“I don’t know why things turn out the way they do, or who chooses which of us get to live or die. What I do know is that you lived for a reason Kyle. People rely on you - your family, your brother’s, your colleagues, me; we all need you here with us. Yes, it’s hellishly unfair Reece didn’t get a chance to grow up and see how amazing her big brother is, but she’s gone. We can’t change that. All you can do is make your life count. Live it to the fullest for the both of you.” He looked down at me and nodded, just once.
“I’m so sorry, about earlier in the gym. I just thought being with you would calm me down. I never meant to let my shit spill onto you.”
“I love you Kyle. I want you to come to me when things get hard, just like you expect me to come to you. I know you guys see me as fragile, but I’m not really. I can be strong when I need to be, and I will always be strong for the four of you. We’re a team, aren’t we?”
Before Kyle could answer the bedroom door flew open and Kade came running in, huffing and puffing as though he sprinted the whole way there from the precinct.
“Livy?” He gasped.
“Chill bro, I’m good.” Kyle said, a smirk on his face.
“Good? You’re bloody good? Livy called and said you were smashing shit up, then I get home to find she’s not where I told her to wait, namely far away from you! What the fuck happened?” He stood in the doorway, his hands braced on the frame just above his head.
“Liv braved coming near me, and managed to talk some sense into me.” Kyle replied with a shrug. Kade dropped his glare from Kyle, down to where I still lay with my head on Kyle’s thighs.
“Livy? You ok?” He asked, as if he didn’t believe Kyle. To be honest, the state of the room around us probably didn’t help him feel reassured.
“Fine. I’m sorry I called and scared you.”
“As long as you’re both alright. That’s all that matters.” He sighed.
“I’m sorry too, Kade. I shouldn’t have lost it like that. Just a tough day, you know?”
“I know, mate. It’s fine. I should have realised what date it was too. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you today. I shouldn’t have gotten so wrapped up in work.”
“We need to do something.” I announced before they could continue their guilt trips. No one was responsible for what happened. It was just a bad day, as Kyle had said.
“Like what?” Kade asked, as that sexy, gleaming smile finally appeared on his face.
“I don’t know, but we’re not going to sit in this house wallowing on what has been a very long, hard day. We need to do something fun.” I sat up and looked between them both. “What would Reece want to do on her birthday? We should be celebrating it for her.”
“That’s a good idea, Love.” Kade agreed.
“There used to be a winter carnival a few miles from where we lived every year around her birthday. I took her the year before she died. She loved the fairground rides and funnel cake.” Kyle recalled, a soft smile on his face.
“Will it be on now?” I asked, as I looked from him to Kade and back.
“I think it got cancelled not long after I left. I tried to go a few years later, to remember something good, but it wasn’t on.” Kyle sighed.
“I have an idea. Get ready. I’ll round up Cole and Matt. We’re leaving in an hour.” Kade declared, a huge smile on his face.
“Ok then.” I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The smirk on Kade’s face and his evasiveness had just been odd. Kade left the room and I looked back to Kyle, hoping he was ok with us all just dragging him off on one of the hardest days of the year for him.
“You can stop looking so worried, Princess. I’ve calmed down a lot, thanks to you. Thankyou for not letting me scare you away.” He whispered as he brushed the wild strands of my hair that had escaped, behind my ears.
“You could never scare me away Kyle. I know who you are, temper and all, and I will never for one second doubt that I am safe when I’m with you.” I reached up and kissed his cheek gently, fighting my instinct to take his lips instead. He would kiss me properly, when he was ready. I refused to push him, no matter how much I wanted to.
“I better go shower and change.” I was still in my gym clothes and I knew I smelled far from fresh after the gruelling workout Kyle had put me through. I looked around his room, finally seeing the full extent of the damage he had done. Not only was the dresser before me smashed to pieces, his bed had also been tipped up on it’s side, and pictures had been swept off of the wall and lay smashed amongst the destruction.
“Or maybe we should clear up first?”
“It’s fine. I’ll right everything. It won’t be the first time.” He sighed.
“I don’t think there will be any ‘righting’ that dresser. I’m afraid we’re gonna have to call that one, may it rest in peace.” I joked, and finally Kyle smiled fully.
“You’re crazy, Olivia Byrd and I totally love it.” He whispered.
“And I love you.” I kissed his cheek again, then jumped up before the moment got too intense for Kyle to handle.
“Meet you downstairs?” I looked him over as he stood after me. He looked a lot calmer, but the pain was still
