26. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Sloane
December 1992
K y tells me that he is going to come to Atlanta over Christmas break, and I cannot wait. We've been making the long-distance thing work well and have spent countless hours on the phone learning a lot about each other. Not only is it tough that we can't see each other, but our calls are often interrupted by my mom's real estate business as agents are always calling about setting up showings and seeing if properties are available.
I talk to Billy and Tyler about Ky all the time. I'm sure a part of me wants to make Tyler jealous, even though he has an amazing girlfriend. I would never do anything to jeopardize that. Plus, I have no idea if he would even like me like that. I'm just so happy that someone has finally shown interest in me. But why am I still thinking about Tyler like that when I have Ky?
Ky and I are both off from school the week between Christmas and New Year's. Although Ky has to visit me around his work schedule, he is able to come up for two days, and I've been counting the days. I'm trying to read a book in my parent's formal living room, a room we never use, but it's hard to concentrate. I spent the day cleaning and doing chores which helped the time pass. When I knew Ky should be about an hour out, I got ready and waited as the clock ticked by slowly. When I hear his noisy VW beetle ramble down the street, those butterflies wake up, and I hop off the sofa and run to the front door. I watch Ky extract his tall frame from his little car and grab his bag. My stomach is nervous with anticipation. As he heads up the driveway, I open the door. Ky hears the door and when he sees me, his face lights up.
I feel my smile spread across my face as I hop down the brick porch steps toward the cement walkway. I notice Ky's pace quicken, and I trot down the path to meet him. As I approach him, he drops his canvas duffle bag and envelops me in a huge hug, picking me up off the ground. When he sets me down, he leans down and places a sweet kiss on my lips. He leans out of the kiss, his eyes searching my face, "You're a sight for sore eyes."
I smile and kiss him again. "It's so good to see you." I wrap him in another hug, and my cheek feels right at home against his chest. I can hear his heart beating quickly and am glad he's as excited to see me as I am to see him. I release the hug and look up at him. "Was the trip okay?"
He tucks my hair behind my right ear and says, "I would have driven twice as far to see you." He kisses me on the forehead. "Let's go inside. I want to meet your family."
Obviously, I have filled him in on my family over our numerous phone calls, and of course, our parents have talked. My parents are great and will be cool, I think. My sisters are wildcards. Erin is home from college and we have a weird relationship. We bicker a lot and she finds joy in pushing my buttons which is super annoying. I have always hoped it would get better as we got older, but so far, that hasn't happened. We get along, but it can be strained depending on which way the wind blows. Bryn is my middle sister and since she almost died when she was born, she has some challenges. She can be really guarded with strangers, and at times, she can say some inappropriate stuff, so you never know what you're going to get. I love Bryn, but sometimes it's tough because my mom tries to get me to let her tag along with my friends, but let's face it, it's hard enough for me to make friends on my own. I don't think my mom realizes how hard it is for me, too. Bryn’s disability is more prominent than my anxiety and shyness, so I just have to suck it up. That's pretty much how we grew up, and now that I'm older, I kind of just want something for myself.
As we walk up the front steps and stand before the front door, I look up at Ky. "You ready for this?"
He smiles, "Ready or not, here I come."
I laugh at his corny response, and he gives me one more kiss before we go inside. When I lean away, he looks up over my head with a quizzical expression on his face. "Is someone watching us?"
I turn around and follow his gaze up to the windows. "Ugh," I groan as I lean my forehead on his chest then look back up at him. "That's Bryn's room, and yes, she's probably spying on us. Probably will be all weekend."
Ky rubs his thumb across my cheek and smiles. "It's okay. Come on, let's go meet your family."