29
JAKE
I've gotten the routine of going to Kiera's home down to an art. Every day, three times a day at exactly the same time, I pull up to her house, say hi to her parents, and leave something for her.
I don't expect anything to come of that, but I have a physical need to be close to her. So, other than camping in her front or backyard, this is the best way I have to catch a glimpse of her.
Sometimes, I catch sight of her hiding behind the curtains in her room upstairs. Never fails to make me smile when she isn't quick enough to hide or when I catch her in the reflection in my rearview mirror.
It's torturous, having her so close, yet so far, but I love her, and I need her in my life, so I promised myself that I won't stop trying to win her over.
It's going to be a long, uphill battle. But she is it for me, and I will not back down.
Besides, her parents are incredibly sweet. Her mom always has coffee and cookies set out for me whenever I'm over. And even her father makes small talk with me. He no longer looks at me like he's about to strangle me to death, so I'm sure I've at least made some progress on that front.
It's only been a week, or already depending on how I want to look at it. Every time I drop by, I ask her mom if Kiera at least sees the gifts I leave her.
She tells me sadly that she wants them to throw all of it out, but her mom has all of it tucked away somewhere. That gives me hope.
They think Kiera is going to come around. Even my parents agree.
Mom actually wanted to come with me to see Kiera, but I convinced her to wait. I'm going to win Kiera over before anything else. I don't want to overwhelm her.
That also means coming up with a plan to tell her everything. I know she isn’t ready to hear what I've to say, and maybe she won't even believe me at first. But I'm going to try and try again and never give up and one day, I will win her over.
Kiera and I are soulmates. I know she loves me back. I just have to break the web of lies that Chris has built around us.
And I’m ready to be on my way now, so I get ready to leave the house.
Dad stops me.
"Are you going by Kiera's?"
"Yes."
"Perfect. I have a painting I want you to deliver to Peter's."
Peter's is this cozy café in Eros.
"Dad," I groan. "It's in the opposite direction to Kiera's home."
"She won't mind if you're a little late."
"Fine."
"And I also require a change of tires."
"Dad, you're killing me." Now, I'll have to go all the way to the other side of the town.
***
By the time I get back, it's afternoon. I’m already way too late, so I make a quick pitstop and pick up a small bouquet with an orchid as the star.
I knock on the door, but there's nothing but silence on the other side. I knock again, and then try the door. It's locked.
Fuck. Where is everybody?
"Kiera?" I call out.
Nothing. Even if she was inside, she wouldn't respond. I try to call for her mom, and then her dad but nobody seems to be home. All the doors and windows are shut, and even their car is missing from the driveway.
Where's everybody gone?
Panic sets in. Did they leave town without telling me? What I took for their hospitality might have just been them tolerating me.
No, Jake, get ahold of yourself. You're overthinking things.
I shake my head. Kiera and her parents must have stepped out somewhere. Maybe they're somewhere in the town having lunch.
Wait. If she is out of the house, that would be my best bet to find Kiera and talk to her.
I get back into my car and drive into town, circling the main circle.
I'm hit by a wave of nostalgia. Everything in Eros seems to be suspended in time. Nothing has changed. It's the same diner with peeling paint, the same arcade with a slightly skewed signboard. It's the Eros I remember from my teenage years.
Back then, Kiera and I used to spend our time driving around the town center as I was teaching her how to drive.
She would giggle as I leaned in and tickled her, telling her that she must learn not to get distracted easily.
The honk of a car catches my attention. The driver in the car right behind me is gesturing to me angrily.
I can't look for Kiera and her family, driving around in my car. I need to be on my feet.
Even though things are still the same, the town has expanded. There are more stores than there used to be, and a lot more cars.
I can't see Kiera's dad beat up Sedan anywhere.
I park my car in the first spot I find and set out on foot, checking in the window of every shop I pass by.
I think I might look like a total creep to someone who might be watching me.
I run into a couple of people on the street who recognize me. There are some I went to high school with.
"Well, well, if it isn’t Jake Bennett." It’s Kevin, the linebacker from high school. "What brings you to town?"
"Kiera is back in town," the girl with him replies. I don't recognize the girl. "So, it's obvious that he has to be here as well. Those two were always two peas in a pod."
Kevin guffaws. I wince at the sound. "Is that true, Bennett? Did you manage to get with her finally?"
I want to tell him to eff off. But I guess he can help me here.
"Actually," I say. "I'm looking for her. Have you seen Kiera or her family?"
Before Kevin can reply, the girl next to him replies. "I think I saw her mom at Trader Joe's."
"Are you sure?"
"Look at you," Kevin smirks. "You're like a lost puppy. Don't worry, you'll find your girlfriend soon."
