Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
Presley
I lock my door and nearly fold in half, trying to catch the breath I’ve needed from the moment I saw him waiting in my driveway. The breath he swallowed from me when he pinned me against his truck and shattered me into a million blissful fragments. He makes me want things I shouldn’t. He makes me crave things that aren’t safe for my heart.
I pull out my phone, ready to erase his text, but his message stops me.
Kyler: Happy belated birthday, baby! I’ll give you your present later.
My chest tightens as a familiar warmth settles in. Since the day my mom ripped me from my home, it’s been cold in my world. But it’s as if we just picked up right where we left off. Only, now, the attraction is so intense it feels like some unstoppable force is drawing me to him. But as I look around my old kitchen, recalling what I had to fight through in order to get back here, in order to be able to keep myself upright, to be able to look at myself in the mirror again, I know I can’t go there. Kyler wasn’t just my best friend when we were kids, he was my everything. And out of all the guys in my life, he’s the only one who could truly destroy me.
I thought Maddock had, but I realized this afternoon, that what I felt for him didn’t even resemble love. But the truth that’s always lived inside my heart, knows exactly what Kyler means to me—even after all these years apart. Which is why I can only offer him a friendship. And the next time I see him, I need to make that clear. What happened today will never happen again.
To say I was distracted during class tonight is an understatement. Everything kept replaying in my mind and I could barely focus. Thankfully, I’m good at dance so I was able to still follow along even though my head was nowhere near the room I was in. Now, I’m struggling to fall asleep because the adrenaline is still pumping through my veins and Kyler is still running through my mind.
My phone buzzes on my nightstand, and as soon as I see who sent me the text, butterflies decide to do pirouettes in my stomach.
Kyler: Tag, you’re it .
I can’t even fight the smile. We used to play tag every day in the backyard. Back when life was easy and the only thing we had to worry about was which cartoons we were going to watch when we got home from school. Back before my mom took me away and the spiral of shit began. I know he wants me to send him a message, but I don’t. I want to. Everything in me wants to. But I can’t. I put my phone back down and try to ignore the beating in my chest as I close my eyes and start to count sheep. I need to put the hope to bed and stop thinking about the one who’s the gatekeeper of all my childhood smiles.
The buzz of my phone breaks through the rushing of my heartbeat. Reluctantly, I dare myself another peek, knowing it’s a horrible idea.
Kyler: I would never betray you like he did. That’s a promise. You know me, Presley. I’m still the same guy. I don’t ever break promises. Never have. Never will.
My heart races even faster, feeling as though it’s stuck in quicksand. The force fighting to pull me under, but if I let myself sink, I won’t survive. I turn, placing my phone back down on the nightstand and then tuck all my feelings under the covers before I close my eyes. Tomorrow, when I see him, I’m going to have to draw the line in the sand. As much as I’d love to be friends with him, I don’t even think that’s possible.