Page 60 of My Fearless Fake Fling

The cemetery grew dark as the night set in. I’d been sitting in that same spot for hours, not once gaining the enlightenment I sought. Though I felt closer to my brother than I had in years, so I couldn’t exactly call the trip a waste.

I saidgoodbyeto my big brother, stood, and wiped off my bottom, then walked back to my car. There were like fifty thousand text messages on my phone, all from Len.

Kam, baby, I’m so sorry.

Are you alright?

I’m worried.

Call me back, plz.

I should have told you.

He’s so sorry? Really?

He should be.

Am I all right?

No.

He’s worried?

Good.

Call him back?

Was he kidding?

I drove around for a while, stopped to get a chocolate shake and a large cup of ice water from a fast food joint (my mouth was parched from all the salty food I’d consumed earlier and the expenditure of tears later), and found a hotel for the night.

Sleep, despite how drained my body felt, would not come. The moment my eyes closed, I saw Len’s face in my mind and the sadness crept back into my heart. Around 3:30 in the morning, a final text pinged. Of course, from Len.

Can’t sleep. Not without you in bed nxt to me.

Stupid, stupid me… In my fuzzy-brained state, I called him. Yup, pressed my finger to his contact and called.

“Kami?” He picked up on the first ring, as if he still held the phone in his hand.

“I can’t sleep either. You broke my heart, Len—or should I call you ‘Leo.’ I don’t even know.”

“I’ve got a lot to tell you, baby. Please, I’m begging you to give me the chance. Please hear me out.”

Would I hear him out? Not to hear him out would be fearful Kami coming back, right? Afraid to hear his reasons. I didn’t have to like his reasons. I didn’t have to agree with them, but to remain fearless Kami… Yes. Yes, I would. I sighed heavy enough for him to understand what my sigh was about and shifted on the bed to get comfortable. “I’m on the phone and I can’t sleep. Make it count.”

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