Page 26 of Shooting his Shot

Wassup, baby? I'm just getting in from traveling. I'm going to hit practice up and go home and crash. I won't be able to make it tonight.

I was disappointed but had a feeling Akari was avoiding me. How many more days did he need away from me?

Me:

If you want, I can come to you.

He texted back almost immediately.

MyKariStar:

Nah, I won't be much company. I'm tired as hell.

Me:

Okay. Well, if you want me to show up, reach back out.

MyKariStar:

K.

I was so disappointed and wanted just to pop up anyway, but I knew I shouldn't. Since Akari wanted time away from me, I'd give him that. It broke my heart that we weren't talking to each other. I had to find a way to make it up to him.

"Sorry, it took so long. Lunch traffic is hell. How are you, sis?" Laisley slid into the booth on the other side of me.

I dropped my head. "I'm sad."

The server came and dropped my food off to me.

"Okay, so why are you sad? What happened between you and Akari?"

I exhaled deeply before giving Laisley the details of what happened between us. The only thing she could do was shake her head in disappointment. Hell, I was disappointed in myself, too.

She reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle of hand sanitizer. "You won't stop until that man leaves you, I see. How many times have I got to tell you that if you don't let go of your past, it will swallow you up? I know you're not going to allow yourself to be sad all your life. Akari is a good man, and I can see that he really cares for you. Do you want to lose that?"

Tears brimmed in my eyes.

"No, I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose him at all. I love him, but I haven't let him know that. I'm trying to let him love me, but I don't even know if he does or not. Gosh, all of this is so wrong, and I keep messing up." I wiped at a tear that fell from my eyes.

"At least you know you are at fault. As long as you know you are the problem, you can fix it."

"Oh, I plan to. Akari said he didn't want my company, but he's going to have it, anyway."

Laisley smiled. "Good. Don't let him push you away. It feels like that's what he's doing. Although he has a good reason to do so, don't let him."

I nodded, agreeing. "I won't. Thank you for always coming to my rescue. I don't give you the credit you need at times, but you are the best."

She beamed. "Thank you, but I know this already."

I smacked my lips and rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

We shared a laugh. Now, I could get to eating my food in peace since I had gotten everything off of my chest.

I knockedon his door and rang the doorbell repeatedly, needing to see Akari. If he were asleep, oh well, he'd better wake his ass up. I didn't know how long I stood outside, knocking and ringing the doorbell, before he appeared at the door with a mean mug on his handsome face.

"Man shit, Avani. I told you I was going to crash when I got home."

I pushed my way into the house. "Okay, so we can crash together. I came to sleep with you."

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