Page 109 of My Ex's Best Friend

"I would love that—I mean, no, this is about Kiera. I don't want to do anything to upset her," she says hastily. "Her condition is delicate, and I don't want her stressing out."

I sit up straighter, my heart racing. "She's okay, right?”

I haven’t seen her in weeks. She must be almost showing. I drove past here yesterday, and I thought I saw a glimpse of her in her childhood bedroom, reading. But she didn’t see me, hopefully.

"Yes, the doctor says her scans are all normal. There's nothing to be scared about."

"Can I see her scan?" I say hopefully.

"I mean, I have to ask Kiera first—" Mrs. Crofton says, sounding unsure, looking at her husband who is glaring daggers at me.

"What are you doing here?" he interrupts her. "You need to make your intentions clear."

"That's why I'm here. I was hoping to speak to Kiera," I say. "I do want to do the right thing here but it's hard to do that when she has cut me off. Please, I need a few moments with her."

"It depends on Kiera," Dad says. "You can talk to her only if she consents. But she has made it clear that she wants nothing to do with you or see your face. No offense."

"None taken," I say. I’m in her home, at least. Baby steps.

“I got her some flowers,” I say, coming to my feet. “Maybe you can give them to her?”

“Orchids,” her mom murmurs. “Her favorite.”

“I know.”

"I'll talk to her," she says.

“Please,” I say.

Her mother gives me a reproachful look before she disappears upstairs. Kiera’s Dad continues to pace the room in front of me.

“I didn’t expect this from you, of all people, Jake.”

“Sir, please. I would never hurt Kiera. I love her more than anything in this world.”

“Do you really mean that?” He has stopped pacing now and is now looking at me.

Upstairs, I hear muffled noises trickling. “Mom, no,” Kiera is saying. “You cannot force me to go downstairs.”

“Give the poor boy a chance. He sounds sincere.”

“It’s an act.”

My heart squeezes. I wish she would come downstairs so that I could just explain it to her. A letter would be a good idea, but I don’t want her to think I’m deceiving her. I want her to hear it from me.

Ellie texted me yesterday to let me know that she tried to talk to Kiera about the whole thing but Kiera got sick.

No, however hard it is, I have to do this face-to-face.

“I want him gone, Mom,” Kiera says.

The door shuts close and her mother returns.

“I’m sorry,” she says as she comes down the stairs. She walks right up to me. “I don’t know what went wrong between you two.” She looks at me hopefully as if she’s hoping that I’ll give her a clue.

“It’s okay,” I say, getting off the couch. I didn’t expect Kiera to see me right away. She’s still angry with me. “I’ll leave now.”

I walk out the door, feeling dejected. I feel a tug at my chest and turn around. The curtains in Kiera’s room are pulled back, and she’s looking down at me.

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