Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)(91)

“Oh,” I said, realizing he hadn’t come to Atlanta for the sole reason of seeing me. My initial reaction was relief that I wouldn’t have to deal with a complicated situation. But disappointment followed on its heels. It wasn’t fair to feel let down, since Kaidan still ruled my heart, but I did nonetheless. Maybe because I knew I could never be with Kai.

“I arrived early, hoping to see you,” he continued. “I went to your home, but your mother told me you were here.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t call me.” I pulled out my phone and rolled my eyes with embarrassment. “I guess it helps when I turn it on.”

He flashed me that dimpled smile, which set my inner butterflies aflutter, as always. I peered down at my phone.

“Do you have a cell?” I asked.

He took out his phone and we exchanged numbers.

A loud group of boys were passing through the court, jeering at one another and roughhousing. When I spotted Scott among them, I moved fast, angling my body away from their group and tilting my head so my hair would shield my face.

“You know them,” he stated.

“Some of them are from my school.” I said no more, but tension filled the space between us.

“One of them has hurt you.”

Was it that obvious, even with my colors hidden? I raised my head now that the boys’ backs were to us.

“There was an incident this summer,” I said.

He watched me with expectancy, so I told him a brief version of the story, keeping my head down. When I finished and looked up, my heart faltered. Kope was a display of barely contained rage as he stared in the direction Scott and his friends had gone. His nostrils flared and his mouth was taut.

“Kope?” I whispered.

No response. Sudden fright struck me as I imagined him flipping out and going after Scott. I spoke in the calm, gentle voice he always used with me.

“Kope, look at me.” His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. I reached out and laid a hand on his forearm, half-afraid he might lash out at me in his daze. He jolted at my touch, bringing his eyes to mine. For one second longer his wrath steamed below the surface, and then he closed his eyes. I didn’t know whether he was counting to ten or praying, but whatever he did worked. When he opened his eyes again the fury was gone.

“I am sorry, Anna. I do not want you to fear me. I would never hurt you.”

“I know,” I whispered, though I was still shaken. “It’s okay, Kope. And that whole situation with Scott is in the past. I dealt with him and let go of my anger. It’s over.”

He gave a tight nod, his gaze landing on a couple coming out of the jewelry shop, holding hands.

“What do you envision for your future, Anna?”

His abrupt question struck a nerve in me. It was the same question I’d been asking myself for months.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I used to know what I wanted, but not anymore.”

He considered this, watching me with curiosity. “What did you want?”

I reached down and touched the water. “A family, mostly.”

“And you no longer want that?”

I dried my hands on my jeans, trying not to get emotional. At one time, I wanted a loving husband and a houseful of kids more than anything in the world. But I’d let go of those dreams. I couldn’t even adopt a child. What would the Dukes say if they caught me playing house?

“I can’t have those things,” I told him, still avoiding his stare. “And I’m tired of wanting things I can’t have.”

His voice was low when he responded. “Perhaps children are out of the question, but you could still have a husband, in secret.”

My eyes flew up to his, and my skin sizzled as his words settled over me. I opened my mouth, but couldn’t speak. His light eyes played chicken with mine, not backing down from his claim.

“It’s too dangerous,” I said.

“You are young.” He didn’t state it in a condescending way, but I still bristled. “Someday you may agree that there are dangers worth facing.”

I swallowed, wishing my crazy heart would stop trying to break out of my rib cage. Nearby footsteps sounded, coming toward us on the shiny floor.

Veronica, Jay, and Gregory approached.

“Hey, guys,” I said. The three of them looked back and forth between the serious faces of Kopano and me. I couldn’t spare a smile of reassurance because my heart still raced from the sound of Kope’s voice and the words he’d spoken.

“Hey, man. It’s Kopano, right?” Jay asked.

“Yes.” Kopano stood and they shook hands.

“How you been?” Jay asked.

“Very well, and you?”

“Good, thanks.” It was an awkward, but sweet exchange.

Veronica gawked the entire time. She kept giving me the big-eyed look that promised she would pester me for details afterward. I introduced Kopano to Veronica and Gregory. Unabashed, she eyed him up and down after they shook hands, wearing a bright aura of fascinated interest.

“I must be on my way,” Kopano said to me.

“Will you tell the twins I said hello?”

He nodded. A silent moment ensued where we all stood there not knowing what to do next. Veronica cleared her throat and grabbed Jay’s arm.