Levitate (24 page)

“MAX, MAN, CHILL. I just talked to Nic and they’re almost here,” Bright chides me. I can’t seem to relax. It’s irrational, but something feels… off. Bright and I got here, unloaded the quads, and hung out with the guys for a few hours. They all took their girls into town for dinner. They’re bringing back a pizza for the four of us.

Kensington:
Just pulled in

I don’t bother to reply. I slide my phone in my pocket and head out to the front door. Bright is hot on my heels. He said I was crazy, but even he was a little worried at their late arrival. I jog down the steps and reach her door as she climbs out. I lift her up and she wraps legs around my waist, holding on. I kiss her, slowly molding my lips with hers. “I missed you, Kens.”

“I missed you too, Maxton Cooper.”

“I love you.” There is no way I could hold it in a minute longer. I hope she forgives me for blurting it out.

“Maxton.” Tears fill her already red eyes; she looks tired. “I love you so much,” she sobs, burying her face in my neck. Her legs are locked tight around my waist, and I hold her against me. I carry her to the porch and sit down with her in my lap.

“Why the tears?” I ask her.

“It’s just been a long day. I told Nicole about my mom on the way here. We had to pull over because I was a blubbering mess.” She sniffs.

“You told Nicole?” I ask, surprised.

“Yes, and I promise I’ll tell you too as soon as we get home. I don’t want secrets between us. If you still feel the same about me after you know, then I’m yours for as long as you want me,” she says.

“Kensington, there is nothing you could tell me that would ever make me not love you. Not want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up with you in the same spot. Nothing, do you hear me? Nothing will change how I feel about you.”

“When we get home,” she says. “I just want this weekend with you, and then I will tell you everything.”

“Whenever you’re ready, Kensi. I’m not going anywhere, babe.”

She sits back on my lap, her tired eyes boring into mine. “I love you.”

My fucking chest is tight from those three little words. “I love you.” I kiss her again, and if it were not for the car I just heard pull up, I would still be kissing her. Instead, I release her lips and help her stand. It’s time to introduce the love of my life to some lifelong friends. “There are some people I want you to meet.” She nods and releases her legs from around my waist and slides to the ground. Part of me wanted to just introduce her clinging to me like a monkey. She fucking loves me. Best feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life. Instead, I pull her close and wrap my arm around her.

She turns to the group that just walked up to us and I start at the left. “Kens, this is Mark and his girl Tabby. This is Rick and his girl Sara, and this is—”

“Justin,” she croaks out. I feel her immediately stiffen in my arms.

“Kensington,” Justin breathes her name like he can’t believe she’s here. He fucking knows who she is?

My mind is racing. How do the two of them know each other? I focus on her. “Kens, baby, what’s wrong?” I whisper the words close to her ear. She shakes her head no. Her eyes are wide and full of pain and fear? “Kens, you’re scaring me. Please tell me what’s wrong?” I watch as huge tears fall over her cheeks and my heart aches for the pain she’s in. Not getting answers from her, I turn to JT. “How the fuck do you know her?” I yell at him. The scar on her chest runs through my mind. She’s been hurt and she’s afraid of someone; she’s afraid now.

“What the fuck did you do to her?” I take two steps and I’m up in his face. I grab him by the collar and slam him against the side of the house. “You better start fucking talking, JT.” That’s when it hits me; Justin her ex. “You, you were her ex from high school.” I try to remember all I know of what he told me about what happened back then, but rage blinds me. I can see nothing but the huge tears rolling over her cheeks and the pain and fear in her eyes. I slam him against the house and get in his face. “Tell me what you did to her!”

“Maxton!” I hear Bright yelling for me. He probably thinks I’m off my rocker jealous. I’m that too, but right now, I’m fucking livid. I ignore him as I stare JT in the eyes; my fist clenching his shirt is making it hard for him to breathe.

“Maxton!” This time I feel his hand land on my shoulder and he tugs. “Maxton, Kensington. You need to let him go.” He’s frantic. I release my grip when I hear her name. I look over my shoulder and Bright’s face is pained. “She left, Max. She took off running for her car. I didn’t get out here in time to stop her.” I turn back to JT and throw a right hook into his nose. I release him and he slides to the ground, using the house as his crutch.

I turn back to Bright. “Which way did she go?” I ask.

It’s Mark who answers. “She hopped in her car and tore out of the driveway; she headed toward town.”

I hear Bright murmur and see he’s trying to console Nicole. I walk to her and pull her from him and into my arms. “Nic, I need you to tell me what you know.” My voice is pleading.

“Oh, Maxton, she just told me. Today on the way here, she told me. Justin, he’s her ex. Oh, God, she was so upset; we have to find her,” she cries.

I realize I’m not going to get anything out of her. She’s too upset and we don’t have time. I need to get on the road. “Come on, man.” Bright holds the keys to the truck in the air. I nod and take off in a dead run to the truck. Bright and Nicole are right behind me. We are loaded up and peel out within seconds. Bright heads toward the way Mark said she went while I call her cell repeatedly. She’s not picking up.

“She’s not fucking answering.” I throw my phone on the floorboard and run my fingers through my hair. God, what if she was in an accident. Please keep her safe, watch over her, I silently plea over and over.

