“That’s not true and you know it. Why are you saying things like that? We would never cut you out of our lives. How could you even think that?”
I captured the ball and held it tight in my fist. “Do you love my brother?”
“What? Why would you ask me that? You know I do.”
“Yeah. He loves you, too. Don’t you get it? I can’t sit around here while you two are planning this fantastic life together. I’m drowning in your fucking happiness.” That was the first true statement I’d made all night.
“Don’t say it like that. We’d never push you away. It isn’t like we’re broadcasting ourselves. We hang out just like we used to.”
“It’s different even if you don’t see it. As far as pushing me away, well, you don’t have to, Kat. I’m the one walking away.”
“I don’t want you to go.” Her face was distraught, and as much as I wanted to look away I couldn’t. My heart was beating fast, beckoning me to keep staring.
“Did my brother send you up here, or did you come by yourself?”
She shrugged. “Both.”
“Just go back downstairs. I’m not going to waste my time explaining and I’ve already signed everything. I’ll be eighteen and able to leave on my own free will. You and Branch can go off to college and ride into the sunset on your white stallion for all I care.”
“That’s not fair. Why are you being so mean to me?” She’d begun to sob. I couldn’t get over how it made me feel inside.
I leaned forward and pointed toward the door. “Kat, we’re friends, even family. I didn’t do this to hurt you. Get it through your head and get out of my room.”
“You’re hurting me right now, Brooks. I don’t understand what I ever did to you to make you treat me this way. You used to protect me.”
“I used to do a lot of things and it got me nowhere.”
As I stood to be near her I couldn’t help watch as she closed the distance between us, leaning forward so no one else could hear what she was about to say. “I don’t want to lose you.”
I grabbed her arm at the wrist, causing her eyes to stare into mine. “Why? Say it, Kat. Tell me what we both already know.”
Her lips parted, but nothing came out. For a second she just looked at me, another bout of tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m not saying anything.”
It wasn’t until she began walking away that I responded. “Yeah, that’s what I figured.”
It was obvious that I’d hurt her. I could hear her clear across the hall sobbing. What caught my attention was that Branch didn’t check on her. He was probably still playing his video game while she laid in her room falling apart.
I had to admit that a part of me, the one that wanted to go inside and comfort her, felt terrible. The idea of hurting her crushed me though I knew I couldn’t cave. I had to stand my ground and put distance between us. It was the only way out of this mess I’d made. If Kat knew the truth she’d never forgive me.
The next few months went by too quickly, as did the growing tension between Kat and myself. By the time graduation came around, I could tell she was hiding something from me, though I didn’t know if I had the energy to figure out what it was.
“Congratulations you three. How about you all stand together for a picture?” If it hadn’t meant so much to my mother I wouldn’t have been open minded about the slew of photographs she was determined to take. While Kat and Branch posed happily together, my mind was in other places. This was going to be our last moments together. As much as I tried to convince myself that it was the right decision, I was suddenly having extreme doubts.
It didn’t matter though. Kat and Branch were going to attend Salisbury University. They’d be on the opposite side of the state, while I was on the other side of the country. Our lives were headed in different directions.
Chapter 6
During our large graduation party, where Branch clung to Kat for dear life, my dad pulled me to the side. He led us into the house before turning to face me. “Brooks, we need to talk.”
“What about?” If he wanted to give me one last ultimatum about joining the military he was too late.
“About Katy.”
This shocked me. “What about her? I think you have me confused with Branch.”
He shook his head and poured himself a vodka tonic. “That’s where you’re mistaken. I’m sure I have the right son.” My dad leaned against the countertop, sipping on his drink while narrowing his gaze on my reaction.
“I don’t understand.” Playing stupid was only going to get me so far.