Page 76 of Tell Me When It's Over

It’s hard not to laugh over that. Who calls themselves a shithead? “Ky, it’s fine. You’ve been busy.” I mean, I mulled it over all day, and decided to let it go. What else could I do?

A hand goes through his hair. “Mind if I come in?” I shake my head and watch him approach my bed, sighing as he drops onto the end of it and stretches his legs out opposite me. His eyes land on my book, another random gift from him to grow my new book collection, before meeting mine again. “I’m sorry. I should have remembered, but things have been crazy.”

I already knew that, so I shrug. We didn’t even celebrate his birthday at the end of last month because he and Gordy have been running around being secretive. Admittedly, that hurt. I always used to be the first to know when Kyler was up to something. He let me in on all his secret projects, making me feel special, like our bond didn’t come second to his music.

“Listen, you and Mia have been so busy that I didn’t expect anything.” Were my feelings hurt over it? Yes. Do they still sting a little? Maybe like a cat scratch—a tiny little kitten scratch. He doesn’t need to know that though, because then he’ll feel worse. “She’s been going crazy making sure their house is babyproof, and you and Gordy have been sneaking around, so it is what it is.”

“I texted her on the way here,” he admits sheepishly, cringing at whatever he’s thinking. “I had no idea until Gordy mentioned the date. As soon as I realized, I told him I had to go.”

He did? “Kyler—”

“Mia feels like shit too.”

I drop my head back and groan. “I don’t want either of you feeling that way. Okay? I’m fine. Today was…it was good.” Chase bought me a cupcake from the store that was double chocolate and yummy, but nothing like the homemade cakes in my past. I sort of miss the burnt edges and the buttercream frosting we used to put too much of on top.

When I look at him again to try reassuring him with a smile, he still looks sad. “Did you at least do something with Chase?”

“We hung out at his house by the pool.” Not knowing where we stand on certain things, I add, “Supervised.” Well, mostly. Mrs. Matthews actually stayed indoors most of the day and only came out to grab our dishes or offer us more drinks despite Chase saying he could get us stuff if we needed it.

The sigh that he responds with has my shoulders tensing, and I mentally prepare for our next showdown. To my surprise, he doesn’t say what I think he will. “Like I said, I’m a shithead.”

Uh…what?

He shakes his head. “I’ve made it seem like you can’t tell me shit anymore when it comes to Chase. I took it too far the day you came home from your first date. I gave you guys space because Mia told me to cut it out. She was right. I had no reason to act like a dick.”

This is not going how I expected. Is it unwarranted? No. He apologized the morning he came back from…wherever he went after our fight, but never said a word about it since. I waited for it. Expected a conversation, but never started one because it seemed like he wanted to avoid the topic.

“I’m glad you two did something today, even if it was just lounging around.” Another pause is accompanied by a tick to his jaw. “And if you want to invite him over tomorrow, maybe we can do some cake? Mia already told me she’d get the ingredients to do one from scratch like we used to. I know it’s not the same, but we can make it right.”

I blink. “You want to do that?”

His throat bobs. “I made a promise to a twelve-year-old. I’ve done a pretty shitty job at keeping it the past couple of years, so it’s time to make up for it.”

“You don’t have—”

“Don’t start with that.” He takes my hand and threads our fingers together. “I want to. You know I do. In fact, I kind of missed baking cakes with you and Mia over the years. Haven’t done it since you turned sixteen.”

My lips part. “What?”

He offers me a sheepish shrug, almost embarrassed by the admission. “I planned on baking one for my birthday the year after you left, but it didn’t feel right. Mia ended up picking something up from the store. We spent the day talking about you.”

Having no clue what to do with that, I only stare. Kyler had left California only a few months after Mom and I did. Did that mean Mia went to his place on the east coast to celebrate his birthday?

He nods when he reads my disbelief. “I asked if she’d heard from you and all she’d tell me is that she was sure you were doing well. I know you mentioned that you two kept in touch but…”

“We didn’t right away,” I admit. “I wasn’t sure if she’d want to hear from me. If either of you did. The way things were left was kind of messy.”

His nod is grim, probably remembering that day like I am. “Yeah, I know.”

My mind is still latched on to one thing that my stomach rumbles over. “You really want to make me a cake?”

He reaches over and taps my hand, not letting his fingers linger. “Of course I do. Chocolate still your favorite? I don’t see you eating as much of it.”

I don’t tell him that I keep a bag of Hershey kisses stashed in the bottom drawer of my dresser. “It is.”

His smile makes mine grow. “Until then, what do you want to do? There’s probably a movie we could rent. I’ve got some popcorn we can make. Anything.”

The fact he wants to pick up where we left off does make my heart thump loudly in my chest. Crossing my legs under me, I take a deep breath before admitting the only thing I really want. “I want to hear the song.”

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