Page 26 of Love at a 7-Eleven

Caleb felt choked, like he couldn't get enough air into his lungs. There was an actual pain in his chest. He took a deep calming breath before he could answer her question. He tried not to show his emotion. But he would not be okay if she was saying the same thing. He didn't even want to imagine it. He swallowed.

"I would not like it," he said, aware of how choppy his words sounded.

"I'm glad you can see that," she said.

She looked more and more emotionless by the second. He could see and feel her slipping away. His heart was actively breaking. She moved. She was gathering her things again.

"Lila," he said with quiet urgency.

She stopped moving and stared at him. "There's really nothing else to say," she said. "I'm not going to talk about history or life with you right now, Caleb. You've got things to deal with. I'm not just going to sit here and relax and talk to you like I would have done before you brought up any of this. This news changes things. You have things to work out before we can continue the way we were."

"I know, but I'm here for two more days. Am I not going to see you?"

"No, I guess you're not. I don't know what to tell you other than this is too messy. I should have known when you wouldn't tell Kevin. It's so embarrassing. You can't tell me your best friend is in love with you and then try to think everything's still normal and on track with us."

She stood, and he got to the edge of the booth.

"Lila, please tell me you'll still give me a chance after I—" He couldn't even say it. He didn't know what his next move was. "Tell me you'll wait for me."

She gave him a blank but confused expression. "I can't promise that. What if you go back to California and realize that all this was a mistake? What if you have everything you want there and you just never call me back?"

"That would never happen."

She moved and he put his hand out to stop her, but she pulled her arm away. "Just please finish what you need to with your stuff and then maybe we can try this again," she said.

She was quiet and discreet, but she was hurt and angry and Caleb didn't feel like there was anything he could say.

She left.

She walked out.

He wanted to go after her, but his feet simply would not move. He didn't know what he would say when he did catch up to her. His heart was breaking. He was nauseous and overwhelmed. The ache hit him physically. He wasn't thinking clearly. He sat down because he felt lightheaded. The conversation had not gone the way he hoped or thought it would, and it had sent him spinning. Lila walked out of the door, and he didn't even turn to look that way again.

Caleb felt helpless and wrecked and found it hard to get a breath of air into his lungs. He closed his eyes and spoke a prayer inwardly. He had come so far in his faith journey that it was extremely rare for him to question God. But the first words to cross his mind were,I thought You said everything was going to be okay. You told me it was meant to be. You gave me these feelings.Then he tried to check himself and he prayed,please help me to know the next step.

Caleb was questioning himself as he opened his eyes. The pain was real, but Caleb's face morphed into a fake smile because their server was standing at the edge of their booth. He held the smile.

"Sorry if I interrupted you saying grace."

"Oh, no, I was finished," he said vaguely.

"I noticed she left and I was wondering if you were staying or if you… wanted… still wanted to eat. I can get you a box." She spoke slowly like she was uncertain and didn't want to overstep.

"Oh, no, I'm going to stay for a minute and finish a little of this coffee, but I will take a box."

She nodded but then hesitated. "I'm sorry, but I keep wanting to ask every time you guys come in here, and I keep chickening out, but… are you… do you happen to be Makoa's son?"

"I-uh, yes."

"Kai? Are you Kai from the Kings of the Pacific?"

"Yes," he said with a patient smile even though it was the last thing he wanted to discuss.

"I knew it was you!" she said with delight. "I told the guys in the kitchen about it, and Cameron said you have a YouTube channel that his brother watches. He showed it to us in the back. I didn't even know you were on there."

"Oh, yeah, a lot of people don't realize I'm the same guy from both things," he said even though he wasn't sure if the statement made any sense. He was smiling and on auto-pilot.

"I'm going to comp your order tonight. I can bring a to-go cup for your coffee, too. Hey, would you mind if I get a quick photo with you?"

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