Page 45 of Love's Instant Replay
Go home, Kaeden. You’re wasting your breath. I saw all I needed to.
A grimace forms when my eyes read over the text from Kyelle before I reply.
Me:
Man. Open the door so we can talk like fucking adults. We’re too old for this bullshit. Talk to me face-to-face, Ms. Ky.
Ms. Ky:
No
“I’m not fucking leaving until you open this door!” My assault on the door resumes as my energy surges into a fiery furnace I’m unable to contain.
I’m unsure how long I’m banging before the sounds of the locks disengaging force me to stop hitting the door and step back. My anger drops to my feet when Kyelle’s face comes into view, allowing me to see the impact of the mistake I wasn’t responsible for causing. Kyelle’s face is swollen, and her red eyes are puffy and dark with pain that nearly shatters me as I take a cautious step toward her.
“Don’t.” The single word and raising of her hand halt my forward progress as I immediately start talking.
“I swear to God?—”
“Humph. Don’t you fucking dare bring God into your mess. You lied to me, and I’m struggling with what you lied about hurts the most, which pisses me off: my belief in you not hurting me or myself for loving a man who used me as a filler until he got that old thang back. Either way, I’m done. This is a wrap. I chose me, so you don’t have to attempt to form another lie.”
“Man. You ain’t even gonna hear me out and let me explain. You already have your mind made up and?—”
“I’m cool. It’s hard to believe that you didn’t want the contact when there were no signs of you moving. Pictures don?—”
“She caught me off fucking guard, so how the fuck was I supposed to move?”
Shrugging, Kyelle wipes the lone tear that slips from the corner of her left eye, making me want to pull her into my arms and beg her to forgive and believe me.
“It’s over, Kaeden. Enjoy your ex.” With that, Kyelle backs away from the door, slamming it in my face as my heart splinters in my chest from the finality in her words.
Several Days Later. . .
Breakups are a bitch and even more so when your heart is already tied to the person who caused the relationship to end. Tracy came over to hold my hand after Kaeden’s pop-up, to help me through the aftermath. Then she demanded that I take a few days off to get myself together. The only reason I agreed was because I recently hired several people to assist Tracy and me, which meant she wouldn’t be alone. All I have been doing is crying, sleeping, and mindlessly watching TV. My sleep has been broken and restless because Kaeden seems to be the center of my dreams, forcing me awake.
Last night I spent more time popping up out of my sleep which caused me to stay up and forfeit sleep altogether. My eyesare burning, my limbs are weak, and my mind is scattered as I stare blinking at the TV. The knots in my back are reminding me of the upright position I’ve been in for far too many hours. Yet the fear I have about going to sleep, only to be tormented by Kaeden’s face, is keeping me stuck in place. Time has been standing still for so long that I have absolutely no idea what hour of the day I’m in.
Vibrating from my phone has my head slowly turning to look at my nightstand as my heart starts racing. I bite my bottom lip, unsure if it’s an incoming call or text, but my pulse elevates regardless of which it is. At Tracy’s insistence, I didn’t turn my phone back off so she could check in with me whenever she felt the need to do so. A sigh escapes my lips when the noise stops, and I’m in mid-head turn when it starts up again, increasing my heart rate.
“Lord, please,” I whisper while moving to unplug my phone from the charger as my eyes instantly water upon seeing Grandma’s picture on my screen. “H-mm-hello.” My voice is hoarse from not using it over the last few days, but I’m hoping Grandma doesn’t notice.
“Come open your front door.” The line goes silent, letting me know two things: Grandma hung up on me, and she’s at my house.
Getting out the bed, I mentally coach myself to get my shit together before I get to the door. Like a bloodhound, Grandma can sniff out any time I’m off-kilter, which isn’t what I want. Sulking by myself is what I want to do, so hopefully, Grandma is just passing through. When I reach the front door, I sigh heavily and take several cleansing breaths before turning the locks and pulling the door open.
“Hey, Grandma. What brings you by today?” I ask, plastering on a fake smile that I pray is believable.
Grandma stares without uttering a word, and I fight the urge to shift my weight as I patiently wait to see what’s on her mind. Nodding, Grandma pulls me into her chest, wrapping her arms around my body, and a tremble slightly shifts my frame.
“Mhm. You don’t have to be strong for me. One thing that I love about my God is His infinite wisdom. He placed you on my heart so heavy that I had to get in my car and head over here to see about you.”
A muffled sob escapes my mouth, and Grandma tightens her grip on my body as the smell of White Diamonds and cinnamon invades my nostrils. It doesn’t matter how many fragrances my parents and I gift to her; Grandma refuses to stop using that perfume.
“Now, I’m gonna let you get these tears out, and then we’re gonna discuss whatever has you looking like a raccoon has gone to town on your face.”
I’m too caught up in my despair to find humor in Grandma’s statement as my mind begins replaying the headlines I’ve seen this time around.
#UCRSports: Kaeden Evans should get a medal for faking it until he makes it.
