Page 78 of The Perfect Spiral
“It went fine. I just feel bad taking the gifts from him. You know?”
“I get it. But I’m also a guy. He wouldn’t have sent them to you if he didn’t want you to have them. Besides, he left them here two days after everything happened.
I had a talk with him. I think you mean a lot more to him than you think, sweetheart.”
“Hah, yeah, the guys have always been protective of me. They see me as their little sister too. But I think this is for the best. I can’t deal with the attention. It isn’t for me.”
“Well, I think you mean a little more to him than the rest of the guys. But sweetheart, your name is already out there so you shouldn’t let that stop you from talking to him. It’s not his fault.
I know he didn’t stick up for you, but I think he thought you could handle it. You are a feisty little thing, so he thought you didn’t need it by the sounds of it.”
“Doubt that. Yeah, I get where you’re coming from, but it’s one thing having another person there with you also being ignored than having nobody there and you’re only being ignored.
Eric, I felt like crap that day. It was just one blow after another, plus I’m already trying to get over the whole Drew situation. It’s just not great timing at the moment, I’m a little sensitive right now.”
He nodded his head in understanding and was about to say something else when my mom called us for breakfast.
I kissed him on the cheek and said, “Thanks for listening, Eric. I always appreciate your opinion and everything you’ve done for me and my mom. You have no idea.”
“I’ll always be here for you guys and the beautiful woman I get to call my wife in the next room. Know that, kiddo.”
We entered the kitchen and stuffed our faces with the breakfast my mom had made. The little ones were playing with their new toys and Lena was engrossed in her new iPhone.
Sitting around the dining table, listening to people chat amongst themselves, I just listened, taking it all in when I felt a hand on the back of my neck with a light squeeze.
Turning in my chair, I saw Kyle giving me a faint smile. He nodded his head towards the door, asking me to go outside withhim, so we both got up to leave the room and walked out to the foyer.
Chapter 27
We sat on the cold, hard tiled floor, only to be greeted by Boomer. We both started to play with him for a while before either one of us spoke.
“All my years I’ve known Carter, I’ve never seen him like this, Alex. He punched a hole in the garage wall when we tried to calm him down.”
“He what? Are you serious!”
“Yup, what did you say to him? He wouldn’t tell any of us. Still won’t. I think I deserve to know what happened between my best friend and my sister.”
“I... Crap! Are you serious? Shit, I didn’t think he’d be angry. I just said that we should keep our distance from each other. It might sound wrong, but Kyle, you of all people should know I don’t like any kind of attention.
I freak out, and that’s what I did. When you get ignored in public, it doesn’t feel good. I think it would be best for him if we weren’t around each other, you know with all his fans, the girls, and the media after him.”
“You honestly think he cares about the girls and the media. I mean, he adores his fans, don’t get me wrong. He doesn’t try and he gets any girl he wants... lucky bastard.
I get where you’re coming from, Sis. I know you get under each other’s skin, and with the media putting you guys into a false relationship, plus the fresh break up, it’s not helping you rightnow.
I get that. But... is it going to be awkward between you two?”
“No, it won’t. I just won’t be there. I don’t want to be followed by cameras all the time. Wes and Andy have to put up with that too, and it’s not fair to depend on them every time I want to go out.
I just want it to die down. I don’t want to be linked with him. If I happen to see him, I’ll talk and be civil to him in the house.”
“Look, you know I will always have your back, Sis, but he really didn’t do anything wrong?
I know you’re not the biggest fans of each other, but it kind of seems like you’re punishing him although he can’t control what the media puts out there.”
“I know he can’t control the media, Kyle. I just don’t want to downgrade his status when he’s pictured with me.
That day, I felt like I was being knocked around, and he just watched it happen. I felt awful, Kyle. I felt like shit.
