he claims there’s more to know. So much that he’s half-convinced I’ll walk away if I know it all. Would I bolt if I knew everything?

I don’t know.

Everything feels so confusing right now.

Talia must see every thought playing out over my face because she reaches out a hand. Mine shoots out, clutching hers like an anchor.