Page 25 of Meet You in the Waves
“And you believehimoverme?” Kira gawked, rising to her feet as she took a few steps towards me.
“Yeah. I do actually,” I stated calmly.
“So you’re just going to stand there and accuse me like this? With no evidence? Believe his word over mine? I’m yourgirlfriend, Ajay. Besides, didn’t you see him last night? He was watching me all night, flirting with me.” Her voice had risen an octave and I took a step back at the way her eyes kept pinging between me and Nick as he stood watch in the kitchen.
“That’s not true, Kira,” I returned. “He wasn’t watching you and he didn’t come onto you. Can’t you just be truthful with me?”
Kira seemed to realise the moment she had lost control of the story as a vicious set came over her face and she looked across at Nick. “I can’t believe you told him,” she spat.
“I did warn you last night that I would always choose Ajay,” Nick replied, the truth in his words lifting my heart up again.
“I want you to leave, Kira,” I said, wresting back control of the conversation.
“No,” she replied, genuine shock covering her face. “I’m not going anywhere. We are not done yet, Ajay.”
“Yeah, we are done, Kira.”
“We’re not done until I say we’re done,” she shrieked, back to that shrill voice. “And I’m saying we’renotdone.”
Dee and Dane must have been alerted to the raised voices in the kitchen as they both came down the stairs, looking between the three of us with concern in their eyes.
“What’s going on?” Dane asked, eyes on me.
“Ajay’s kicking me out, that’s what’s going on,” Kira replied, verging on hysterical.
“Ajay?” Dane asked, an accusing eye sent my way. “What’s this about?”
“He’s accusing me of coming onto your brother last night,” Kira cut in, needing to control the narrative. “But it’s not true.He’sthe one who came ontome. I would never do that to Ajay.”
And we were back to that line of defence. I sighed heavily, crossing my arms over my chest as Dane looked my way.
“Are you just going to believe Nick’s word on this?” he asked, disbelief to his tone that immediately caught me on edge.
“Yeah. I am,” I replied.
“Seriously, man?” Dane returned. “How could you believe him over Kira? Honestly, none of this even surprises me.”
“Oh, fuck off, Dane,” Nick cut in. I could hardly blame him.
Kira instantly latched onto the fact that Dane had backed her, lifting her eyes to me, tears ready to burst at any moment. I just looked back at her, feeling less than nothing, not ready to give an inch. Suddenly everything about her seemed fake, from the artful tears in her eyes to every word coming out of her mouth.
“See? Dane believes me,” she stated, no hint of apology in the jut of her chin.
“It’s not Dane you need to convince,” I replied. “And I asked you to leave. Please respect my decision.”
“It’s not your house,” Kira returned triumphantly. “You can’t make me go anywhere.”
“True. And I’m not kicking her out,” Dane cut in. I felt a little stab right to my gut. Dane had clearly picked sides here and I knew it was not mine. How had I somehow been cast as the bad guy here?
“As the only person in this room who actually lives in this house,” Nick cut in from where he rested his elbows on the kitchen bench, “I say Ajaycanask Kira to leave. And if that’s not enough,I’mtelling you to get lost.”
“Why are you even involved in this?” Dane fumed, turning on his brother. “This is between Ajay and Kira.”
“And Ajay has asked twice now for Kira to leave,” Nick replied calmly.
“Ajay, man,” Dane cut back in, eyes on me. “You can’t seriously take Nick’s word on this. I warned you what he’s like. He probably messed with Kira just to spite me.”
“And I’m out,” Nick muttered. I glanced his way, seeing the drop in his shoulders as he strode out of the house, slamming the back door on his way out.
