Page 57 of One Night With You

“I don’t know. I had a huge crush on him, and I loved him in a sense where I knew I could fall in love with him. And now it’s all different and he’s real and I don’t know what I’m doing. Is that enough?” I asked, speaking far too quickly.

The girls stared at me, before it looked as if a balloon had finally let out air, and they relaxed.

“Well. I love that stage of not knowing exactly where you’re at. It’s a good stage. It is horribly stressful, but you’ll figure it out. I like the two of you together,” Phoebe repeated.

“And maybe you should do something that I was really bad at, and actually talk to him about your feelings.” Daisy winced as she said it, and I shook my head.

“Let’s get through these first few weeks first before I blurt something crazy like I like him or something.”

Libby just snorted. “I’m the worst at relationships so I have no words of advice, other than live in the moment for as long as you can, because reality is really harsh, and I hate it.” She winced. “Okay, so I will not be giving any relationship advice.”

We all said our goodbyes, laughing with one another, and I headed home, feeling a little lighter, and yet heavier at the same time.

My life was now intrinsically connected to these people who were also connected to Kingston. Falling for your crush, for a member of your friend group, was always wrought with terror and ample time for mistakes. And I needed to remember that.

I pulled into the driveway, double-checked my locks and security, and finally relaxed with a glass of wine and my planner. I still had a couple more hours of work todo, and soon Kingston would be calling, and we would have our nightly chat. But when the doorbell rang, I froze, panic settling in until I looked at the video readout and realized it was Kingston.

Now my heart was racing for a whole other reason.

I scrambled off the couch, setting my wine glass on the coffee table, and unlocked the multiple locks, and opening the door.

“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming by.”

Kingston smiled, lowering his head to brush his lips along mine. “I needed to stop by Home Depot and pick up a few things, and they had those LED lights that you were looking for that had been out of stock forever.” He held out the box, and my heart tripped.

Damn it. He’d thought of me.

I had just casually mentioned it, and he had thought of me.

I was in deep trouble.

I pulled him inside and closed the door behind him. I locked one lock, one deadbolt, and tried to let out a deep breath, telling myself I didn’t need to lock all three right now.

“It’s okay. You can do it. I don’t mind you locking everything and setting the security alarm. It’s a good idea.”

I bit my lip, still feeling a bit self-conscious. “Thank you. I hate that feeling of slight panic.”

“You know what I do for a living, right, babe? I want you to keep safe. And if that’s the locks and security that I installed? The better.”

Relieved, I did indeed lock everything and set the security again, before I found myself pinned to the door, with Kingston’s mouth on mine, and I groaned into him.

“Hello,” he whispered.

“Hi there.”

“I just wanted to stop by. I know we have a phone call later, but I needed to see you.”

He always did things like that, surprising me. So I reached up and cupped his cheek.

“I’m glad you’re here too. I missed you.”

He smiled, lowering his face to mine, when his phone rang. “Damn it.”

“It could be important. Come on, let’s head to the living room.”

“You’re right, let me answer it real quick.” He paused, his shoulders tightening. “It’s the hospital,” he said, as he met my gaze, and I swallowed hard, watching him answer. He didn’t say much, just cursed under his breath, and when he ended the call, he stared at me, and rubbed a fist over his chest.

“I’m a match, but Buckley’s too sick for the transplant to work right now. They need to get him better inorder for him to even be able to get through the procedure.”

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