Thoughtful(168)

I tried to smile, even though it hurt. “Don’t be…Don’t be sorry for loving someone.” Pulling her in tight, I kissed her head. As chilly reality settled around me, I knew what I had to do. I’d started this; I had to be the one to end it. I was the only one who could. And I should do it soon, before Denny pieced this horrible puzzle together, before our secret was laid bare. And the only way to stop Denny from digging until he found the truth was to take away the need for him to dig at all. Remove the source of the suspicion, that was what I had to do.

“Don’t worry, Kiera. I’ll think of something. I’ll fix this, I promise.”

Before he finds out, I’ll go, and this time I’ll leave for good. Like I said before, we won’t hurt him unnecessarily. He’ll never know what happened here. This secret will die with us. I’ll spare him the pain, and I’ll spare you too. I’ll carry it all. I’m used to that.





We stayed in the car until the first light of dawn turned the world pink with promise. “Promise” was such a misleading word. It suggested hope, but sometimes promise had no hope attached to it. At least, not for everyone. Sometimes, to give someone else hope, you had to cut out your own. And it was just as difficult as cutting off your own limb, but then again…if sacrifice was easy, everyone would do it.

Hating time for closing in on us, I gave Kiera a squeeze and told her what we were both thinking. “You should go inside.”

She instantly locked onto the word “you,” not “we.” Pulling back, she looked me over with panicked eyes. “What about you? Aren’t you coming?”

In the end, no, it won’t be me with you. “There’s something I need to do first.”

“What?” she asked, confused.

Smiling, I skirted my way around the answer. I couldn’t tell her yet. She’d argue, say I was wrong, but I wasn’t. I knew where this was going. I saw the signs all around me. She loved me, but not enough to leave him. We’d crush Denny…for nothing. For a fantasy. I didn’t want that, and I knew she didn’t either.

“Go on…it will be okay.” I gave her a kiss, then leaned over to unlatch the door. “I love you,” I whispered as she got out. Always. Sliding over to her side, I leaned up so she could kiss me. We shared a brief, torturous connection, and I felt her lips trembling as we pulled apart. She had tears on her cheeks when I returned to my side of the car. This was going to be difficult for both of us.

Starting the car, I pulled away, and I swear, a piece of me ripped off when I left her behind.

Feeling numb inside, I drove to Evan’s. He was the only one who knew what I was going through, the only one who could really help me. Parking the car, I stared up at his quiet apartment. For a moment, I let myself feel envious of Evan’s life. And Matt’s, and Griffin’s. Looking from the outside, their lives seemed so simple, so easy. I knew that wasn’t really the case though; they each had their issues. If my life had taught me anything, it was that no one’s life was as simple as it appeared on the surface. Everyone had crap to deal with. That was what bonded the entire human race: pain…and love.

So Evan would hear me, I firmly knocked on his door a few times. It was so early in the morning, I really should have driven around, given him time to wake up, but…I needed him. I didn’t want to be alone right now.

It took several minutes, but eventually I heard his door unlocking. A second later, it cracked open and Evan’s cringing face appeared. “Kell? What are you doing here?”

“I need your help. Kiera and I…” My gaze dropped to the ground. How in the hell was I going to say goodbye to her? “We’re…it’s not going to last. I want to give her something, before it ends. I want to write her a song.”

Evan pushed the door open and stepped away so I could enter. “Whatever you need, Kell.”

I knew he wasn’t thrilled about our union  , but I appreciated that he was putting our friendship before his morals. Of course, I had just told him we were ending things. His response might have been different if I’d told him I was going to ask her to marry me.

God…now there was a thought…

One I couldn’t let myself have. Marriage wasn’t in our future.

Evan was yawning when I entered the living room portion of his loft. “You can go back to bed,” I told him. “I’m just going to sit here and work on lyrics.”

He raised his hand in acknowledgment, then walked over to his bed in the corner and collapsed on top of it. I watched the bulk of his chest rising and falling for a moment, then looked around for paper. I needed this to be good. My final song for my failed romance. I had to tell her everything I felt for her, while also telling her goodbye. It was a tricky line to walk, and one I really didn’t want to be walking.