Page 47 of Tell Me When It's Over

I don’t want to. “Maybe I—”

“Please?” His voice cracks and when I finally look up at him, his expression pleads for forgiveness. I know Kyler would never intentionally hurt me for malicious reasons, but I won’t forget even if those warm brown eyes make me want to. “And change into something you won’t melt in. Anything you’re comfortable in. I promise not to overreact this time. Deal?”

I want to ask him why he overreacted the first time, but I don’t. Giving him a terse nod, he watches me for a few more seconds and that’s when I see it. The conflict. The way his eyes flicker down me again, like he’s trying to figure out the same thing I am.

If we’ve changed.

If something else is going on that wasn’t before.

Maybe he expects me to change back into what I had on to prove him wrong, to show that I’m stronger than being beaten down by his harsh words, but not even the apparent changed version of me, the grown up one as he calls it, is confident enough for that. Not while Gordy is downstairs waiting, and not when I see a spark of something that resembles lust and confusion in the eyes of the boy I used to consider family.

Making them wait for longer than necessary while I put on a pair of respectfully short pajama bottoms and try collecting my thoughts, I trudge downstairs. I see Gordy first, who gives me a sympathetic smile that only makes me feel worse as I take the furthest seat away from them in the living room.

They both frown.

Well, Ky sighs for what seems like the hundredth time, but I don’t pay him any attention because I’m afraid of what my face will give away if I do. Taking a deep breath, I focus on Gordy. “Kyler said you wanted to talk to me?”

“Us,” Ky corrects under his breath.

“Us,” I amend. “What about?”

“Just some social media stuff.” I know it’s about what people have started posting online. I’ve seen a lot of crappy things said about me and Kyler randomly showing up in Mia’s life again like we’re somehow trying to use her. “I’ve been thinking that we should make a few posts just setting a couple records straight about why you’re here. Maybe you could—”

“No.” That’s Kyler. Not just Ky’s normal tone, but his protective-slash-angry voice. The one that gives his face hard edges as he openly glares in disapproval at his friend like he’s asking me to model nude for some magazine. Clearly that will never happen.

Yep. Not getting past this anytime soon.

“Man, think reasonably. People are talking and let’s be real, it’s not good. Do you want people to tear her apart more?” I’m assuming the ‘her’ is

me, which would be nice to know instead of being ignored while the two hash it out in front of me like I’m suddenly invisible.

Kyler palms the armrest of the chair he’s in, his knee bouncing. “Do you really need to ask me that?”

All Gordy does is shrug.

I smile a little. Then remember what we’re talking about and lose it in a heartbeat. “Is it that bad, Gord?”

His attention drifts back to me. “I’ve seen worse, Len. But I’m not going to fuck with you, it would be better if something were said now before it gets out of hand.”

“All because I went to Mia’s party?”

Whatever passes over his face raises alarm whistles in my head. “Because you showed up at Mia’s house with Kyler after you both disappeared for years.”

I’m not sure I understand the context he’s throwing out, and neither does Ky. “What the hell does that mean?”

Gordy raises his hands. “It means that people are going to draw conclusions no matter what. I’m willing to help out, but I think Leighton could come up with something to post like she did for you. You’re smart. Resourceful.” He directs the last part to me, making me beam.

He isn’t wrong, and all the information I retained from Ms. Wynona back in the day leads to doing exactly what he says. Still, I’m uneasy about what people have been concluding. “So, I make a post and then what?” I doubt it’ll magically be all better after that. Even Ky still got some crap online when he posted something on Instagram saying he was glad to be back and catching up with family. Short, sweet, and to the point. I mean, I was in the picture and people still have a lot to say about why I’m here.

“Mia will speak out too,” he explains, looking between us. “She’s been raring to fight this since the first article surfaced. Dylan had to talk her out of it. Called me saying something about pregnancy hormones going to be the end of him. Anyway, you’ll make a post, she’ll make one, and eventually people will find better shit to obsess over.”

Why do I doubt that? “Rather than obsessing over my nefarious plans to what? Use Mia and Dylan’s baby or something?”

Both the guys chuckle. “You never know,” Gordy answers. “People have done weirder things.”

He’s not wrong, and for some reason Mom’s face pops into the forefront of my mind when he says it. It’s no wonder. She faked a paternity test to get fifteen minutes of fame. Or four years. Same difference in the long run.

“True,” I admit reluctantly. “I’ll do it.”

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