Page 30 of Under the Texas Sky
“So do you.” I’m going to walk in here and I’m going to enjoy this time with Hunter. I’m going to give him my full attention and give this a chance.
He tips his head back to look at me and licks his lip, his interest shining brightly.
“Dinner’s ready,” he says. “I hope you’re hungry.”
CHAPTER 27
KIAN
Note to self: never invite your boyfriend to a very important party with you when he’s an attention whore. I shake my head, watching Klaus rant and rave to anyone who will listen to him talk about his endeavors.
At first, it was charming to know how many different places he’s traveled to. How many different experiences he’s had in life. I loved it and so did Willow.
It was easy with Klaus. We both knew the score when he came down last year and spent the week with me and Willow. I was not going to hook up with him, and I was not going to film content with him. Two very basic rules.
Somehow, even with his charismatic self, I didn’t end up doing either of those, but I did agree to one date.One.We had fun, and that was something that I wasn’t used to while I was dating. Sure, me and Satan's reincarnation had fun times, but they’ve all been tainted for me.
Long distance wasn’t the best option for me and Klaus. With him being too clingy and me wanting to be independent, it would never work. So, the next time he came to visit, he took me on a date every night he was here. Expensive wine, beautiful flowers, decadent chocolate. It was perfect.
When he told me he was moving to Arizona full time, I was ecstatic. But by the time his stuff was moved into his high rise apartment in the city, I was over it. I was over him.
I don’t think he’s ever seen me for me. He sees me as a benefit, someone who he can have on his arm to show off to everyone.
And like an idiot, I’m still dating him, because for some reason, I’ve formed a minor emotional attachment.
The party around us is in full swing. Bottles of alcohol, little white lines spread on glass tables with hundred dollar bills beside them. It’s any other person’s dream. Not mine, though. The only reason I’m here is because it’smyhouse.
Willow thought it would be a great idea to throw a party to celebrate my twenty-fifth birthday, and what was only supposed to be a few of our close friends instead turned into a rager. Willow had to call her dad and ask to borrow his security team. Because of course her rich father also has his own team of thirteen men who look like they curl cars in their free time.
“I’m going to your room,” I whisper-yell into Willow’s ear. I want to spend the rest of my night moping, not surrounded by people who don’t actually give a fuck that it’s my birthday.
She shoos me off, and I know that she’ll take care of everything else tonight and there will be nothing for me to worry about.
I maneuver my way through the crowd to get to the hallway that leads to Willow’s room, and there’s a security guard standing at the entrance.
“Um, hi? Can I get by you? This is my house.” Even after all these years, I still don’t have the confidence to tell someone to let me go wherever I want in my own house? Jesus Christ.
He nods and steps to the side, letting me by.
Lying in her bed, I turn on the TV and scroll through the different streaming apps until I come across an old TV show Iused to love. One that brings back memories of fingers running through my hair.
Tears burn the backs of my eyes as I click the play button. Bright pictures flash across the screen, and my phone burns a hole in the pocket of the sweatpants I put on. The temptation to unblock his number is there.
What if he texted me a happy birthday?
What if he didn’t?
The second thought is the one that keeps me from doing it. I would much rather live in a world where he doesn’t exist. And he doesn’t. Hehasn’t.I’m going to keep it that way.
“Happy birthday to me,” I say out loud to myself, as I pretend that the tears streaming down my face are happy tears for living another year.
???
“I really am sorry, Kian. Last night was not supposed to go like that,” Willow says.
We’re sitting at the island in our kitchen, surrounded by the mess of last night, and it stresses me out to see the disarray. Bottles, cans, plastic wrappers. There’s shit everywhere.
I pinch the bridge of my nose to fight away the headache that is still hammering at the back of my skull. My eyes are swollen and the ice roller is not helping them. It’s irritating me worse, because I am supposed to have a photoshoot today, but I can’t show up looking like this.
