Eleven

I'm glad one of us is happy." Katie settled on the couch with her ice cream soda float and fat straw.

Glancing up from my phone, I realized I had the biggest, probably the sappiest smile on my face.

A shadow fell across Katie's features, but it was gone as fast as it appeared and hidden beneath a smile. "What's going on with you?" I asked, doing my best to sound casual. I knew Katie didn't like people fussing over her. "We're always talking about me lately."

"That's because my life isn't nearly as exciting." She fiddled with her straw. "Seriously, you have a hot boyfriend and a sexy date tonight."

"It's not a date." Guilt filled me.

"Yeah, I wonder what Kyle would say about it."

"I should tell him."

"No! Don't lose your mind, Lucy. I was kidding."

It wasn't right to keep secrets. I just wasn't sure how to tell Kyle about the date Izabelle arranged. I wasn't actually going to go, but I needed to tell Dr. Hotchkiss in person and I hadn't seen him yet.

I watched Katie twist her straw, something she did when she was nervous. "What are you and Clayton doing tonight?" I asked.

"Who knows, maybe we'll go back to his place and spend the evening tangled in sheets."

"Katie."

"Stop," she ordered, hopping up and stalking to the kitchen. "I know what you're thinking, and I don't want to go there. We don't always have to try and fix me. You're not my therapist."

I followed her, propping my elbows on the bar and watching her add more soda to her drink. "I'm sorry. That's not what I was trying to do."

"Jesus is the answer to all life's problems," she mocked, rolling her eyes. "Tell me that isn't what you were about to say."

"It's true, but I wasn't going to say it. Not now."

Flashing eyes flew to mine. "Why? Have you given up on me?"

The look on her face worried me. Every now and then Katie got stressed and down on herself. "I'm never giving up on you."

"Why am I being spared your Come to Jesus lecture? Am I too broken to fix?" she challenged.

I walked around the bar and into the kitchen, desperate for words to make this right. Please, God. I need you.

Katie crouched down and picked up a bottle of vodka from the cabinet. "Lucy, you're in love with Kyle. That's why you haven't had normal relationships like all the other women our age."

"You mean sex."

"Yes, sex! I'm messed up and we both know it. I'll probably die a virgin." She winced. "Cliché, I know. Feel free to ignore my meltdown and keep on scrolling." Katie nodded at my phone and took a drink from the bottle.

"I don't think waiting is messed up."

"You want to wait until you're married."

"What's wrong with that?" I asked carefully.

"Nothing—if it was 1950. Nowadays people think it's strange." She glanced at me and frowned. "I'm sorry, Lucy. I am including myself in this too, you know."

I sighed, softly, feeling useless. "Do you want to sleep with Clayton?" I asked gently.

She looked discouraged. My heart ached. "Not really," she answered, shaking her head.

Sometimes Katie's history of abuse dug its claws into her and wouldn't let go. "We're all broken, but never too broken to be healed." I counted to ten slowly before finishing. "Jesus loves you. He can take away your pain."

She glanced over with tear-stained cheeks. "He wasn't there when I needed him. I suffered alone and I still am."

I didn't know what else to say, so I wrapped my arms around Katie and prayed.

***

A week later Kyle and I had our second official date.

His handsome face split into a warm smile when he saw me, and my heart squeezed. Taking my hand, Kyle led me out onto the deck, and my heart squeezed at what he had done.

The patio table was covered with white linen, set with plates and silverware, and in the center flickered candles and a large crystal vase of daisies. It was beautiful and romantic.

"After the last week, I had to redeem myself."

"I loved everything about last week."

"You loved spending the night on the floor of the restaurant in the dark with twenty other people?" He chuckled. "At least you're easy to please."

"It was only until the tornado warning passed, and eventually the power came back on. We prayed with some nice people."

"Yeah, it wasn't bad. Life or death situations tend to open people's hearts to Jesus. Antonio called."

"He did?" Antonio was a guy we met who'd shared that his struggle with porn had cost him his wife and daughter.

"He asked where we went to church. I gave him the name of the church where you do Bible study. I hope that's ok?"

"Of course. What did you tell him?"

"I told him we all struggle with something, and Jesus is the answer for all of us."

Kyle was a righteous man. He had the ability to talk to people and make them feel at ease confiding in him, which made him a great person to share the gospel. I wasn't nearly as confident or as good at getting people to open up.

We dined on grilled tilapia, new potatoes, and asparagus. The entire evening we talked and never ran out of things to say. When I told him how romantic he was, he got a strange look on his face.

"Don't laugh. I watched a lot of daytime TV while I was in the hospital, and I got the idea from one of those talk shows titled something like Winning Your Woman."

I tried to hold back the laughter, but it was impossible. "That's sweet."

"On my own, I'd probably have gone with tea and barbeque on paper plates, but I wanted to do something special for you tonight," Kyle said, claiming another chunk of my heart.

I don't know who I was kidding. Kyle Huxley had my whole heart. I'd been in love with him for years and didn't think it was possible to feel more for him than I already did but I was wrong. He'd become one of my best friends.

