Take (Need #2)(16)

“Hey, Brayden,” she says as she sits down next to Ryan.

The f*cker’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 f*ck 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 f*cking 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 f*cking 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.

Perfect. I merge back onto the highway and head straight to the house. She should be home by the time I get there.

If she’s even going home. I play with the idea of asking, but in the end decide not to. She’ll know I’m on my way if I do, and I want to catch her by surprise.

Hopefully the parents aren’t home. They shouldn’t be at this time, but you never know.





Almost an hour later, I finally pull into the driveway.

Empty.

Perfect.

I can’t tell if Kira is home, but at least no one else is.

I get out of my car and stare up at my father’s house. Where Kira lives. And I’ll be living here for the next few weeks. Back under the same roof as her, until I find an apartment in Columbus. Even then, I’ll be across the hall from her half the week due to my summer job.

It’s going to be hard, yet I’m also excited about it. Yeah, I’m supposed to behave, take it easy on her.

I’ll try my best. Doesn’t mean I’m not happy as f*ck that I’m going to have her so close to me again.

I walk up to the house and grab the doorknob.

Odd. It’s unlocked.

Oh, well.

I open the door and step inside.

Kira’s voice stops me.

“Why are you here again? There’s nothing left to say between us.”

At first, I think she’s talking to me.

That is, until I hear his f*cking voice responding to her.

“There’s a lot left to say between us, Kira.”