Page 95 of I Knew He Was Trouble
She pulls at the sleeves of her magenta cardigan, looking uncomfortable.
“You can tell me whatever it is. I can handle it.”
Mallory sighs, looking at the ground. “Kelsey’s not coming back.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kelsey said she’d find you a new nanny. I can watch Evie in the meantime.”
“Where is she?” I start moving next door, determined to see her and make sure she’s okay.
“She doesn’t want to see you, Tyler.” Mallory’s words stop me dead in my tracks.
“Why?” I can’t wrap my mind around what’s happening. Everything seemed like it was going perfectly the last time I saw her at Evie’s dance recital. I haven’t heard from her since then, but I assumed she had a busy weekend with her friends. I’m not going to be a controlling non-boyfriend and text her a million times until she responds.
“Did I do or say something?” I grab fistfuls of my hair, trying to get a grasp on what’s happening. “I need to see her. I need to apologize for whatever I did to hurt her.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I blow out a long breath. “I find that hard to believe if she won’t see me.”
“She just needs some space. I swear, you didn’t do anything wrong.” Mallory shifts on her feet. “Alyssa, Shayna, and I are rooting for you.”
If her best friends are still cheering me on, maybe everything is okay. But then, why is Kelsey avoiding me?
She gestures next door. “I should get going.”
Mallory starts to walk home, but I call out after her. “Will you please tell Kelsey that I want to talk? That I just want to understand what’s going on so I can make things right?”
She nods. “I’ll let her know.”
When she’s gone, I pull my phone out to send a message to Kelsey. A text feels too impersonal, but I’m not sure she’d answer a phone call. I open our text conversation and click the button to record a voice message.
“Hey, Kelsey.” My voice sounds hoarse, threaded with heartache. “It’s Tyler.” I facepalm, biting back a groan at my idiocy. “You obviously already know that.” Clearing my throat, I continue. “Anyway, I’m calling—er, well, voice messaging—to check in and make sure everything’s okay. Mallory said you were going to find a new nanny, and I don’t understand what went wrong. I would love a chance to talk things through with you, so please call me, or knock on my door, or send a carrier pigeon. Anything. Just please talk to me. I lo—”
I cut myself off. I can’t tell her that I love her over a voice memo.
I can’t lose her. Not now. Not after I’ve fallen for her. Despite my best efforts not to, I’ve been falling for Kelsey all along. For her spunk and ambition. For the ridiculous nicknames that she calls me. For the way she cares about everyone around her and would do anything for her friends. And it was hearing her encourage Evie at her dance recital that sent me over the edge. After that, my heart was hers. Simply, I’ve fallen for everything she is. I only hope I have the opportunity to tell her.
“I hope to talk to you soon.” I press the stop button and hit send before I can second-guess myself. Even though I muddled my words, I want Kelsey to hear the emotion in my voice, to know that I care and want to work through whatever is pulling her away.
If she doesn’t feel the same way, I’m not sure I’ll ever get my heart back. Because I don’t think there’s another person in the world who can make me as happy—who can make mefeelas much—as Kelsey Anderson.
The last two days have been the longest of my life. Kelsey didn’t respond to any of my messages, so I resorted to knocking on her front door. Her roommates took turns answering it. No matter who answered, they turned me away, although their faces at least looked pained doing so. That, or they just pity me. I mean, Shayna gave me a dozen chocolate chip cookies when she turned me away. If that doesn’t show how sorry they feel for me, I don’t know what does.
It only has me even more confused as to why Kelsey is avoiding me, though. If I’d done something to hurt her, I don’t think her friends would be looking at me like I’m a sad little puppy their parents won’t let them bring inside. They’d be slamming the door in my face and calling me names that I couldn’t repeat.
I take a deep breath, trying to shove my feelings down, before walking into Evie’s room. “You ready for bed?” I ask with a forced smile.
She nods, already snuggled under the covers.
I tuck her in. “Now you’re snug as a bug in a rug.” Evie giggles, and I lean down to hug her. “Goodnight, Eves. Sleep tight.”
Her face is crestfallen when I pull back.
“What’s wrong?”
“Will Ms. Kelsey be back soon?” She rubs her eyes. “I miss her.”
