Take (Need #2)(15)

I stare up at him, at a complete loss of what to say. I’m tired of this conversation. I feel like I’ve been having it for years.

“Stop. Just stop.”

“No.” He grabs hold of my chin and makes me look at him. “No more of this bullshit. I like you, a lot.”

He leans down and presses his lips against mine. I gasp against them, slow to respond, but I do. His kiss is soft, tender, and so different from Brayden’s. When our tongues meet, there’s no spark.

This kiss is still good, just . . . lackluster.

“Your indifference kills me,” he whispers against my lips. “Pick me. I can help you get over him. I can love you better than him.” He steps back, releasing me. “Think about it, Kira. Please promise you’ll think about it.”

I nod, staring after him as he walks out of the room. The telltale thump of the front door closing is my signal to fall back onto the couch.

Why does my love life have to be so freaking complicated?





May 11th, 2015





“What hasn’t sold yet?” I ask as I tape off another box of clothes, wishing I had a bed to crash onto and could take a break.

We’ve sold off most of the furniture, not that there was a lot, but there seems to still be a lot of crap we’ve accumulated over the last three years. I didn’t think packing was going to be a near three-day event.

Ryan is across the hall, doing the same, cursing at something as he searches for his laptop. “Umm, there’s two guys coming for the couch at one. Jill from next door is coming to get the table after work at three.” He’s silent as he scans over the spreadsheet he made. “Did you get the money for my bed?”

I freeze and look over, thankfully seeing a wad of bills sitting on my nightstand—one of the few furniture pieces going with us. “Yeah. A hundred bucks.”

He cranes his head into the doorway. “Lunch?”

I nod. “Fuck, yes.”

We both climb out of our respective messes of bags and boxes, and head down the stairs. The main floor is mostly packed up: a couple boxes of kitchen items and half a dozen boxes for electronics, games, and DVDs.

“Microwave?” I ask as we head out the door.

“Jordan’s picking it up.”

I shake my head and laugh. “I can’t believe he and Ella are moving in together.”

“He’s so freaking grateful I think he’s going to name a kid after you.”

We don’t even have to talk about where to go. Jersey Mike’s is always our go-to sub shop, and only a few blocks walk from our apartment.

“So, we’re done, then? Nothing left to sell?”

He nods. “Finish packing, that’s it. Oh, and clean.”

“What time is Dana coming?” It’s just after eleven, and I want to get out of town by two. That leaves a lot to do in the next few hours.

I’m itching to get home to Kira, to see her again. It’s been almost three painfully long weeks.

He pulls his phone from his pocket and turns the screen on. “Shit, I missed a text. Looks like she’ll be here any minute.” His fingers hit a few keys, then he raises it up to his ear. We keep walking, already to the parking lot, then his tone changes and a smile lights up his face. “Hey, baby. Yeah, I’m sorry, I just saw it.” He pushes the door open to the shop. “We’re at Jersey Mike’s, want me to get you something?”

He nods and hmms before saying he’ll see her soon and hangs up.

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.