Page 120 of More To Us

Chapter Twenty-Two

Austin

"Hey," I say as Amber greets me at the door. It's just after three. She called me an hour ago to tell me she was back at the apartment with Kira.

I haven't heard anything from Kira. Not even a text. I've called her, texted her, but heard nothing back. It pisses me off, and yet I still want to see her. I have to know she's okay. Amber told me the doctor confirmed that Kira has two stress fractures in her lower leg. He said she'll be fine, but I need to see for myself that she is, and then we have to talk. I need Kira to explain what really happened to her and why she hid it from me.

"Hi." Amber steps aside, letting me in the apartment. She's sniffling and coughing and seems even sicker than she was this morning.

"Is Kira in her room?"

"Yeah, but she's asleep. They gave her some painkillers that make her tired. She'll probably be out for at least an hour. But I thought you should come over now so we could talk."

"I'd rather hear this from Kira."

"She won't tell you. She refuses to talk about it, even with me. She likes to pretend it never happened." Amber goes over to the couch and sits down, hugging one of the throw pillows and resting her head on it, looking tired and like she doesn't feel well. "You want to sit down?"

I go over and sit on the pink recliner that's next to the couch. It belonged to Amber's grandma. I never sit on it, but I don't want to sit on the couch next to Amber and risk getting whatever illness she has.

"So, um, we never get to talk so I want to start by saying thanks for not saying anything to Dylan."

"About what?"

"Me." She sniffles, slouching into the couch, then suddenly straightens up and looks at me. "You didn't tell him, right?"

"Tell him what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"That I'm here in town. And that you know me." She pauses. "Wait. Didn't Kira tell you?"

"Um...I'm still not sure what you're talking about."

"Oh." She looks down at the pillow she's holding. "I just assumed she told you. I mean, I asked her not to, but you two are so close, and you're together all the time. I just assumed she told you and asked you not to say anything to Dylan."

That nagging feeling is creeping up again and I really don't like it. What else did Kira hide from me?

"What did you think Kira told me?" I ask. "Something about Dylan?"

She nods. "Yeah. I thought you knew."

"Knew what?" I move to the edge of the chair. "What's going on?"

She looks at me and sighs. "If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell him."

Now I'm feeling anxious and a little sick to my stomach. "I can't promise you that until I know what you're talking about. Dylan's one of my closest friends. I'm not going to hide something from him if it's something he needs to know."

"Is he dating someone?"

"Yeah. Why?"

She shrugs. "I just wondered." She sniffles. "It's good. It's good he's dating someone."

"Would you just tell me what the hell's going on?"

She hesitates, then says, "I'm her. I'm Amber."

"I know you're Amber but what does that—" I stop, realizing what she means. Holy shit. She's the girl? No freaking way. Kira would've told me that. Wouldn't she?

"Austin, did you hear me?"

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