All My Heart (Count On Me Book 4) by Melyssa Winchester Page A

very important. He’s the most important person in my life aside from my mom and Tristan. I’m gonna worry about him even if he doesn’t want me to.
    “It’s okay, baby. I’m the one that took it wrong. You’re worrying and I love you for that, I just—”
    He cuts off and just the way it does every other time it happens, my heart stills and my mind jumps into overdrive. I hate when people don’t finish their thoughts. It makes me worry even more.
    “You just what?”
    “I never expected Dillon to be the one you reached out to.”
    “Stranger things have happened.”
    My mind settles the minute I hear his laugh. If he was bothered by what he read the way he says, it’s obvious now that he’s telling the truth and he’s fine. The last thing I want is Kayden upset over something I did.
    He knew I was worried about him. I didn’t hide tha t, but not mentioning going to Dillon for help, I can see it being a problem. Kayden and Dillon are still on shaky ground even if they are roommates. Keeping that from him is only going to make that shakiness completely crack.
    “No more parties, Belle. I know you want me to get out and you’re worried about me, but I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not.”
    “I know and I’m sorry. I never should have gotten his help.”
    “I’m glad you did.” He whispers, taking me by surprise.
    “You are?”
    “Yeah. If you’re willing to reach out to the biggest dick in Wexfield, it must mean you really love me.” He laughs and just like every other time we’re on the phone this way, I join him.
    It’s taken some getting used to, but laughing, it doesn’t freak me out as much as it did the first time it happened. I like the way I feel when I do it and it’s obvious from the content sigh I hear escape that Kayden feels the same.
    “You left the movie to call me, didn’t you?” he asks and I stop myself at the exact moment I feel my head start to nod.
    “Yeah.”
    “Go back in. Enjoy your time with Eric. Text me when you’re out.”
    “I love you Kay.”
    “Not nearly as much as I love you, Belle. I can’t wait to see you.”
    The last part, it comes out in a whisper and my heart melts. The way Kayden sounds when he’s in love, it’s like it’s been ripped straight out of one of my favorite romance novels. It’s magical and makes me feel special in the good way.
    “Three more days.”
    “Three too many.”
    I laugh even though I agree and he sighs again.
    “Talk to you soon, baby.” He says, his tone more final, making the ac t of hanging up on him easier. Something that even with as often as we do it, is always one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
    “Not soon enough, Kay.”

Chapter Six
     
    Kayden
     
    Days move, running into each other hour by hour until its Friday and I’m only a few hours away from driving back to Wexfield. The only difference between this visit and the others is that this time I’m not alone.
    Cadence and Dillon have an arrangement the same way Belle and I do, but theirs is a little more relaxed. Knowing that Dillon only goes home once a month instead of the four times I do, makes me wonder if the way I’m doing things is too much.
    This distance shit, it’s making me doubt myself a lot more. I don’t doubt Belle or what we share, but the same way I felt when I wondered if my life would be too much for her, its amplified now. Being apart instead of right across the street or even sharing the same place, it’s like all I fucking do is worry.
    Do I need to be giving her more space so she can navigate her issues on her own?
    I don’t wanna make her feel like I’m her dad or something and I already know how protective Grace is. I definitely don’t wanna be that guy. I want to be in Wexfield badly, not because I think I need to be there to protect her but because when I’m not with her, everything’s just off.
    It’s not the way I picture it. I’m starting to think I need her a hell of a lot more than she needs