20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Forty Six

"Twy, can you explain why I feel something so strange around you?"

Oh. My. God.
Is he... confessing? My heart explodes in a hundred directions.

He loves me.
He loves me.

I don't care if it's wrong or reckless — I just want him to love me. Still, I can't show it. I have to protect my heart. I remember what Grandma always said: The moment a boy knows he has you, he stops trying. Boys are dangerous. The moment you hand them your heart, they crush it.

"I can't," I say coldly, forcing myself to look away.

"Then let me tell you what I think," he says, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes.

Oh God. Here it comes.

"Twy..." He steps closer, caging me in with his arms as he places his hands on either side of the table behind me. My breath hitches.

"Kyle..." I glare at him, trying to keep it together, but he leans in — closer, warmer, intoxicating.

"At first, you confused me. You were different... so different. I couldn't figure out how someone like you even existed, or where you came from," he says, voice low. "But now I know exactly where you belong."

He breathes me in — my neck, of all places.

"You belong to me. To my heart."

And then he kisses me. A deep, urgent kiss that swallows every word I might've said.

"Don't ever try that—" I push at his chest, breathless, protesting between kisses.

"I love you."
His words stop everything.

"What?" I gasp, stunned. I know my jaw is hanging open, but I can't help it.

"I love you, Twyla."
He says my full name this time — slowly, deliberately — and something about that makes my heart shatter in the most beautiful way.

I love him. I fucking love this man.

"Will you hurt me?" The question slips out before I can stop it. Why am I even asking that?

"Twy... My Twy. The only one in this world." He holds my hands tightly. "I'd rather die than hurt you. If anyone ever hurts you, even if it's me — I swear I won't let it happen."

His words wrap around me like a warm blanket. His eyes — those piercing, ice-blue eyes — feel like home.

"Twy, say something... please."

Instead of speaking, I kiss him.

I pull him down to me and answer every question, every fear, every doubt he had — with my lips. I kiss him because I can't pretend anymore. I love him. I love him so damn much.

"Say it," he whispers against my lips.

"Kyle—"

A sudden knock on the door slices through the moment like a blade.

"Oh, shit." He groans, rubbing his forehead.

"Were you expecting someone?" I ask, heart pounding. Thank God for the knock. It saved me... or maybe ruined everything.

"Nope," he sighs and rolls his eyes. "Probably just some delivery guy."

"Go check," I say, still trembling from everything that just happened.

"Stay here. Probably just some guy dropping off mail or whatever."

He walks off, and I sit down on the couch, still dizzy from everything. But then I hear his voice change.

"No way," he says sharply.

Who's at the door?

Then I see her — a woman appears at the entrance and throws her arms around Kyle. She's much shorter than him, almost petite. Long blonde hair, thin figure, piercing blue eyes. She's beautiful — unnervingly so. Maybe mid-thirties?

Sister? A past lover? Who is she?

"You didn't expect me, did you?" she says, clearly hurt. "You made us all worry. You're heartless."

Kyle's face is cold. Emotionless. The way he always is when he wants to shut the world out.

"Mom, please—"

Mom?!

My jaw drops. She's his mother? How is that possible?

She starts crying.

"Come in," Kyle says, letting her step inside.

Panic surges through me. I'm here. Alone. With her son. She's going to assume things. Things we swore haven't happened.

"Oh. You have... someone here?" she asks, immediately clocking me.

"She's not someone, Mom. She's my girlfriend." Kyle says it like it's a fact, and then looks right at me.

What?!

I bite my lip. Girlfriend? He didn't even ask me. And now he's making announcements?

"She's just a little shy," he adds. "We... I mean, I love her. I'm sure of that."

I walk over to her, heart racing. "Hi, ma'am." I gently kiss her cheeks.

"Hi..." she replies, still a bit stunned.

"I'm not sure how I feel yet," she says, glancing between the two of us, "but I can't deny that I'm... surprised."

"She's Twyla. And Twyla, this is my mom."

"Nice to meet you." I offer a small smile.

"Twyla," she echoes. "I like your name."

"Thank you. You can call me Twy, though."

"I love your name. If you don't mind, I'll stick with Twyla."

"Sure. It's up to you." I shrug lightly.

Kyle wraps his arm around my shoulder, giving me a silent sign to stay. I was going to leave them for privacy, but he clearly doesn't want that.

"Does Dad know you're here?" he asks her.

"He doesn't," she admits. "I didn't tell him. I wasn't sure..."

"Sure of what? There was no need to blow things up on TV or go to the press. You made it a circus," Kyle snaps.

"So, you saw it then?" she says, hurt. "You watched us beg for answers and still didn't call? What are you made of?"

"Mom, now's not the time." He throws his arms up. "You've seen me. You know I'm alive. That's all you wanted, right?"

"Don't say that. Don't ever say that to me," she fires back, her voice breaking. "You're coming with me. You scared us. You disappeared. We did everything we could to find you. Why would you do that?"

"I don't want to come back. I won't come back." Kyle's voice hardens. "I hope that's finally clear."

And with that, he storms off, leaving us both in stunned silence.

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Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for reading. I've been getting lots of messages about updates and YES — the story will go beyond 50 chapters! 💥 Keep sending your thoughts and suggestions. Your support is what keeps Twyla and Kyle's world alive. ❤️❤️