Thoughtful(31)

I laughed at his comment. It had been a while, but Sam had had to give me a ride home on more than one occasion. It was an aspect of his job that he didn’t enjoy. He only did it at all because we were coworkers. And friends. “No thanks. Kiera needs a ride, so I’m gonna take her home.” Griffin pursed his lips and poked Matt in the ribs while he nodded. Obviously, he thought he was onto something.

I shook my head at his incorrect assumption and grabbed my guitar. As I turned to leave, Evan grabbed my elbow. Leaning in close he said, “I saw you two earlier. Anything going on there?”

Irritation prickled my spine that Evan’s mind was running in line with Griffin’s. He should have a little more faith in me than that. “No. Something happened earlier with Denny, I’m not sure what…and she’s upset. I’m being a friend, because she needs one. But that’s it.”

Evan accepted my answer and let go of my arm. And he should accept it; I was telling the truth. Letting the encounter roll off my back, I returned to Kiera. “Ready?” I asked her.

Standing, she nodded, and we left the bar together. She was silent for a while, and I let her be. If she wanted to talk, she would. If she didn’t want to, I couldn’t force her. The soundlessness between us wasn’t oppressive though. There was no tension, no apprehension. Just comfortable friendship.

When I was sure the silence would last the entire trip home, Kiera quietly said, “Denny is leaving.”

I couldn’t have been more shocked by her words. No…I just got him back, and they’ve been so happy together here. What could have possibly happened? Why would he want to leave? Did I do something…? “But…?”

Her face scrunched like she was mad at herself. “No, just for a few months…just for his job.”

I relaxed as I realized Denny’s departure was only temporary. Our relationship was still intact, then, and so was theirs. Adding long distance to it would be trying, but I was certain they could do it. “Oh, I thought maybe…” You were over.

She interrupted me with a sigh before I could finish my thought. “No, I’m just overreacting. Everything is fine. It’s just…” She paused, like even the act of saying the words would hurt her.

“You’ve never been apart,” I guessed.

Glancing over, I saw her lips curve into a small smile of relief. Relief that I understood, and relief that I hadn’t judged her. “Yeah. I mean, we have, but not for that long. I guess I’m just used to seeing him every day, and, well…we waited so long to live together, and things have been going so perfectly, and now…”

“Now he’s leaving.”

“Yeah.”

I could feel her eyes studying me while I studied the road. I tried to imagine what that would feel like, waiting so long to be with someone, and then having it snatched away the moment you had it.

“What are you thinking about?” Kiera murmured that in a faraway voice, almost like she wasn’t talking to me.

“Nothing…” I looked over at her and her eyes were wide, like she hadn’t realized she’d asked me a question. I ignored her startled expression as I thought over what I’d been wishing for. “I was just hoping things work out for you guys. You’re both…” Incredible people, an inspiration, my hope for the future…important to me.

Silence settled over the car again, but it was grateful silence this time. I was glad that Kiera had opened up to me, and happy that her problem seemed short-term.

When we got to the house, Denny’s car was in the drive. Kiera inhaled a deep breath at seeing it. She was smiling though, like she was happy he was home. I hoped she always felt that way. Turning to me, she said, “Thank you…for everything.”

I had a sudden desire for her to kiss my cheek again, and I looked down. If I were more like her, that thought would have had me blushing. “Not a problem, Kiera.”

We got out of the car and made our way into the house. Kiera paused at her bedroom door, and I paused at mine. I watched her staring at the closed wood, her hand clenching the metal knob instead of turning it. She seemed nervous, like she was afraid of what lay on the other side.

“It will be fine, Kiera,” I whispered into the darkness. She looked back at me, warmth and gratitude in her eyes.

“Good night,” she told me, her eyes never leaving mine. Then she steeled herself and opened the door into her bedroom with Denny.

Alone in the hallway, I stared at their closed door for several minutes. The remembered feel of Kiera in my arms returned to me, the smell of her hair, the warmth in her eyes, the comfort of her body pressed against mine. For a split second I wondered what it would be like if Denny left and never came back. Would Kiera see me as anything other than a playboy rock star if we were alone in the house? Would I want her to see me as more?