Free Falling (Book Two: Secrets)

“Hey, how’s it going? Just checking to make sure you’re okay after everything. I know that was all months ago, but still…


Anywho, I got your email address from your mom and just thought I’d see what you’d been up to. Reina and I are gonna be spending the summer there at “home”, so we should definitely hang out…promise not to bring Reina with me :) It’s not like I’m gonna know anyone else there Virginia, so….

My parents are finally all moved into the new house. Seems like they like it there better than North Carolina. Well…I guess that’s it, but you’ll be hearing from me in a week or two I guess, once I get settled there. So….yeah.

Oh! How’s the new apartment? You were supposed to move in on the first, right? Can’t wait to see it! (Totally jealous you have your own place, by the way). Like I said before, I’m not too keen on sharing a dorm room with my sister, but I don’t have much choice. At least at the new house, I won’t have to deal with that for the summer.

That’s it, though. I’ll message you when I get there, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write back in the meantime :) Talk to ya, Kira”

I stared at the email for a moment before finally hitting reply. Kira and I hadn’t spoken since her family visited mine around Thanksgiving, but I didn’t see the harm in it as long as she kept her sister away from me – I still wasn’t sure I wouldn’t kill her if given the chance.

“Hey. Good to hear from you. The apartment’s okay – better than being at home. Hanging out sounds cool. Hit me up when you’re in town.

AJ”

I didn’t bother rereading it before hitting ‘send’ and checking just one more time for a message from Sam. I couldn’t believe she actually stuck to her guns. I was going crazy not talking to her, and yet she had the power to get in touch with me and simply chose not to.

Karl knocking at my door like he was being chased by a mob snatched me from my thoughts. When I answered, he had three or four duffle bags in tow, a case of Pepsi, and a smile.

“This is gonna be epic! You do know that, right?” He said as he brushed past me, headed for the second bedroom where he dropped his things. I watched him bring the Pepsi back out and place it in between the two beanbags before heading for the pizza on the counter. “We’ve got our own place for the entire summer, man. Tell me that’s not awesome?”

I shrugged. It wasn’t like we’d be having parties and stuff like that. He had a girl, and I was still so wrapped up in Sam that I may as well have had one too.

Karl slapped me on my back and evaluated my expression. “Dude, I know you still love her, but…she’s gone. And you know what they say the easiest way is to get over one girl, right. Get under two!” he joked. “Seriously, though. It’s been six months.”

“Four.”

“Whatever. Bottom line is, she made her choice, now you get to make yours. Are you gonna move on, or are you gonna spend the rest of your life hoping she comes back?”

My heart was set on the latter option.

“Listen, I’m not saying you need to jump into another relationship or anything. In fact, I’m saying the exact opposite of that! Get out and live, man! You’re young, you’re single, you’ve got money. Go out and act like it!”

I plopped down on the beanbag chair and stared at the muted television. Karl fell into the one beside me. Shaking my head, I sighed. “I don’t know.”

“What’s there to know? There’s no decision to be made! All I’m saying is be open. If something feels right, go with it. Plain and simple.”

I heard Karl. Most guys probably would’ve gotten out there and moved on by this point.

“Just think about it,” he concluded. I shook my head again, finding it hard to imagine. Karl laughed. “Alright fine; I won’t push. But mark my words….one day….there’ll be another girl.”

Not even wanting to think about it, I waved him off and turned on the game. “Whatever, man.”

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