Walking the Line by Nicola Marsh Read Free Book Online Page B

heating. “He
bad-mouthed Mum and I snapped.”
    “Understandable—”
    “It’s been five years since she died, you’d
think I’d know better.” His bitterness was audible. “I cleared the
net, had him in a headlock and would’ve punched the shit out of him
if my practice partner hadn’t dragged me off.”
    “Don’t beat yourself up. I’d do the same to
anyone who badmouthed my mum.”
    For the first time since he’d stormed in,
Kye’s shoulders lost some of their tension. “I’d pay to see you
rough up anything bigger than a mouse, Irish.”
    “You calling me a weakling?” I flexed an arm
and pushed up my bicep with my free hand. “Because I could take
you.”
    Objective achieved when Kye semi-smiled. “I’d
like to see that.”
    We chuckled as I removed my fingers and my
bicep returned to its usual leanness.
    He glanced toward the back stairs and my
heart sank. If he wanted to talk to Ellie, he could be here all
night, and as unsympathetic as it seemed, I didn’t want that. But
the guy looked so lost, so bereft, I had to offer.
    “Do you want to talk to Ellie?”
    “Nah, I’m good.” He pushed the empty glass
toward me. “You’ll do.”
    Somewhat relieved, and a little chuffed he
valued me as enough of a friend to confide in, I grabbed the glass
and placed it out of reach. “I’d make a lousy agony aunt but I’m
willing to listen if you don’t get shit-faced.”
    Kye grunted, rubbed a hand over his face.
“I’m sick of talking about my fuck-ups. What’s happening with
you?”
    I couldn’t hide my goofy expression and Kye
groaned. “Don’t tell me. I can see it all over your dufus
face.”
    “Ellie’s the best,” I said, wondering if it’d
be worth running my crazy idea past Kye.
    “You’ll get no argument from me.” Kye studied
me. “What’s going on? You look like a kid who’s been given a pet
lizard for Christmas and doesn’t know what to do with it.”
    “I’m thinking of staying,” I blurted out,
knowing it sounded as ludicrous articulated as it did in my
head.
    “In Sydney?”
    I nodded, suddenly glad Kye had dropped by
unexpectedly. I’d been going nuts the last few days, ever since the
thought had popped into my head that I wouldn’t have to leave
Ellie. Not if I didn’t want to.
    “But what about your turf management position
in Melbourne?”
    I shrugged. “Jobs come and go.”
    Kye’s eyebrows rose. “You’re serious?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Shit, you’re naive.” Kye shook his head.
“You’re out of your mind to give up a solid future in your career
field for a woman, even if Ellie is one of the best.”
    Stunned by Kye’s vehemence, I tried to
marshal a suitable response when he continued.
    “Mate, let me give you some advice.” He
slapped me on the back. “Think with your big head, not your little
one.”
    I shoved Kye away. “You’re a fuckwit if you
think this is just about sex.”
    “Whoa.” Kye’s audible admiration did little
to quell my rising temper. “You’ve got it bad.”
    “I care about her,” I murmured, my shoulders
slumping as the fight drained out of me. “And I have no fucking
clue how to convince her of that.”
    “Tell her,” Kye said, surprisingly somber.
“What have you got to lose?”
    The way Ellie shied away from anything deep
and meaningful?
    Everything.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    ELLIE
     
     
    I snuck a peek downstairs and when I saw Finn
settle onto the barstool next to Kye, I knew he’d be a while.
    Kye often did this; turned up at the bar at
all hours if he’d had a bad day. Because the kid was so mixed up,
he had a few of those. Usually we’d share a drink, shoot pool, play
poker, talk. At least, Kye would talk, I’d listen. I didn’t mind
being his stand-in mum. He was a good guy and Sheree would’ve done
the same for me if I’d had a kid.
    An old, familiar pain twanged my chest at the
thought of what I wanted and would never have. Now, like back then
when my perfect life had crumbled before my