Page 39 of Tell Me When It's Over

Rolling my eyes, I walk toward the door. I have no reason to be a dick to the kid. Yet. He wasn’t being handsy or cocky, didn’t have an attitude, and was wearing a t-shirt with SpongeBob wearing thick black glasses on it looking just as nerdy as him. As much as I may not want to admit it, Mia and Gordy are right. He doesn’t seem like a bad person. Harmless, for now.

“Yeah, whatever. I won’t.”

When I walk back downstairs, it’s just Leighton in the den. “Where’s your friend?” The term is heavy in my mouth. I’m selfish enough to admit I liked being her main friend—the one she confides in and comes home to. Having to share her with Mia is bad enough, but Chase?

“Bathroom.”

“Ready to go?”

She looks over her shoulder for a moment with her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m ready. Let me say goodbye really quick.”

When she goes upstairs, Chase walks out of the bathroom and tips his head at me. “Are you guys leaving?”

All I say is, “Don’t be a dick to her, okay? I’m not a fan of hurting kids.”

He blinks. “I’m nineteen.”

“Don’t remind me,” is my grumbled response.

He presses his lips together and gives me a nod in understanding. I squeeze his shoulder and let go as Lenny comes back down. She says goodbye to Chase and follows me to my car, sliding into the passenger seat.

“He’s nice, Ky,” she insists like I need convincing. I don’t tell her I believe it. She can think whatever she wants.

I hum.

“They both are.”

I don’t grace her with a reply.

Chapter Twelve

Leighton / Present Day

I’m searching the kitchen cupboards for something quick to eat when I notice the box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. Pulling it out, I blink and let the slow smile stretch freely across my lips as I prepare a bowl.

“Figured you’d find that eventually.”

I yelp at Kyler’s voice close behind me. Throwing a hand to my chest, I let out a startled breath. “Don’t do that to me! I didn’t even hear you come in the house.”

He laughs, putting his air pods on the counter and walking over to the sink to splash cold water over his sweaty face. “I just got back and heard you in here.”

The muscle shirt he’s wearing is covered in sweat, so his run must have been a good one. “I don’t know how you do it. I tried running once and died halfway down the sidewalk of the street I lived on.”

He snorts and grabs a water from the fridge, then leans against the counter to watch me slide the food into the microwave. “Years of practice. Since when were you interested in running anyway?”

My nose scrunches. I wasn’t until I went back to my old school and realized everyone moved onto their own things. Anna was on the track team and skilled at cross country, so she convinced me to join the team. That was after another big blowout between us, where a lot of dirty laundry aired. Eventually, we were fine again, or as fine as we could be, and I tried out for track. I didn’t make it. Clearly. “An old friend of mine thought it was something we could do together. I’m not cut out for anything that involves me being physically active.”

He shakes his head in amusement. “Do you still talk to her?”

Anna texted me twice since my mother died. Once to tell me how sorry she was, and another when she found out I was back in California. All she asked is if I was staying with the Bishops again. I wasn’t sure at the time, so I never answered. I really should reach out, but we’ve had more problems than anything else over the years. She never even tried convincing me to stay in school when I told her I was thinking about dropping out. She’d said, “Good luck then,” and went on her way with the friends she’d made after the first time I left.

“Not really.”

“Sorry to hear.”

I shrug.

When the microwave goes off, I stir the noodles and heat it for another few seconds. “I can’t believe you remembered I like this stuff. You always told me it was gross.”

---