Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. “So, you did this so I could have my dream?”
He sighed. “Yes. It broke my heart too, Kit. You weren’t the only one that went through it.” He met her eyes again and forced a grin, displaying his irresistible dimples. “Looks like it was worth it. I saw you on those magazine covers. I saw you win those Grammys. Alexa tells me you have a new hit song. You did it, Kitty. You made it in the music world. Always knew you and Joey would.”
She could feel her animosity toward him melting away. She reached for him and he took her into his arms as she quietly cried on his shoulder. She finally pulled back and stroked his cheek as she gazed into his eyes, her whole perspective flooding in. Suddenly everything made sense.
She stroked his cheek and grinned. “Thank you. As much as I loved you and always will, you’re right. If I would have had to give up music, performing and my creative self-expression, I really don’t know how I would have made it.”
He chuckled and nodded. “I know that. It’s your life blood. You proved me right seeing all your success.”
She sat back on the sofa and stared at him. “If you were in witness protection, are you suddenly out? How are you able to get in touch with all of us?”
He sat back and got comfortable, feeling more at ease now that a breakthrough between them had occurred. “The drug lord was executed on death row. His minions are locked up for life with no chance of parole. The drug ring has been dismantled for close to a decade. There’s no danger. The threat level doesn’t exist anymore. When I read in the paper that the drug lord was being executed, I knew I was in the clear.”
He grinned. “Just please do not call me Kirby in public. That’s a big no-no.”
Kit eyed him suspiciously. “Is Joe alive too? Was he wrapped up in all of this?”
Kyle sighed and Kit noticed his eyes cloud over with sadness once again. He shook his head. “No, Kitty. Joey is really gone. I was curious too, so I looked up his medical records. His death was legit. I did some poking around and found out that he had a family history of brain aneurisms. His drug use made him a ticking time bomb. I’m surprised he lived as long as he did. Had he not been a drug user, he may have had a decent life. He could have taken the appropriate precautions. His medical history paired with the cocaine abuse did him in. No win situation.”
He shook his head regretfully. “Hearing of his death was overwhelming for me. At the time, I was in med school and I couldn’t share with anyone that I knew Joe personally. It was a very difficult time.”
She met his eyes. “Have you told anyone else in our group of friends?” Her eyes then widened. “Oh shit, Spence! Kirby you have to tell him. Have you talked to him yet?”
Alexa interjected. “Not yet, Kitty. Maybe it’s best you initiate that meeting.”
Kit nodded slowly. “Ok.” She met Kyle’s eyes. “He really looked up to you. You were a great role model to him.”
He chuckled. “He was a great kid. I guess he’s not a kid anymore.”
Kit chuckled. “No. Wharton grad like me. He runs my management company. He’s a big CEO these days.”
Kit surveyed Kyle closely and couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. “A doctor, huh? Cardiothoracic surgeon, even. Makes sense. You always were a brainiac. Anyone who double majors in biochem and econ at Penn has gotta be a different kinda brainy.”
Alexa watched them both closely and started to feel like a third wheel. She thought it best to slip out and let them reconnect. Now that there was no danger of Kit running out for good, she decided to bow out gracefully.
Before Kyle could respond, Alexa stood up. She grinned. “I think you two have a lot of catching up to do. So, on that note, I’m going to head out. Kyle, I’m going to take the limo. Can you give Kitty a ride home? Or should I send the limo back?”
He nodded and grinned. “Take the limo. I’ll make sure she gets home safely.” He stood up and approached her. “Let me walk you out.”
Kit said her goodbyes to Alexa, discreetly whispered to her to send the limo back and resumed her seat on the comfortable sofa as Kyle led Alexa out.
She sat back and let out a long sigh. Her head was swirling. She wasn’t sure what was coming next. Seeing Kyle in the flesh had left her shaken down to the core. She couldn’t deny her attraction to him. Even after all these years, it still remained as strong as it did almost a decade ago. Alexa was right—he had gotten even better looking with age.
Kyle returned to the living room with a new glass of sparkling water for Kit, presenting it to her as he took a seat to her left. He glanced over at her and grinned, showcasing his irresistible dimples. “Are you going to kick me off the sofa?”
She chuckled and sipped her drink.