“Maxton! Snap out of it,” Brighton yells. “Nicole has her on the phone. She’s safe, man. She’s safe.”

I feel hot tears prick the back of my eyes. She’s safe. I turn to face Nicole who is in the back seat crying, just listening to the other end of the line. I want to rip the phone from her hands and demand Kensington tell me where she is, but she wouldn’t answer for me. So I sit and wait.

“Kens, tell me where you are?” Nicole asks gently. “Are you all right, are you safe?” she asks her. I give her a thumbs up for asking. I’m sure the question was to keep me sane.

“Okay, stay there. I’m on my way.” She ends the call and closes her eyes.

“Nicole,” I grit out.

“She’s safe. She pulled over at the hotel in town. She’s got a room and is spending the night before driving back home tomorrow. She’s too upset to drive tonight. She’s smart, Max,” she tells me. “I told her I was on my way. You have to let me talk to her first, and then I’ll get her to talk to you. You have to be patient with this; it runs deep,” she warns.

“You think I don’t know that? That fucking girl is everything. Everything that I am is her; she makes me better. She said she fucking loved me.” My voice cracks.

“Maxton,” Nicole places her hand on my shoulder, “she loves you. I know she does. You have to let her work through this. I wish I could tell you, I do, but it’s not my story to tell.”

I clench my jaw and bite my lip. “I just need to be with her. I need her in my arms so I can let her know I’m there. No matter what it is, what his connection is to her, it doesn’t fucking matter to me. I just want her.”

Bright pulls into a hotel lot and I reach for the handle. “Wait!” Nicole scolds me. “Max, you have to let me talk to her first. Please. I promise I’ll convince her to talk to you, but she needs me,” she says gently.

“Well, I fucking need her. I can’t breathe without her.” I rub my chest at the ache that’s been there since I saw the pain in her eyes less than an hour ago. “Please, tell her I love her.” I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes.

Bright and I sit in silence. What is there to say? A guy I’ve known practically my entire life hurt the person who means the world to me. She is my world, and right now, I don’t know if she knows that. I don’t know if she understands how much I love her, how much I need and want her to be a part of my life. I can’t imagine going back to how things were before Kensington.

Brighton’s phone finally rings. My eyes pop open and I watch as he answers. “Okay, love you, Nic,” he says before hanging up. “She’s agreed to see you, but she wants me there as well,” Bright says cautiously.

I jump out of the truck and head inside. Bright catches up to me and hits the elevator button. The ride is quiet and fast. Kensi is on the third floor. The doors open and Bright leads the way to her room. We reach the door and he knocks softly. Nicole opens for us and steps back, allowing us to walk in. Kensington is standing by the window looking out. I cover the distance between us in a few longs strides. The emotion that I have been fighting claws its way to the surface as I stand beside her. “Kensington.” My voices cracks and a tear falls just from saying her name.

Turning to face me, her hand goes to my cheek and brushes away the tear. I place my hand over hears and lean into her. “Baby, can I hold you?” I’m pleading and desperate and I don’t give a fuck.

“Max, I don’t—”

I cut her off. “Can I at least hug you? I just need to have you in my arms for a minute. Please, I just, God, Kens, I was so scared,” I admit to her.

A barely noticeable nod of her head is what I get and it’s enough. I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her neck. I take a deep breath for the first time since she left. I pull her as close to me as I can get her, and she wraps her arms around my waist. That’s when the dam breaks. I lose my shit. I’m crying like a bitch and I don’t care who sees it. The tears are a mix of relief, fright, and love all rolled into one huge emotional clusterfuck.

All too soon, she’s pulling away from me. “Max, I have things I need to say. I need to tell you everything, and I can’t do that with you touching me. It’s hard enough telling it. I can’t…” She steps away from me and it feels like I’m losing her. “Please, just sit.” Her tired eyes plead with me, and I would do anything for her, so I nod and take a seat at the small table opposite of Bright.

Nicole is sitting on the edge of the bed. My girl sits beside her and reaches for her hand. I want to be the one offering that support, but I understand she needs this, so I sit as still as I can and wait for her to tell me whatever it is that made her run from me today.

“Next Friday will be four years.” She gets choked up on the words. I start to stand and Nicole glares at me. Bright leans over and places his hand on my shoulder, telling me silently to sit my ass down. Kens is looking at her lap. “My mom was murdered,” she finally says. “Justin’s brother, Joe, he attacked me and my mom walked in during his attempt. He had a knife; he killed her.” She sobs into her hands. Nicole gives me a look, warning me to sit still as she puts her arms around Kensington’s shoulders and hugs her.

Kens gets herself under control and starts from the beginning of the story. I sit and listen to her soft voice, laced with anger and pain, and I want to kill JT and Joe. I know that won’t bring her mom back, but, fuck, I hate to see her hurt. Her eyes are tired and she’s pale. I hate what seeing him is doing to her. I hate seeing her like this.

I MAKE IT through the entire story for the second time today. I’m exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’m afraid to look at Max, afraid of what he’ll say. His lifelong friend’s brother killed my mother. I dated a good friend of his.