Page 76 of The Lost Kings
Kingston cursed and jumped to his feet. “You obviously knew I wasn’t telling the truth about that, but we can’t go see her. We have to let her go, Gio.”
“No, the fuck we don’t. I haven’t seen her in over a year…I want to talk to her.”
I didn’t wait to hear what my brother would say to that, so I pulled up the window and slipped out. It felt strange, fitting on that terrace being older and bigger. An entire year and a half had passed, and I felt like a different person now as I felt the cold air brush against my face and the rain pelt the surface, making it slick.
Her window arrived with a warm orange glow against the darksky, and something fluttered in my stomach at the prospect of seeing her again. I had no idea if Kingston was behind me or not, but I didn’t care. I just needed to try and get us back to where we were before this fucking mess nearly ripped us apart.
I pressed on her window to see if it was unlocked and found that it was. The glass panes parted, and I moved the gauzy curtains out of the way as I placed my foot on her window seat.
Her room was warm and inviting, the loft looked somewhat the same, except she’d cleaned up most of her crafting supplies and had her yoga mat and a few weights scattered around the space now.
I walked forward and peered over the railing of the loft, seeing her down on her bed. She was lying on her stomach, kicking her feet while talking on the phone.
“I think I should stay here, but I will come visit you,” she said flirtatiously.
Then she laughed and my chest felt like it cracked open.
“Adrian, you aren’t sleeping here. It’s a big deal that my family is willing to let you come back and meet everyone. I messed up by letting you come here, and Scotty is freaking out.”
She toyed with her stuffed cow while she kicked her feet some more and then she laughed again. “Yes, you were the threat. Everyone sort of collectively freaked out.”
A pause and then a breathy sigh. “I have been thinking of that kiss too.”
Someone’s hand came over my chest, pulling me back toward the window. Kingston dragged me back through the window and I couldn’t seem to catch my breath or my footing.
The rain fell in angry, cold sheets as I pushed my twin’s hands away and stared at his glowering expression. The storm picked up, making it dangerous for us to be out on the roof, but something kept me rooted to the spot outside of her window.
“She’s moved on from us, brother. We have to accept it.”
I shook my head, feeling something shudder in my lungs. I wanted to cry, or scream…fuck, I wanted to punch something.
“We didn’t leave her because we wanted to. We had no choice, does she know that?” My voice cracked as I raised it to be heard over the rain.
Kingston shook his head, which had droplets of water clinging to his nose. “I don’t think it matters. She never saw the messages or got our voicemails. She doesn’t care.”
“I’m not giving up on her. I can’t.”
Kingston shrugged and he looked so small and frail doing it. As if he’d finally run out of ideas, and he always seemed to know what to do.
No. I wouldn’t accept that. “We fight for her. One last push…we make sure she understands everything, and then if she chooses him and we know he’s safe for her—that he’s good and will protect her the way we would—that’s when we agree to walk away. But I won’t walk without a fight.”
Kingston’s eyes were clear as he watched me and then he lowered his chin and agreed. “Fine…but you can’t get your hopes up again, Gio. You scared the shit out of me when we were in Mexico…you got dark a few times…I can’t lose you. I love Presley, always will, but I’d cease to exist without you. I need you in my life, Bro.”
I clapped his shoulder, and we began walking back to our room.
“Love you too, Bro.”
He laughed then shook my hold as he mumbled something that sounded like “idiot.”
I smiled and followed my twin back to our side of the house where I hoped we’d make a plan on how to get back the girl of our dreams before we lost her for good.
Chapter 29
Presley
AGE 16
The branch cracked as I tried to weave it into the crown I’d been crafting. With a heavy sigh, I tugged it free and searched for another that was fresher. The sun was out already, high in the sky, warming the garden and all the plants within.
