Page 78 of Some Kind of Forever
“Is she awake? Ash, I just need to talk to her.”
“Shejustwent to sleep. You need to leave.” Her scowl has never been directed at me before, but it is withering. “Do you know what it’s like to have your best friend sobbing in the seat next to you and not know what’s wrong for three hours? She was crying so hard; she couldn’t tell me anything until we got here. And then to find out she’s so upset because you were kissing Maggie… Idon’t even want to be talking to you right now. How could you do that to her, Chase?”
I blink at her, not sure what to touch on first. I’m grasping at straws, trying to catch hold of the explanations swirling through my thoughts. They all slip through my fingers. In my flustered state, my anxiety riddled brain latches onto the most cliched excuse. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”
“So she’s lying? She didn’t see you kissing Maggie?” She glares, challenging me, ready to attack in protection of her best friend. I think anything I say at this point will be the wrong thing.
“Will you please just tell her to call me when she wakes up? Please?”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you.” She pokes her finger into my chest. “Give her some space. I’m serious.” Ashlie whips around and walks back through the door, closing it quietly, leaving heaps of fierce indignation in her wake.
The lock clicks into place, like a deadbolt sliding into a solid steel door. I’m knocked back down to a position where I can’t reach through to Kayla, and this time, her friend is the brick wall. Feeling completely dejected, I hang my head, and with slumped shoulders, I do the only thing I can right now. I get back in my car and drive across town, back to The BluffsEstates.
Hunter’s in the kitchen eating a donut over the sink when I open the door. He stares at me for a few seconds and wordlessly slides the box across the counter, nodding for me to sit on the stool. Eating is the last thing on my mind right now, but I pluck a donut out of the box anyway, needing something to do besides worry. We sit in silence, the only sounds coming from the whirring fridge.
He pours two glasses of milk, and I let the coolness coat all the heavy words stuck on my tongue. This is Hunter, my best friend since birth—basically my brother. He may not know how to be serious all the time, but he knows how to sit in someone’s pain with them, letting them process without needing to explain anything, and that’s something I appreciate right now.
“Maggie kissed me last night,” I start, covering my eyes with the heel of my hands.
“Ew,” he whispers. I can imagine the disgusted grimace on his face. “No wonder you look like shit…” he jokes, and I look up in time to see him shake his head. He doesn’t push, though, waiting for me to continue if I want to.
“I didn’t get any sleep. I don’t even know how it happened. Everything moved so fast,” I say, lacing my fingers behind my neck. I explain drunk Maggie and her scheme, her ankle, the kiss, seeing Kayla from the patio, me chasing her through the venue, and unintentionally yelling to everyone in the kitchen that I love her. “That was the only thing I could think to say that would get her to stop and listen.” I cringe. Recalling everything out loud makes it all sound so much worse than I remember.
“And you went to Kayla’s house this morning? How did that go?”
“It went nowhere. Ashlie wouldn’t let me past the front porch.”
He nods, leaning against the countertop with his fingers splayed wide on the marble. I dig my phone out of my pocket, checking it for the thousandth time before opening my messages app.
“Bruh.” He shakes his head, swiping his hand under his chin in a cut-it-out motion. “Look, I’m not taking sides. You’re my best friend. She’s my sister. I can’t. But even I know Kayla well enough to knowthat”—he says, pointing to my phone—“is a bad idea. Give her some time.”
I know he’s right. I knew Patti was right last night, and I knew Ashlie was right thirty minutes ago. As much as I want to force this—make Kayla sit and listen to my version of the night—I know I need to wait. She’ll see I’ve called and texted, and I guarantee Ashlie will tell her I came over. I need to give her the time to decide to talk to me. So I’ll wait, and hopefully, she’ll come.
“Chase?” Avery says sleepily, coming down the stairs. “I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”
“Aw, did you miss me, Av?” I tease, trying to force the worry off my face.
“Whatever.” She scrunches her nose before walking over to the donut box. “Ugh! You guys ate all the good ones. All that’s left are the nasty custard filled.”
Hunter shrugs, smirking over at me. “Chase ate yours.”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying, Chase.” She turns around, stomping up the stairs and slamming the door.
“Thanks for that. Let’s just piss off every girl in my life,” I say, shaking my head and standing from the stool.
“Eh, she’ll be alright.”
I flop down on the couch, turn on the first thing that looks interesting, and kick my feet up on the table. Hunter lands next to me, scrolling on his phone. I’m tempted to grab mine from my pocket, but knowing I’ll click right to my messages, I leave it alone. Forcing my eyes on the TV, I give in to the trance-inducing colors moving across the screen.
CHAPTER FORTY
KAYLA
Last night should have been the pinnacle of the summer. I landed the internship of my dreams. I got to see my portfolio come to life. My boyfriend told me he loves me.
Right after getting caught with someone else.
The biggest night of my life, permanently marred by the image of my boyfriend tangled up together with the girl he told me not to worry about.