We always had fun together, and we prayed, and read the Bible. He was bringing me closer to Jesus. I liked reading with him because he patiently answered all my questions, and I didn't feel silly asking. If he didn't know something we'd look it up together and talk about it.

I don't think he was completely honest about how much physical pain he felt. Sometimes I'd wonder if he was overdoing it, and I'd ask him but always said that he was fine.

I tried to get him to take the pain medication he'd been prescribed, but Kyle refused. He said he wanted to keep a clear head.

Our relationship was blooming and I'd never been happier until the day that we got caught.

"Knock, Knock!" Izabelle called a moment before she swept into Kyle's living room, where he sat on the sofa. I'd just finished checking his leg and was seated on the ottoman before him.

"Hey, sis."

She hugged Kyle first and then me. "Hey, brother. Lucy. I didn't mean to interrupt. Just wanted to visit."

"You're not interrupting anything," I said quickly. Catching the amusement shining in Kyle's eyes, I realized I sounded guilty like she was interrupting something.

"Lucy just finished checking me out," Kyle told his sister grinning, playfully.

"She's the best."

"What's that?" Kyle asked Izabelle, nodding at the large plastic shopping bag in one of her arms and a brown paper bag in the other.

"Your favorite Chinese food." She held up the brown paper bag. "I know you haven't had time to get out and shop, so I figured I would get you a few things." She lifted the other plastic bag.

"You didn't have to do that, but thanks. I appreciate it. I hope you're going to help us eat all that."

He'd used the word 'us' so casually that I don't think Izabelle thought anything of it, but I suddenly regretted not telling her about us. It never seemed the right time.

Kyle got up and reached to take the bags from Izabelle.

"Sit back down!" she ordered. "I've got this. You need to rest."

"Izabell." His voice was gentle but firm. "I'm fine."

"The doctor said you shouldn't overdo it," she insisted, holding the bags away from him.

"He also said I should use my leg. It won't get any stronger if I sit on my rear all day." His soft tone took the sting out of the words.

"Just relax and let Lucy do her job while I put these things away. Then we'll eat."

I could tell there was going to be no arguing with Izabelle and apparently, Kyle realized the same thing because he reluctantly sat back down, humoring his sister.

"Be right back," she called heading to the kitchen. Glancing over her shoulder she added, "Hey Lucy, you'll have to tell us about your date with Doctor Hot Kiss over dinner."

"Bro, did Lucy tell you she's dating the sexiest doctor at the hospital?" Izabelle walked away, not expecting an answer.

She certainly wouldn't have expected the look on her brother's face, a mixture of shock and betrayal.

"No," he drawled, turning his intent gaze on me. "I didn't know that."

"It's not what you think."

"You're not dating Doctor Hot Kiss?" His expression might have been comical if I wasn't so upset. "Those are three words I never thought to use together."

"No!"

"Why does Izabelle think you're dating him?"

"We went out once, but I can explain."

He cocked a brow. "You can explain that you're dating the sexiest guy at the hospital?" he practically growled. "Cause I'm not real sure I want to hear about that, Lucy."

"Katie got Izabelle to set me up. I didn't even know it at the time, and it was before you and I were together." I spoke quickly, desperate to make him understand. "I tried to call him to cancel, but he was in surgery and I didn't want to break it off in a voicemail."

His jaw tightened. "So you went out with him?"

"We met at a restaurant, and I told him about you. I meant to tell you, but like with Izabelle it never seemed the right time." Tears stung the backs of my eyes.

He studied me a long moment. "You told him about us?"

I nodded. "I'd never do anything to hurt you, Kyle."

His eyes softened, but he didn't get a chance to respond.

"What is this?" Izabelle demanded, storming the living room and holding up my lip gloss.

He turned to see what his sister was talking about. "You shouldn't be going through my stuff, sis," he said calmly.

Her blue eyes flashed with fire foreshadowing trouble. "I wasn't going through your stuff. It was lying on your bathroom sink!"

"Izabelle—"

"How could you do this to Ava?"

Kyle got to his feet and faced his sister. He put his hand on her arm, but she shrugged it off. "I haven't done anything to Ava."

"You have no idea how much she loves you."

It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion, and all because of a small tube of lip-gloss I'd carelessly forgotten. "It's mine, Izzy."

Izabelle went on like I hadn't spoken. "I never thought you would cheat."

I was shocked at the depth of her emotion. Catching the look on Kyle's face, I knew he wasn't either but he seemed resigned to let this play out.

"Sorry about this Lucy. I need to talk to my brother. Can I come see you later?"

"Sure. The lipstick really is mine," I told her, but she didn't seem to hear. I stood but Kyle's hand caught my arm.

"You don't have to leave," he said softly, his eyes begging me to stay.

I knew he didn't want things unfinished between us, and neither did I. But he and Izabelle needed to talk. I silently begged him to understand.

"I should visit my dad." Reluctantly, I grabbed my bag.

I knew he was disappointed but he didn't argue. I think it was because he knew Izabelle needed him too.