Sparks Reignited

22 | My Answer

Just as my hope is diminishing fast, the door to the room opens with a loud bang.

Relief floods into me when I see Kyle walk in. His eyes zeroes in on our intimate positions—Taylor pinning me down—and his face contorts in rage immediately. He marches towards us with a murderous look, hauls him off me before throwing a punch into his face.

Taylor staggers backwards and falls to the floor. He winces and glares at Kyle, clutching his jaw where a bruise is slowly forming. "Seriously, dude? What's wrong with you?"

Kyle's eyes narrow into slits. "Why don't you ask yourself that question?" he spits back.

He raises his clenched fist again to hit him again, but I grab his arm quickly. Even though I'm shaken by everything that has happened, I'm able to get a hold of myself right before hell unleashes in front of me.

"No," I plead with him, but I'm saying this because I'm more concerned for him than the other guy. "He's not worth getting you into trouble for."

Kyle stares at me for a long moment, hesitating, before eventually doing as I ask and drops his fist. Turning towards Taylor, he glares at him. "Touch her again and I won't let you off this easily again."

With that, he wraps his fingers around my wrist and leads me out of the room. I don't protest. In fact, I'm extremely grateful when he takes me out of the house and towards his car. We pass by several people, including Carly, who yells his name, but Kyle ignores them all.

We haven't exchanged a single word, but I can feel waves of his anger radiating off his body. His silence only makes it worse, leaving me anxious. It is only when I'm tucked safely into his car and he's seated behind the wheel do we break the silence.

His jaw clenches so tightly that I wonder if it hurts. With the way he's glaring off into the distance through his blazing emerald eyes, I'm surprised he hasn't murdered anybody tonight.

The first thing he asks me is, "did he hurt you?"

"No."

He shakes his head at me, his eyes still burning with anger. "Of all people, Taylor? Didn't Hernandez warn you?"

I shrivel under his livid gaze and bite my bottom lip. "She did, but it's my fault. I gave him the benefit of the doubt."

Shivers rack my body. I feel cold all over. Shock and numbness. If Kyle didn't appear back there, what would have happened to me?

As I battle with my internal turmoil, Kyle watches me silently. He purses his lips in a tight line but says nothing. When he sees me hugging myself to keep warm, his hand automatically reaches for something in the backseat and drapes it over me — his jacket.

I clutch it to my chest gratefully. An inhale is all it takes to realize that his musky scent still lingers in the material. I pull his polyester-cotton jacket around me and slip my hands through into the warm and comfy sleeves. Taking deep breaths, I calm down slowly.

I flash a grateful look at Kyle. "Thanks."

He nods and presses his hand to my cheek, looking every bit worried. "Don't worry," he promises me. "I won't let that bastard come near you again."

In return, I nod dazedly. I believe him.

He starts the car and pulls out of Taylor's driveway. "Riley," he tells me carefully. "The nice guys are often the ones you need to be wary of. They come with motives. The not-so-good ones."

I tilt my head at him. Curious. "What about you?"

"Me?" He raises a brow. "I'm not a nice guy."

"Really? Driving me home aren't you being nice?"