With only one car, there’s no way we’d be able to move all our crap in my car, so since Ryan’s moving in with Dana, she’s going to help out. Most of his boxes are going straight to their apartment anyway. I haven’t had a chance to look for one, so all of my stuff is heading back to my dad’s.
“Have you told her?” I ask after ordering, turning to him. Changing schools, moving to Columbus, is all to be closer to Kira, to win her back, but I’m not ready for her to know yet. She doesn’t respond to eighty percent of my texts, but I keep sending them, all in hopes of breaking her down.
Ryan shakes his head. “She’s excited that I’m going to be there, but she hasn’t asked about you. Not that I’d tell her anyway.”
“Thanks, man.”
“I just hope leaving it as a surprise doesn’t bite you in the ass.”
“She’ll know soon enough. I’m not going to hide it until August.”
Ryan orders for him and Dana and we find a spot to sit.
“I just hope Austin hasn’t moved in on her too much.”
“Nah, Craig said he’s been studying, too.”
“Then I just have to beat him home.” I’m actually getting worried. The vibe was off with Kira when I left her. She was upset, and all I know is that it has to do with him, even with her last-second confession.
Ryan smiles, not even responding to what I’ve said, and gets up from his chair. His arms open up and Dana’s wrap around his waist. It’s sweet, almost sickly, when he kisses the top of her head, but I know that’s more jealousy than anything.
I want that with Kira.
Even the way she looks at him, her blue eyes sparkling, is full of love. All I get from Kira is disdain, but I know it’s all my fault, so I take it . . . for now.
“Hey, Brayden,” she says as she sits down next to Ryan.
The fucker’s beaming. I’ve never seen him like this before.
He loves her, and she loves him.
And I’m green all over again.
Fuck. I’ve become a lovesick *.
My future with Kira is on such a tenuous thread that I’ve been an agitated, nervous wreck for weeks. Ever since her birthday, I’m not sure of the one thing I’ve always been sure of—does she still love me?
From the moment I met her, she’s been mine, but even more so, I’m hers. No matter how things play out, I’ll always belong to her.
I shake my head.
Fuck, that’s no way to think.
She is mine. She loves me—she always has. My Kitty is just angry and hurt by me.
“Here, I brought this for you,” Dana says, thrusting a case at me. Neither of them seem to be aware of the siesta I just took. Hell, I don’t even remember picking up my food.
“What’s this?” I stare down at the CD in my hand.
“Whale song.”
I quirk my brow at her. “What the fuck do I need whale song for?”
“Listen to it.”
“Explain it to me, man.”
She rolls her eyes. “You keep pawing at Kira every time you see her.”
I pull back. “That’s . . . probably true. How do you know, though?”
“Grapevine. Anyway, you need to calm down and stop mauling her every time you see her.” She points back to the CD. “A counselor told me about this when I was freaking out during finals. Now, I listen to it everyday to relax.”
“I’m not fucking listening to whale song.”
“Fine. Then jack off.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Doesn’t work.”
She purses her lips. “Do it twice. Just do something so you’re not jumping on her the moment you see her.”
“Hey, I’m not that bad.”
Her brow twitches up. “Really?”
Fuck.
“I’m serious about this, Brayden. You’re being obnoxious with your affections, and it’s pissing her off. If you back up, she’ll see that she can’t deny this thing you have, and it will eat at her.”
“What, act like I don’t care? I’ve done that, and it’s only pushed her away.”
“No, you have to show her you care, but show her you respect her and her personal space as well. Trust me, Kira’s got it bad for you, but she needs to remember what it’s like to like and want you again.”
I stare at her for a minute and take another bite of my sandwich. “I fucking hate it when your girlfriend is right,” I grumble
Ryan just shrugs, a smile pulling at his lips.
They were years in the making. From the moment she moved to town, I knew he was hooked. Dana isn’t like some of the girls in our circle of friends. She’s cool, and doesn’t just roll over.
It takes another three hours to pack the cars and clean up, getting me out a little later than I wanted. It’s weird to head home without Ryan, but I’ll see him in a few days.
The entire drive home, my body is buzzing. I haven’t seen Kira in weeks. Finals took up all my time, along with all the crap to change schools.
I stop at a rest stop just before the Ohio border on I-74 and take a break, munching on my leftover sandwich.
Are you home? I text Kira. It’s long after three, so she should be, but I need to know. I need to see her.
Another bite, and my phone buzzes. No. Why?
I’m amazed she responds.
What are you doing?
I’m working out.
I can almost hear her give an exasperated sigh. Any plans after that?
Not that it’s any of your business, but no.