Hidden speakers pumped music into the garden, and drunk people were up on the dance floor, warming their bodies with almost-rhythmic movements. Kiera shivered while she quietly sat beside me. I wanted to throw my arm around her, warm her up some, since she wasn’t handling the nip in the air as well as me, but Denny had his eyes glued on her, so I left her alone.
We sat in awkward silence for an eternity, and I began to wonder what the point of this was. It was clear we couldn’t hang out as a group together anymore, not like we used to. Honestly, we hadn’t been able to for a while now. As I was running through appropriate ways to irrevocably shatter the bond between the three of us, Denny’s work phone rang. Just like last time.
Kiera and I both turned to look over at Denny. Nonchalant, he answered it and brought it to his ear. After speaking a few words to the person on the other line, he put the phone away. Letting out a regretful sigh, he looked over at Kiera. “I’m sorry. They need me to come in.” His gaze switched to me. “Can you take her home? I have to go.”
I was so surprised, all I could do was nod. Kiera looked shocked too. Out of all the possible events that could have gone down tonight, Denny getting called away to work wasn’t one either of us had anticipated.
Denny stood, then leaned down to Kiera. “Will you think about what I asked?” Kiera mumbled okay, and I instantly wondered what he’d asked her. Then Denny grabbed both of Kiera’s cheeks and kissed her so passionately, I had to clench the sides of my chair to stay seated.
I looked away before I did something stupid. When Denny straightened, I heard Kiera breathing heavier. Quite a kiss they’d shared. Hating every second of this, I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat.
Kiera watched Denny until he disappeared into the bar, while I struggled with controlling the sudden jealous rage I felt. By the time Kiera swung her head around to look at me, I was more or less in control of myself. I would pretend it hadn’t happened. If I ignore it, then it isn’t real. A change of subject was what we both needed.
Smiling, I grabbed her hand, now that I could. “I was wondering…since you probably don’t want to take me home to your parents yet…which I completely understand…maybe you’d like to spend winter break with me here? Or we could go up to Whistler? Canada is beautiful and…do you ski? Well, if not…we don’t have to leave our room.” Pausing, I gave her a wicked grin. I knew I was rambling, but I wanted her to focus on what she was gaining, not what she was losing. I would be the greatest boyfriend in the world to her. I’d give her everything I had, and then some.
She was staring at me, but I got the feeling she wasn’t really listening. Her mind was somewhere else, with someone else. Not knowing what else to do, I kept talking. “We could get a room with a Jacuzzi tub, order some wine, maybe get some of those fancy chocolate-covered strawberries. Then we could walk around town, check out the shops. It will be great, you’ll see.”
She swallowed, but she didn’t respond. Bunching my brows, I said, “That’s just one idea. We could go somewhere else if you like. I just…I want to spend some time with you. Alone. We really haven’t been able to do that. What would you like to do?” Her eyes had a faraway look, and she didn’t answer me. “Did I lose you?” She was still staring right through me, so I shifted my head to get her attention, and again asked, “Kiera…did I lose you?”
Her cheeks filled with color, and she glanced down at our hands, like she was surprised we were still touching. Concerned, I asked her, “Are you all right? Do you want to go home?” I knew this was hard for her, but I wanted her to see the hope I was offering. She wouldn’t be alone. I would be with her, every step of the way.
Nodding at my suggestion, she stood. I led her to the side exit gate with a hand on the small of her back. She scanned the parking lot when we stepped into it, and her eyes paused on the espresso stand. I smiled, wondering if she was thinking about our time there—the torture and the bliss. It was a night I’d never forget.
For the first time ever, I was actually really excited about my future. It was a strange but welcome feeling. It was certainly a lot better than endless despair. “After high school, I hitchhiked down the Oregon coast. That’s actually how I met Evan. Anyway, we should go, you would love it. There are these caves you can walk through, with all these crazy-shaped stalagmites, stalactites, whatever you call ’em. And sea lions are everywhere along the beach. You can talk to them, and they’ll talk back. They’re cool, in a loud, obnoxious sort of way. Kind of like Griffin.” I laughed, but Kiera didn’t laugh with me. She was staring straight ahead while we walked to my car. I wondered if she’d noticed that Denny’s car was gone. Probably.
