Page 130 of Almost Ours
When I made my way to the kitchen, Kyle was already there, idly spinning a water bottle between his hands. He glanced up, his ever-present grin still in place.
“Ready?” he asked, already rolling toward the door.
“Let’s go.”
We headed out together, the night stretching ahead of us as we drove to the pub.
Nina’s housealways smelled like something comforting. Tonight, it was cinnamon and melted cheese–leftovers from a pizza night that ended in two boys with tomato sauce on their shirts and the echo of laughter bouncing off the walls.
Connor and Liam were holed up in Liam’s room, the unmistakable sound of rapid button mashing and enthusiastic trash talk filtering down the hallway. Their joy was loud and uncomplicated.
Unlike the storm inside me.
I sat cross-legged on Nina’s couch, my hands wrapped around a mug of peppermint tea I hadn’t touched. The TV was on, but I wasn’t paying attention to it. I kept glancing at my phone even though it hadn’t buzzed.
I should’ve known better. People like Ryan don’t end up with people like me.
The sound of a cupboard opening pulled me from my spiral. Nina padded into the living room with two fresh mugs, her brow raised as she handed me one and plopped onto the armchair across from me.
“Yours went cold. Figured I’d make you a new one.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, taking it but still not drinking.
She didn’t say anything for a moment, just watched me. Then, finally, “Have you heard from Ryan?”
My throat tightened, and I stared down at the tea. “Not really. He told me he made it, but that was about it. I think I messed everything up.”
Nina sighed, tucking her legs up beneath her. “You didn’t.”
“He probably didn’t realize all the baggage I brought.”
“That doesn’t scare the right kind of person away.” Her voice was soft yet firm.
I laughed, but it came out flat. “Maybe he’s not the right kind of person, then.”
A knock at the door pulled both our heads toward the hallway.
Nina frowned, setting her mug down on the coffee table. “Who the hell is that?”
She padded to the door and swung it open without checking–typical Nina. “Seriously?”
Shane’s voice drifted through, low and amused. “Good to see you too.”
She stepped back as he walked in like he owned the place, Liam’s hockey helmet in one hand and a cocky grin on his face. “I fixed his helmet,” he said, holding it up like a trophy. “Figured I’d drop it off.”
Nina crossed her arms, unimpressed. “You could’ve brought it to the game this weekend like a normal person.”
He shrugged, making his way into the living room. “Yeah, but then I’d miss the look on your face when I show up unannounced.”
He plopped down into the armchair across from me, completely unfazed, like he hadn’t just crashed an emotionally delicate conversation.
“Hi Harp,” he added with a grin, eyes flicking between the two of us like he knew something we didn’t.
“Hey, Shane.” I offered a small smile, shifting the blanket around my legs.
Nina rolled her eyes. “You’re about as subtle as a sledgehammer.”
Shane smirked, then glanced at me more seriously. “Did Ryan make it?”
