Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Kylan let go of her hand, moving to kneel in front of this grave in the same way he did for Yasmin. Only this time. This time, he completely slumped forward, his hand grasping the grass in front of her grave, his knuckles clenched tightly. He dropped the bouquet of flowers, his shoulders shaking slightly.

She stayed where she was, giving Rylan the space and time to process what he needed to. To feel what he needed to. To break, if he needed to

She would be there to pick up the pieces, should he want her to

But this was. This was Kylan's moment. His grief that she couldn't begin to understand

so sorry" Kylan was mumbling the same words repeatedly, his voice little more than a whisper in the

"I'm so sorry I'm so sor

Slowly, she knelt next to him as she had at Yasmin's grave. She didn't touch him still, instead brushing leaves and other nature away from Karina's final resting place.

"This is. This is Katrina. Mom. She's Kylan sniffed, and she realized he was crying. She hadn't seen him

since Christmas Eve, and she stiffened. "She's the woman that. She's everything to me. I wish. Christ. I wish you could meet her." His voice caught at the end, and he shook his head bitterly.

I would have loved to have met her, Kylan, I'm certain she was beautiful, she whispered the words, trying to picture Kylan as a child in her mind.

She could almost see it play out in front of her tangibly. A small boy with stark black ir, smiling up at his mother with adoration and love as she bent down to pick him up, twirling him as he giggled happily. It was a beautiful vision. A beautiful dream

Je vais te rendre fiere, maman. Je serai un homme bon. Kylan kissed his fingertips, placing them on the headstone and adjusting the flowers into the vase connected to her grave.

"She's already proud of you, Kylan. I know she is, I am, too. I'm so proud of you, she gambled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, kissing the side of his cheek softly.

Kylan looked at the flowers, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, Katrina. For being here, I mean." He sounded so small. So uncertain.

She hugged him to her gently, her hand brushing through his hair. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Kylan," she murmured.

She stayed like that for a long time, the sun nearly disappearing behind the grey clouds that hung in the sky. She held Kylan, and he held her. Neither of them spoke, neither of them needed to. -0-0-0-

"Breckenridge, Colorado?" She eyed her boarding pass curiously, following Kylan after he finished checking in her bags

"Breckenridge," Kylan echoed, wrapping an arm around her waist, and pulling her against him. He seemed to want to be touching her in some capacity, ever since leaving the graveyard. Something had undeniably shifted between them in those quiet moments she shared in his grief. She felt closer to him. She felt like she knew him

so much more now.

"How long of a flight is that?" she asked nervously, pulling out her ID so she could walk through security.

"Nearly four hours. I'll be right next to you" Kylan assured her, rubbing circles into her lower back.

"You challenged yourself today. Now it's my turn," she responded confidently, lifting her head a bit higher on her shoulders.

Kylan chuckled at her, the sound low and almost affectionate. "Okay, darling Okay" He surprised her by kissing her cheek, and she smiled at him.

-0-0-0-

The flight to Breckenridge was long, but she wasn't nearly as anxious as she would have been, had it not been for Kylan's steady presence and his hands on her the entire journey

a near blizzard outside, suddenly understanding why Kylan had her

as they made their way off the plane, thankful yet again

where he was going it seemed, and she followed him first to baggage claim, and then to rent a

white Escalade, strapping her seatbelt on,

comfortable, we have a bit of a drive," Kylan informed her, clicking his own seat belt in place and turning on her seat warmer for her, just

it. Sir." she teased him, reaching across the

console and resting her hand

the car with the coed she brought along, choosing the classical playlist Kylan always enjoyed

as Kylan instructed, her eyes

him. Because she did. She really did. She loved the hell out of him. She just didn't know how to tell him. She didn't want to scare him away with the depths of her feelings She must have

sciousness.

low, conforting voice, called her

Stuntered hei

eyes open, yawning as she did. "Mom, where's here?" she mumbled, rubbing

was Kylan's only reply. He opened his door and stepped out,

a few more times, attempting to gather her bearings. She climbed out of the car, stumbling a uneven,

her feer

o adjust to the

she turned

way. No way Kylan brought her somewhere

She couldn't speak.

overwhelmed with love, with warmth, despite the frigid mountain air

cabin situated in the

so much like the painting

real life, and

here. Kylan planned

away from her, and the only thing she could see,

anyone else carrying her luggage, or comforting her on a plane. She never wanted anyone else to hold her when she was sad, or to bugh

was wh

dreamed of as a little girl, alone in her bed,

had an opportunity to filter

away from the door of the

with you. You're You're everything to me. Now that she started talking,

anything. I don't. I don't want you to say anything, just because I did. I know this is a. A big step. So just... Let's go inside. okay?" She walked over to him quickly, avoiding his gaze while she waited for

could feel it. She could

quietly. She couldn't decipher the tone of his voice, and she was still far too terrified to look

freezing, Kylan. Can we please go inside?" Her voice was

Kylan unlocked the door of the cabin, pushing it open and finding a light

a living room, kitchen, and dining room all situated right in front of her. A bathroom was located off to the left, down a small hallway. Her eyes drifted to a set of winding, wooden

was hoping it would be. Small, quaint, intimate. Only now, she wanted to run away. To disappear into the forest

still couldn't look at Kylan while she untied her boots

Chapter 95

start a fire in the fireplace and if you want, you

she slipped up, after months

looking at him. She hauled her suitcase upstairs,

quilts, no end tables, a dresser, and a TV fixed to the wall, took up the majority of the space. A small chair sat in the corner near a large window that

bathroom upstairs, not quite ready to go and face Kylan again. She turned on a bedside lamp, setting her suitcase on top

stole. Her hair was tied up in a wer bun and she pulled on a pair

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