Page 153 of The Sweetest Devotion

“Thank God,” I breathed out. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”

“I see that.”

So he’d ignored my calls and texts?

“Keith?” I questioned, unsure what this all meant.

He sighed on his end. “Listen, Kenny, it’s been a fun little minute and all, but maybe it’s?—”

“No!” I rushed to say, immediately cutting off what sounded suspiciously like a breakup speech. “Can you come by? We can talk, okay? It’s not what it looks like, I promise.”

He snorted on his end. “Actually, I have to get ready for work. My day off wasyesterday.”

I frowned. Hewashurt. “Keith, please. Let me explain.”

“I gotta go in. It’s whatever,” Keith said dismissively.

“Then come by when you’re off,” I suggested. “I’ll text you my address and you can stop by.”

He whistled. “Nice and late enough not to be seen, huh?”

“I can’t meet you in the lobby?—”

“?’Course not,” he responded coolly.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

He was being way too casual about this and it made me antsy. I could feel my grip on him slipping and I couldn’t lose him. Not my last thread of sanity.

“I would never leave you hanging. Just, please, come over and we can talk,” I begged.

He was quiet on his end and I feared he’d hang up on me.

I stayed silent, not wanting to press him further. I wanted to believe I was strong enough to endure whatever he had to say next, but that wasn’t true at all as I felt my heart crawl up my throat.

Another sigh came to my ear and he was back on the line. “Listen, text me your address and I’ll think about it.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to keep the hopefulness out of my voice.

“All right then, Kennedy,” Keith said.

“All right then.”

We hung up and I sent him a text with my address and instructions to get to my suite. Then I hugged my knees to my chest as I sat there in my bed.

If I had any guts at all I’d take what money I had and run off to Greece. Running sounded cowardly, though, even if I planned to go to a beautiful island.

On the other hand, facing my problems head-on felt daunting all the same.

For the time being, I told myself if I settled things with Keith I could handle the rest. Just one thing at a time.

I busied myself with going to my Pilates class and grabbing lunch with Elyse and Stephanie, the latter I hadn’t been in the mood for, but I welcomed the distraction.

“So, have you thought about bridesmaids and your maid of honor?” Stephanie asked as she doused her French fries in malt vinegar.

After my very unhealthy weekend in Bedford Heights, I kept it simple with a small ahi tuna niçoise salad. I put more interest in eating than conversing with the girls, but Stephanie had asked a legitimate question. One I couldn’t tap dance around.

---