Page 64 of Last One Standing
We settled in my bed, Kona on his side with his head on my chest, blankets cocooning us. We didn’t talk much and asawkward as that could be, it wasn’t with him. His breath coasted over my skin, and soon everything evened out and he was asleep.
It wasn’t until right this second that I understood why Two and I could never have worked. Granted, he wasn’t gay, but we were chasing completely different things, running toward our own purposes that didn’t involve each other. Kona was running to me, and I was waiting for him. Kona was what I had been searching for, and nothing was going to take him from me. I’d burn the world down to keep him safe.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
KONA
Morning wasn’t weird.It was right…if that made any sense at all. We woke, showered again, brushed our teeth—Angel giving me a spare toothbrush. I did have to toss my clothes from yesterday on, but that was fine. I wasn’t going to be doing a walk of shame because being with Angel wasn’t shameful. I felt honored, honestly. He was out of my league, and yet he seemed to like me. I was feeling good, something that was a foreign concept but nonetheless fabulous.
I did go back to my bedroom to get different clothes. As I stepped out of the walk-in closet, Pika was sitting on my bed with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“What did you do?”
“Me?” Pika splayed his fingers on his chest. “What didyoudo, or shall I saywho?” He waggled his brows.
I pointed a finger at him and moved to the drawer to get a pair of socks. “You’re fifteen.”
“Okay.” He cackled. “That’s a bad defense.”
“Hush, you.”
I sat on the ottoman and put on my socks. I eyed Pika, who was staring at me. Waiting for me to say something, I was sure.
“What?”
He sighed, came over to me, and promptly sat in the chair behind me, forcing me to rotate to see him.
“I’m happy for you, Kona. I really like Angel. All of them are great, but there’s something about him. You light up around him, and I haven’t seen that kind of shine coming from you since it was just you, me, and Mom.”
“I like Angel too.” I placed my hands on his knees and squeezed. “I don’t know what this is, but I’m just enjoying my moments, you know?”
He nodded. “I get it. A lot is going on, a lot unknown.”
“And you’re my priority, Pika. Always.”
He exhaled loudly. “Not always, Kona.”
“Bite your tongue, little brother. Until the day I die.”
He gently pushed my shoulder. “You’re being stupid.”
“Le gasp!How could you injure my ego so?”
He giggled, a sound so much younger than he was. “I said my piece. You’re being weird; I’m going to eat breakfast.”
“I’ll go down with you.” I grabbed his hand, forcing him to hold mine all the way to the first floor.
He was laughing and trying to shake me off when we entered the kitchen. Our laughter was loud in the silence.
Everyone was in there getting food, but it seemed grief still hung heavy.
“Sorry,” Pika mumbled and shuffled over to the counter to get a plate.
“Don’t apologize for being happy.” JJ ruffled Pika’s head. “We’re all trying to find our joy again. It has to start somewhere.”
“I guess.” Pika shrugged, filled his plate, and moved into the dining room.
Lizzy was staring at me as I scooped eggs into my dish, not glaring, but there was a slight hint of animosity. I understood. She probably didn’t truly blame me, but I was linked to Brick, who’d killed her friend.