“Anyway, we could keep going if you wanted. Down to L.A.? I could show you where I met the rest of the guys. Well…I won’t show you where I met Matt and Griffin…but I can show you where our first gig was. And the place I stayed while I was there, where I bought the Chevelle. You know, the important places.” I laughed again, but still Kiera remained silent.
Fear began racing up my spine and wrapping its icy tentacles around my heart. She wasn’t listening to me at all…she was a million miles away. And she was with Denny. I knew it. Her eyes were shining more than they should be, and I knew her forming tears weren’t for me. She was replaying their entire relationship. She was changing her mind.
When she suddenly stopped walking and yanked her hand away from me, I knew I was right. She was changing her mind. She was going to choose him after all. I felt like I should be surprised, but I wasn’t. Something in the back of my mind was shouting at me that I’d been living in a fantasy. She was never going to be mine.
I turned to face her, and I knew…this would be the last time we talked. This was it. This was goodbye.
Kiera turned her eyes from me, but I saw the guilt. She was letting me go. Words seemed unnecessary, but I asked her anyway. “I did lose you…didn’t I?”
She seemed surprised that I’d figured it out when she peeked up at me. She shouldn’t be. It was written all over her face. “Kellan, I…I can’t do this…not yet. I can’t leave him. I need more time…”
“Time?” I was so sick of that word. “Kiera…nothing is going to change here. What good is time to you?” Angry, I pointed toward home, where more pain awaited us all if something didn’t change. “Now that he knows you lied, time will only hurt him more.” It will hurt me more.
“Kellan, I’m so sorry…please don’t hate me.” Her eyes were filled with tears now. Mine too. I’d almost had it all. Or maybe I’d never even been close.
Frustrated, I tangled my hands in my hair. I wanted to yank the long strands out by the roots. I needed this roller coaster to stop. I needed life to calm down, level out. I needed to feel safe again. “No, Kiera…no.”
Her eyes widened with fear and her voice trembled when she spoke. “What do you mean? No, you don’t hate me or no…you do?”
She looked so scared. I hated seeing that look on her face, but she was going to have to let one of us go. She was going to have to let me go. Bringing a hand up to her face in comfort, I softly told her, “No, I can’t give you any more time. I can’t do this. It’s killing me…”
Kiera shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Please, Kellan, don’t make me—”
“Ugh…Kiera.” Grabbing her other cheek, I held her face tight in my hands and stared her down. This isn’t as hard as you’re making it. Stop thinking, and listen to your heart. Be brave…cut the rope…and let one of us fall. “Choose right now. Don’t even think, just choose. Me…or him? Me or him, Kiera?”
Eyes locked on mine, she whispered, “Him.”
In the back of my head, I heard a heavy iron cell door slamming closed, and I knew my heart was forever locked inside it. I’d never open up again. I’d never love again. I would never risk this pain again. I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, crushing me. I couldn’t breathe, stars danced in my vision, and I thought I heard my father laughing in the distance. She chose him…
A hot tear splashed on my cheek, and I knew it was only the beginning. There would be many tears tonight. “Oh,” I muttered. Was the light getting dimmer? Was I about to pass out? I would almost welcome that. I wanted to pass out and never wake up.
Releasing her face, I willed darkness to overwhelm me. My chest was being cracked open, my brain was being liquefied. Please…someone take me away from this torture.
Kiera clutched my jacket and pulled me toward her. “No, Kellan…wait. I didn’t mean—”
Anger momentarily dimmed the agony. “Yes, you did. That was your instinct. That was your first thought…and first thoughts are usually the correct ones.” Closing my eyes, I swallowed and pushed the anger aside. What good was getting mad at her? It wasn’t her fault. Denny was a good man, the better man…She was being smart by choosing him over me. Why would anyone choose you? my father’s voice asked. “That’s what’s really in your heart. He’s what’s in your heart…” And he should be.