"Thanks, Kevin."
He continues to smirk at me as I walk past him. Some things really never do change.
I walk past the Trader's Joe that the lady mentioned but there's no sight of either their car, or Kiera's mother.
Where can they be?
Maybe I should just go back to her house and wait for her to come back.
They can't be gone for long.
But the urge to find Kiera increases exponentially. I don't understand the urgency, the itch under my skin. I just need to see her.
Somehow.
I'm walking past Trader's Joe as a couple is loading their trunk with groceries. It takes me a few moments to place them.
And then it finally clicks.
I jog over to them just as they are shutting the trunk close.
"Hi," I say, introducing myself. "Wyatt Crofton, right?"
The man, Kiera's uncle, squints at me. "Yes."
"I'm Jake."
"Oh, my God, little Jakey," his wife says, coming around to give me a hug. "Look at how grown up you are."
"Who's Jake?" Wyatt Crofton says.
"Kiera's best friend, silly. These two were basically attached at the hips."
"Ah, that's right," the man replies, though I doubt he still recognizes me.
"What's going on with you?" his wife asks.
"Actually, I was looking for Kiera," I say. "She's not home. Do you know where she is?"
I know I probably sound stupid.
"No, dear. I wish I could tell you. But Kiera's mother mentioned that they might be going away for the weekend. So, maybe that's where they are."
My stomach sinks. They left town? Her parents didn't mention it when I went by their house yesterday.
I was wrong. Maybe they are trying to get rid of me.
"Okay, thanks, I guess," I say. Before she can say anything else, I start walking away, feeling dejected.
Where are you, baby?
Did she convince her parents to take her back to the city? I know that she came to Eros because she thought it would be a better, safer place to raise the baby, her friend told me as much. But had I managed to chase her away from this place that she called home?
I inhale sharply.
How had things gone so absolutely wrong? Why is it that always, when I'm on the verge of something beautiful, it's snatched away from me so cruelly.
When Kiera and I finally got together all those years ago, I finally thought that was it. That I had her forever.
But one misunderstanding, and she was gone for my life for five years.
And this time, she thinks that I did something heinous and unforgivable.
Why would she give me a chance to explain myself? She owed me nothing. I owed her everything.
When I close my eyes, her face flashes in front of mine. Maybe trying to barge my way into her life isn't the best idea. I know that I was just trying to make a grand gesture, I wanted to make her see that I wasn't going anywhere and that I was ready to face her wrath.
But I never considered the flip side. I was putting her through immense distress just by my presence. She didn't deserve that.
Maybe I should go away and leave her to her peace. I was selfish, thinking about just myself. What about her? And my unborn child?
Her Mom had mentioned that the doctor had some concerns about her fluctuating blood pressure. I had internally dismissed it. But what if it's an indication of something worse? Would she be glad to finally be rid of me? Will she be happy when I'm gone?
When I break out of my thoughts, I look up to see that I've walked way past the town center. I'm almost on the highway. The road branches in two directions. One that leads toward Oregon, and the other that rises up to a sharp cliff with a gorgeous view of the valley.
It's a gorgeous spot, just right beside a thick forest, and there's even a grand viewing deck. But there's another spot, more secluded, right down the road that isn't known to many people.
I still remember the first time I showed it to Kiera. We were sophomores, and I had convinced her to ditch school.
"You're such a bad influence on me, Jake," she had told me.
"You know you love me."
I would always joke about it, but deep down, I wanted to hear when she said, "I do love you."
I wish I could hear the words from her mouth. I wish she would walk into my arms, and I could just embrace her and never let her go.
But it's never going to happen. She hates me.
"Just wait till you see the spot," I had told her as we rode our bikes there. "You'll thank me later."
I walk past the parking spot and head into the forest.
Ever since that day, whenever either of us were upset, we would walk up the trail to the spot.
We knew nobody else would be there. It was made just for the two of us.
I walk past the woods and come out into the clearing.
For a few seconds, I'm awestruck by the view. The stunning vista of the rugged mountain ranges in the distance greeting me.
The woods are silent, interspersed with the occasional cry of a bird. The sun is right above me, peeking out of the clouds.
But then my eyes settle on something else. Some one else. I'm not alone.
Sitting on the crooked, old bench, is Kiera.
She's facing away from me, so she doesn't see me yet.
I open my mouth and close it, no sound coming out. I can't believe it. She came here, after all these years. She came to our spot.
As if sensing my gaze on her, she slowly starts to turn around. When she sees me, her eyes widen.
"Kiera—"
She can't be here. This can't be real. And yet, here she is.
I can't breathe.
Kiera rises to her feet.
My heart squeezes, and my stomach leaps up to my mouth.
God. I love this woman so much.