Page 67 of Awakened in September (Sleepless November Saga 4)

“You wish.”

Maybe I do. Ugh, fuck. “Hey, remember what I told you to think about, okay?”

“Y-you were serious?”

“Yes? Why? You didn’t think I was?”

Trying to compose herself, she shakes her head. “I-I just thought maybe you were drunk and talking nonsense.”

“Oh. Well, I wasn’t.” Shit. This is where she turns me down.

She thinks about for a second before nodding. “Okay. I’ll think about it today then.”

Hope swells inside my chest and I need to do everything I can to keep it down. “Good. If you can, let me know by tonight. I’d have to buy your plane ticket so we’re on the same flight.”

“You don’t have to do that. I could pay for myself.”

I smile, stepping into her personal space and kissing the top of her forehead. “Now who’s talking nonsense?”

It all seems way too intimate for what we are but I can’t find it in me to care. She must feel it too because her cheeks flush and she stumbles backwards. After coming over to kiss me one more time, she leaves the room with a quick goodbye – heading to work.

I throw myself down on my bed and groan into my pillow. This girl is going to be the reason I go completely mental.

THE REST OF THE day is torture. I work on packing, knowing I don’t need a lot, and send a quick text to my mom – telling her that I might be bringing someone home with me. She tries to call me but I don’t answer. I’d rather not listen to her grill me when I don’t have all the answers yet.

Towards the middle of the day, my phone rings again and Brandon’s name appears on the screen. Shit. Mom must have called him. I’m not stupid, though. I know if I don’t answer, he’s only going to keep calling. I pick up the phone and put it to my ear.

“Hello?”

“Is it Kayleigh? Tell me it’s Kayleigh.” He sounds desperate to know.

“Oh, hey Bran. I’m great, thanks for asking.”

“Shut up. Is it her?”

I chuckle. “What are you talking about?”

He huffs. “Don’t play coy with me, Rivers. It doesn’t look good on you.”

“Everything looks good on me.” I correct.

“Cocky bastard.” He mumbles under his breath. “I mean the someone you might be bringing home with you for Thanksgiving.”

“I think the key word in that is might. I haven’t gotten an answer yet.”

“But you asked? So, it is her?”

I wince, knowing there is no getting out of this. “Y-yeah. But don’t go making a big deal about this. We’re just friends. I don’t want to scare her off thinking I’m ready to marry her tomorrow or something.” My mind gets lost in a daydream of Kayleigh in

a wedding dress, walking down an aisle towards me… No. Fucking stop.

“Fair enough.” Brandon laughs. “Well, let me know what she says. Regardless, I’ll see you tomorrow at the airport.”

“Sounds good.”

We get off the phone and I go back to packing, trying everything I can to keep thoughts of how crazy I am about her out of my head.

OF COURSE, THE ONE day I need her home more than I need to breathe, she works from open to close. Apparently, the rest of the employees left early for break and that left her and Dawson to cover the whole day. My phone vibrates on the bed and for a second I start to panic.

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