Thoughtful (Thoughtless, #1.5)(155)

I stared into my bottle, but I could still hear them smacking. I clenched my beer and forced calmness into my body. This was temporary. I could handle it. I nearly prayed for Kiera to leave the table though, and when she did, I let out a long exhale.

“What’s the matter, mate? Your day not going as well as mine?”

Oh God, how to answer that. With a smile, I took a sip of my beer. “Apparently not. I can’t complain though.” Not to you at any rate.

Griffin snorted. “He’s just sore that I nailed his chick.”

Knowing where Griffin was going with his statement, I pointed my beer bottle at his. “How’s your beer? Taste all right?”

Griffin’s brows drew together in confusion. “Yeah…why?”

He took a long draw. My stomach roiled, and I silently hoped that I had never pissed off Rita. “No reason,” I said with a laugh.

Matt laughed along with me and Griffin shot him a look. “What’s so funny?”

Matt shook his head. “Nothing you’d understand.” Shifting the conversation, Matt asked Denny, “So, anything exciting going on, or just having a good day?”

My stomach churned again, but for an entirely different reason. I was 99 percent sure I didn’t want to hear this. “I got a job offer. A great job offer.” Matt and Evan congratulated him while my stomach clenched so tight, I was sure I was damaging my internal organs. “Thanks. Yeah, I’m excited about it. I thought I’d have to tell them no, because I was sure Kiera wouldn’t want to move that far, but she said she wanted to go.”

I felt like someone had just dropped me down a deep, dark shaft, and I was free-falling, but only for a moment. The ground was rushing up to meet me, and I would die upon impact, I just knew it. “Move…where?” I asked in a whisper.

Denny looked over at Kiera before shifting his eyes to me. “Back home. Australia.” He gave me a small smile. “I’ll be sad to leave here, I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you again, but this is an amazing opportunity for me, for us. This could be the start of something big, you know?” His smile warmed as he looked over at Kiera again.

Yep. I felt like I’d just smacked face-first into the bottom of that endless hole, and I was now a lifeless corpse. DOA. I heard the others telling Denny congratulations and wishing him well. I felt Evan clap me on the shoulder, in sympathy, I assumed, but it was like I was experiencing the moment outside of my body, like I was hovering in the air, looking down at Denny and the guys. External sounds were muffled, and all I could clearly hear was my heavy heartbeat.

She said she’d leave with him? Jesus…she chose him…

“Kellan…Kellan…?”

When it finally registered that Denny was speaking to me, I shook my head to snap myself out of the odd out-of-body feeling I was having. “What? Oh, uh…congratulations, man. That’s…that’s great news. I can see why you’re so…happy.”

Denny searched my face. His dark eyes were brimming with concern. “You okay? You kind of look like you’re going to be sick.”

Yes, I think I am going to be sick. Forcing a smile to my face, I shook my head. “I’ve been fighting something…but I’m okay.”

His brows drew together into a suspicious point. “Oh, sorry to hear that.”

Matt piped up beside him. “So, when you leaving?”

Denny started answering him. I heard the words, “When Kiera’s done with school,” and then I tuned him out. She’s leaving…I looked over to where Kiera was standing beside an empty table. She was staring at me, and for a brief second, I wondered if she could see my turmoil. If she knew that I knew what she’d done today. Not lingering on her long, I pointedly looked over to the back hallway. Meet me there, I need to talk to you. Now.

I didn’t look back at her to see if she’d understood my silent message. Instead, I finished my beer, stood up, and made my way to the bathrooms. Having to pee shouldn’t raise any red flags.

Once I was in the hallway, I darted into the back room and found an OUT OF ORDER sign and some tape. I could talk to Kiera back here in the supply room, but the lock on the door wasn’t working. We’d have more privacy in a broken bathroom, and right now, I needed to be alone with her. I needed answers. She chose him…

Figuring Kiera would be more comfortable in the ladies’ room, I checked to make sure the women’s bathroom was empty, then I taped the sign on the door. After I was done, I leaned against the wall in the space between the two restrooms and waited. When Kiera appeared, a smile broke over me. I couldn’t help the reaction. She was so beautiful, and I’d missed her today. I hadn’t even spoken to her since this morning. Reaching out for her hand, I opened the door to the women’s room with my other.

She pointed at the sign as she walked by. “Did you…?”

I answered her with a smile, but it faded from me once we were in the privacy of the empty bathroom. “Are you going to Australia with Denny?” Please say no.

Her eyes widened. “What? Where did you hear that?”

My stomach dropped. That wasn’t a denial. “Denny…he’s telling everyone, Kiera. What did you tell him?” Did you choose him? Are we over?

Kiera closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, like this was all too much for her. “I’m sorry. He was asking the wrong questions. I just needed time.”