Filed To Story: The Perfect Spiral Book PDF Free by Ashley Constantine
“There’s no time to-” he begins again, trying to assert that I won’t be showing Caleb around. But it’s none of his business.
“Perfect! Here, give me your phone so I can give you my number and we can text to make plans.” I cut him off, extending my hand for Caleb to hand me his phone.
Caleb fumbles in his pocket, retrieves his phone, and hands it to me. As I begin to enter my number, 1 feel a hot breath on my shoulder and see his reflection on the phone screen.
Once I’ve finished entering my number, I give myself a name: Alex
That should piss him off. I feel a buff of air on the back of my neck and just as I’m about to hand the phone back to Caleb, a hand snatches it away. He deletes my number and tosses the phone back to Caleb.
Caleb checks the screen and his brows furrow. “Did you just delete her number?” He asks Knox, irritation creeping into his tone.
“I did,” he replies, amusement lacing his voice. “I can see why you think he’s a dick… I’ll give you mine later and then you can text me yours?”
His brow remains furrowed, clearly irritated by the situation. Knox just loves to ruin everything.
“No, you won’t,” he tells Caleb, who is growing increasingly frustrated with Knox.
“What is your deal, bro? You’re with Lauren! Why can’t I have her number?” Caleb steps closer to Knox, and I place my hand on his arm, trying to calm him down.
“Caleb, I’ll get your number later. It’s fine, it’s none of his business. Just ignore him. I do,” I soothe, stroking his arm to distract him from Knox and refocus his attention.
The sound of the sliding door interrupts us, and I see Kyle making his way outside. He stands tall, immediately noticing the tension between the two guys.
Breaking eye contact with them, he looks at me, his expression softening.
“Can I talk with you for a minute?” He asks so gently that it catches me off guard. I nod, releasing my grip on Caleb’s arm, and follow him inside.
We both walk up to my room and Kyle closes the door while I wrap myself up in the towel I had left on the deck. The silence between us isn’t awkward. It’s comforting.
“Sis, I’m sorry I snapped at you. I shouldn’t have said what I said. You’re not one of those girls, you never were and never will be. I-I just… don’t want any guys to treat you like that.
When you didn’t come home, I panicked and then Andy told me you went home with some guy, I freaked out a little. You’re my baby sister. I want to protect you.
I know you’re pissed at me, but please just understand where I’m coming from. I trust you, I just don’t trust guys. I’m one, I know how they think….”
I rush towards my brother and hug his waist, and he wraps his arms around me in return. I’m still wrapped up in the towel. I can’t stay mad at him, he’s one of my best friends and my closest brother.
“I know you’re sorry, Kyle. I’m sorry for snapping too. I’m just finding things hard right now. I just wanted to forget about it all for one night. Just one night. Matt is a really good guy.
We just cuddled and made out a little, but we didn’t have sex. He dropped me home because he didn’t want me getting a cab home alone. I get that you freaked when I didn’t come home.
But I don’t need you watching my every move. I can’t live like that. It’s too much. I’ll end up like him. Paranoid, and that’s not what I want,” I mumble into his shirt, breathing in his familiar cologne.
He begins to stroke my head, soothing me. I close my eyes. He always knows how to comfort me.
“I love you, Alex,” he murmurs, swaying gently from side to side, cradling me in his arms. We could never stay mad at each other for more than a day. One of us always caved. Usually, it was Kyle.
“I love you too, Kyle,” I whisper into his shirt, letting him rock me. This is the one thing I’ve missed. Being held by someone.
When Drew held me in his arms, I forgot where I was. I stayed in the present, savoring the memory of him holding me in his loving arms.
Now, I don’t get to feel that anymore. It’s a different kind of love when it’s your boyfriend, fianc?, or husband holding you. But I’ll settle for this.
“I’m going to presume you two are lying dead on the floor in there? Because I’m not cleaning that up!” Andy’s voice echoes from outside the door.
We release breathy chuckles and Kyle leans back to open the door, revealing Andy standing there in his hoodie and leggings. He extends a hand to her, inviting her to join us.
She hugs both of us and Kyle grins, “My girls,” he murmurs, planting a kiss on both our heads while holding us tight.
“I love you, Andy,” he murmurs into her hair, and she freezes. I freeze too, taken aback by his bold declaration. We both pull back, staring wide-eyed at him. I glance over at Andy, shocked that those words have just left my brother’s mouth.
Tears start to stream down her face, and he begins to panic. “Shit! I’m sorry, you don’t have to say it back. I-I just… shit! I ruined it, didn’t I?” He covers his face, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Kyle has never said those words to any girl before, at least not outside of our family. Andy continues to let the tears fall down her flawless face, and she reaches up to gently remove his hands from his face.
They stare at each other for a few moments, and I feel like an intruder. “Do you mean it?” she manages to ask through her tears. He slowly nods, unsure if she’s about to start crying again.
“You don’t have to say it back. I just thought it would be a good time to tell you… It’s cool if-“
“I love you too!” she interrupts, whispering the words just after he confirms his feelings. His eyes widen, and they both break into lovesick grins. He leans in to kiss her, and I let go of the moment.
As they lose themselves in each other, I notice another figure at the door. Knox is leaning against the wooden frame, silently observing the scene.
A single tear slips down my cheek, a silent wish for someone to love me like that. I quickly wipe it away and turn my gaze to the window.
“You alright?” Kyle asks, pulling me back to the present. I turn back to face the couple, nodding and forcing a smile.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just so happy that you’ve found each other,” I reply, and they pull me into a group hug.
1 catch Knox’s gaze in the middle of our embrace. I look away, focusing on the floor as I step back from them. I think Andy senses my discomfort. “Hey, so we’re going to go and-” Kyle starts.
“Just go, I don’t want to know!” I laugh, covering my ears to protect what little innocence I have left.
“Just make sure I can’t hear you both! Please,” I call after them as they walk hand in hand out the door. The thought of them together sends a shudder down my spine. So gross.
I unwrap the towel around me and hang it on my heater to dry. I grab a fresh towel from my wardrobe and place it on the heating rack in my bathroom, so it’ll be warm when I step out of the shower.
Turning around, I collide with a hard chest and stumble back, only to be caught by an arm snaking around my waist. My hands instinctively find his shoulders, helping me regain my balance.
My gaze flickers from his lips to his eyes, and I immediately regret it. Seeing his eyes dilate sends my heart into overdrive.
His hot, minty breath fans my lips, and I snap out of my daze, trying to push him away. But he’s much stronger than I am and doesn’t budge:
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.