The Falling (Brightest Stars, #1)(72)

“Semantics,” I argued.

“Maybe, but would you like to hang out with me tonight, since you don’t work until eleven tomorrow?”

I said yes without even pretending to have to think about it. There was no point. We both knew I would go anywhere he asked me to. He held me by my elbow as I climbed up into the seat, and he shut the door behind me. The fact that he opened doors for me was something I appreciated in a guy. The gesture wasn’t lost on me—it was an old-fashioned and small thing, but I actually really liked the thought behind it and it made me feel safe. Kael was a gentleman without even trying. As he stood there, looking so confident in himself and in me, I knew this was all temporary and had my guard up not to get used to it. I hoped there would be men out there like him. If I could find someone who was half as smart and thoughtful and opinionated and socially and emotionally aware, I’d be lucky.

“I have something planned for you. Nothing too fancy, I put together some music”—he paused, sheepishly—“and I want to take you to dinner at my favorite spot in town.”

I was getting more excited by the minute.

“You made a playlist? How cliché, but also awesome.” I couldn’t wait to hear what Kael had assembled.

I was in fake-dating bliss.

“Wait, am I dressed okay? I’m still in my scrubs. I can change if you want to stop by my house.”

Kael shook his head. “You look great. You don’t need to change. Unless you really want to?”

I didn’t really want to. Yes, I wanted to dress cute and look as pretty as I could to hang out with Kael, but at the same time I felt comfortable. Even with no makeup and wearing my favorite black scrubs, I did actually feel pretty.

“I can stay in this,” I told him, settling it.

This is what life must be like every day for people who are in love. Not that I was in love, but this was companionship that’s good for one’s heart and self-esteem. Kael thinks I’m cool enough to hang out with, and though I tried not to value myself based on other people’s opinions of me, his opinion mattered.

“I found like five bands I think you’ve never heard of. One is called Chevelle. I once knew this guy in basic training who would scream their lyrics over and over. They were from his hometown, and by the time we graduated, I knew almost all of their songs by heart. I don’t know if you’ll like them now, but if you had listened to them before you fell for Shawn Mendes, it might have been a different story.”

“Leave Shawn out of this,” I told him with a smile.

“I saw that poster in your room at your dad’s.”

Kael turned onto the highway as daylight was disappearing from the sky.

“He’s the John Mayer of our generation,” I argued.

Kael snorted. “John Mayer is the John Mayer of our generation.”

A few minutes later, he was quiet, and I was happy as we listened to music and drove down a long, curvy road that I had never been on before. I would always remember the way the sun and moon danced in the sky that night and what a sense of calm his silence had started to bring over my body.

I listened to his voice when he asked me random questions that he had clearly put some thought into:

“How many siblings do you wish you had?”

“Which is your favorite character on Friends?”

“How many times have you watched The Lion King?”

“If you could have dinner with five people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?”

I was starting to get too comfortable with him, there in the front seat of his Bronco. And yet I could almost feel the chaos brewing somewhere nearby. Everything was going too well. I was totally lost in his world now, impressed and moved by every thought he had. I loved the way his tongue wrapped words up to sound pleasurable and profound. The depth of his thoughts and the way he spoke were incredibly attractive; his mind at work was so appealing to me. I thought I knew what connection was like, but watching it play out on a TV screen was nothing compared to real life. There’s a joy here, a level of peace with Kael that I had not known in my twenty years on this earth. Being with Kael was like meditating; it was so good for my mind and my soul felt better when he was around. He was lighthearted and heavy, both at home and away. Biting whiskey and smooth wine. I loved the way he contradicted everything about himself—his purposeful silence, his wise youthfulness, his unexpected softness. He was a fascinating man, and I couldn’t wait to learn more about him.

We made it through an entire playlist and began to make a second one together. I quietly sang along to a Halsey song. We got to the restaurant early and sat in the car, talking through the next few songs. The place was a cool little Chinese restaurant with nicely decorated patio seating, hanging lanterns, and lush green plants covering the space. We were only fifteen minutes from my house, but I had never noticed this place or the cute fragrance store next door.

“This street is so charming—” I saw my brother’s name pop up on my screen. I thought about ignoring his call, but decided against it.

“It’s Austin, sorry.” I turned Kael’s radio down and picked up the call. Music boomed through his side of the line and his slurred words were tumbling through, becoming inaudible.

“Kareeee, come get me. Please? Fuck Katie, Katie and her boyfriend that I didn’t know she had. She said it was her ex-boyfriend, but they’re trying to jump me . . .” Austin slurred his words. “Kare, please come get me.”