Chapter Forty-Four
Forty-four
Kian
“Pick up. Pick up. Come on!” I’m staring at my phone as I ring the group chat. Where are these assholes when you need them?
One by one I see their faces populate on my screen.
“Is this another 911?” Cole shouts over the music playing in Sebastian’s car.
“Where are you two going so early in the morning?” I ask, waiting for the rest of the guys.
“It’s morning?” he asks. “Oh shit. Yo, that’s the sunrise!” The last part muffles when he turns to inform Sebastian.
Dylan pops onto the screen, freshly showered and still naked. “What’s going on?”
“Do you know what Scarlett’s last name is?” I ask.
“It’s Rose,” Cole says matter-of-factly. “I thought you were into her, Ishida. You don’t know that?”
Into her. It feels like a gross understatement on how I feel about the girl.
“It’s Kilner.”
“What is?” Sebastian asks this time.
“Her last name. It’s Kilner. Scarlett Kilner.”
My phone is silent for so long before the guys burst in succession, a mix of shocked gasps, uncomfortable chuckles, and “No fucking way”s coming out of my phone.
“But I’ve never—” Dylan pauses. “Oh shit. That’s why Sierra said Kilner’s like a dad to her.”
“Oh thank fuck I didn’t ask her on that date,” Cole says.
I roll my eyes. “She wouldn’t have said yes, idiot.”
“Either way, my balls will still be intact at practice.” I’m wondering why I called them.
“What the hell am I supposed to do now? He saw us.”
Dylan shrugs. “Well, you didn’t know. You can’t do much about that, man.”
“But she knew. This whole time she knew and decided not to tell me. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?”
“Did you talk to her?”
I shake my head.
“Well, genius, maybe try that. I’m sure she has a reason, and if she doesn’t, you can still talk about it.”
“Fuck.” When did he become so optimistic? That’s supposed to be me.
I have to go back.
I don’t want to be away from her. I don’t want to be mad at her. I want to be with her. To understand. Why didn’t she tell me?
“I gotta go,” I tell the guys, making a U-turn and heading right back.
They’re still laughing. “Only you, Ishida.”
Scarlett
I think it’s time I flee the country. There are clearly no other options.
Not only did my father see me practically mauling a man, but he also saw that it was Kian Ishida.
The captain of his hockey team. The mere thought of what just unraveled before my very eyes makes a shiver run up my spine. I’m in a horror movie.
Or a nightmare. Please let this be a nightmare.
The moment I ran inside after the train wreck I caused outside, I slammed my dorm door shut and fell to the floor when my legs gave out.
Keys jingle on the other side of the door, and I’m on high alert. Shit! Does my dad have keys to this place? I wouldn’t be surprised.
“Is something blocking the door?” Sierra’s voice makes me exhale a relieved breath. I scoot out of the way to let my best friend in then immediately close it again, pressing my back against the wood.
“Scar? What’s going on?” She’s inspecting me as if I’m in physical pain, but I feel it everywhere. Inside and out.
“He knows,” I mutter. “My dad knows.”
Sierra moves to sit beside me, both of our backs against the door as I stare at my lap and she stares at me. “Knows what, babe?”
Then I realize how many people I’ll hurt with this. I’ve been so caught up in keeping everything a secret that I didn’t realize who I’ve been keeping them from.
“That I’m—”
“Scarlett?” Kian’s soft voice filters through the door. He gives a few gentle knocks to the door. “Can we talk, baby?”
“Baby?” Sierra whispers, mostly to herself. But when I look at her with wide, sad eyes, she doesn’t ask me anything. She looks through the peephole. “Should I let him in?”
I realize she must see what I need before I can even recognize it in myself.
“Scar? I want to talk to you. I just want to understand what’s going on. I shouldn’t have left like that.”
I can do it. I can talk to him. He deserves that much from me. The thought of facing him after I’ve lied to his face for so long holds me back. Having seen the disappointment, the anger, the rejection coming from him when he walked away earlier makes me feel worse. I can’t do it.
I’m a coward. It’s what I’ve been this whole semester.
What could I possibly say to him? The hockey coach you’ve treated like a father figure and finally got on his good side? Yeah, I’m his daughter.
“I can talk to him. You don’t have to,” Sierra suggests. I want her to stop being so nice to me, not when I’ve done something so terrible.
I nod once, and Sierra opens the door, nudging me to the side. “Oh thank God, Sca—”
“Hey,” Sierra says. “I think Scarlett just wants to be alone right now.”
“Sierra, you have to let me talk to her.”
“Look, I don’t really know what’s going on between you two. Honestly, this whole thing is shocking as hell, but she’s really not in the space to talk.” Sierra’s rigid posture melts, and I know it’s from seeing that kicked-puppy look on Kian’s face. “I’m sure she’ll call you when she’s ready, Kian.”
“When is that going to be?” His voice cracks on the last word. It shoots a dart through my chest. “Can you tell her that I’m here for her? She can tell me anything. She knows that. I hope she knows that. No matter what.”
Sierra nods and closes the door, giving me a pained look. As if asking, What the hell did you do to the poor guy?
“Thanks,” I say quietly.
“Okay, first, was he always that hot, or do I just love to see men in pain?” Sierra asks.
“Both,” I say quietly.
“Good to know.” Her head tilts with a sympathetic look. “Now, tell me what’s got you poor souls so twisted up.”
So I do. I tell my best friend everything.