Love Survives (Love's Suicide #2)(26)

Kat was in love with me. Her words repeated in my mind like a broken record. She’d always been in love with me, which meant Branch lied to win her. He’d lied to both of us to prevent us from being together because even back then he knew she wanted me.

It took every ounce of energy I had to not bust through his door and beat the living shit out of him. He’d ruined my life. He’d purposely destroyed me for his own gain. What kind of brother does that? For the past twenty years he’d done nothing but lie to make sure I never had a chance.

It was too unbearable to fathom.

After a few minutes of losing my shit, I headed into the bathroom to wash off my face. I was prepared to sleep it off, in order to get through the next day with composure.

Then I began to regret my decision. This was my last chance. Did I really care what anyone else thought? Even if my parents were pissed, they’d know before anyone that I’d acted out of love. Kat wasn’t just my weakness. She was my reason for existing.

When a knock came from the door I was sure she’d come back. In that moment nothing else mattered. This time I would pull her inside and never let go unless she asked me to. This time I’d act on impulse alone.

Except it wasn’t Kat at the door. It was Melissa. She’s freshened up her makeup, hair, and even her clothes. Her what I’d call reddish, hair looked brighter in the hallway lights. Her smile was probably tantalizing to some, but not to me. Unlike what my brother had assumed, I wasn’t into ‘gingers’ or any other type of woman. In fact, I didn’t have a type, because there was only one particular woman for me. On a planet full of options, my heart yearned for Kat.

“Melissa. What’re you doing here?”

“You told me to come.”

“Where’s Kat, err Katy? Have you seen her?”

“She’s a wreck over some falling out with Branch. She left me in the room to go pout about it somewhere. I’m sure by now she’s gone after him to make amends, she’s got some rule about not going to bed angry. Katy can be irrational at times.” Her flip comment made me want to cringe. If my brother wasn’t such a pompous * than maybe she’d be a happier person. “So, are you going to let me in?”

I leaned on the doorframe, sighing before giving her the bad news. “No, I’m not. To be honest, I’m just not in the mood. I know what my brother said, but he doesn’t know a thing about me. I’m already taken.”

“I didn’t realize. I feel like a fool.”

She started to turn to walk away, and I touched her arm. “Don’t. I’m a private person, who considers himself loyal. I’m sure you’re a good time, but I promised myself that I’d never let my cock make the decisions for me. It got me in heaps of trouble in the past. Now I think with my brain.” It was a sappy response that made her smile immediately. She’d gained respect for me, which was something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Thanks for telling me. I guess I’ll just head back to my room then.” She turned around one more time. “Whoever she is, she’s a lucky woman.”

If she only knew that the person I was referring to wasn’t even mine to begin with. She’d never been mine to claim, so why did I feel the need to run after her again? Why was my heart pulling me right to her when I knew it wasn’t going to end well?

I knew the reason as I stood there questioning myself.

It was love.

I’d finally gotten the confirmation that I needed. Katy Michaels was in love with me. She’d admitted it without regret. That alone caused me to let my guard down and go after what I’d wanted for so long; what I felt should have been mine from the very beginning.





Chapter 13


This could be all my imagination, but there was also a chance this was happening the way I was seeing it play out. It took me no time at all to head out of my room, determined to get the answers that I desperately needed. Before she said her vows to my brother, we needed to get things straight with us. I couldn’t live like this for the rest of my life. Slowly she was killing me whether she meant it or not.

At first I searched downstairs in the lobby, and even outside where the front entrance was located. While riding the elevator back up to the floor I was on, I had an idea. It was a long shot, but when we were kids she’d always run to the tree house. Without further thought, I made my way up to the roof, praying she hadn’t run back to my brother so soon.

As soon as I opened the door leading out to the frigid temperatures that December blessed the state with, I saw her there, laying on the cold, hard pavement ground. She didn’t notice me heading in her direction, or even when I squatted down in front of her. Finally, after a few seconds went by, she lifted her head.

Never in my life had I ever seen her so wrecked, not even when her parents were killed. She wasn’t just sad, or worried. She was tormented, even tortured with grief. I knew it because I’d experienced the same hell for years.

“How did you find me?”

I peered around at the empty area. “Well, it’s not exactly a tree house, but I figured you’d run to high ground. You always did.”

After wrapping my jacket around her cold body, I answered. “It’s freezing up here, Kat.”

“I know. I don’t care.” Her gaze moved away from me as if she were ashamed. “Where’s Melissa? I figured you’d be all over that.”