Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
EVE
I’d never liked the airport. Not that I’d ever been in one before, even though I had a passport, but I knew it wasn’t a place I’d enjoy. It was too loud and busy. The compound had a heap of people in it, but that was nothing compared to this.
What was worse was the reason I was here. It meant I was losing my friend.
My bottom lip trembled.
Rommy shook her head. “No. Nope. I can’t have you start. If you do, then I will, and it’ll be the end of me. There could be a hot pilot I need to impress, and I can’t do that with snot and tears running down my face.”
My stomach twisted at the thought of Rommy admiring a pilot.
Kayson was hot.
She just needed to look at him. It really didn’t bother me if she did.
I just didn’t want her to leave.
But I couldn’t say that now.
Sniffing, I wiped at my face and nodded. “You’ll text me all the time.”
She gave me a watery smile. “You’ll get sick of how much I’m going to text you.”
“Never,” I told her.
“Don’t forget to give Dusty those recipes you said I should try,” Kayson said as he reached out to tap her nose, which she scrunched up.
“I won’t, and maybe someday you can both come to see me, and we’ll try a heap of things together.”
He nodded. “Sounds good.”
Don’t go, I wanted to shout. Please don’t leave us.
I gripped Kayson’s hand tightly and thinned my lips.
“Goodbyes suck,” I said, and my bottom lip trembled again, so I bit down on it. The tears still welled.
Rommy groaned as if in pain. “I can’t look at you.” She glanced up at Kayson. “Come here, big guy, and give me a hug. I need to get moving to find my parents.” They’d already said goodbye to us and left Rommy to do the same.
I didn’t want her to go, though.
Kayson released my hand and picked Rommy up, swaying her side to side as he hugged her tightly. His jaw clenched, like he was fighting his emotions too. But then I saw him nod, so I knew Rommy was telling him something.
Shouldn’t I be jealous over that?
Over seeing him gently kiss her cheek and temple?
I had no idea, other than I wasn’t.
I thought it sweet, cute, and even sexy.
My heart pounded at the idea of seeing them kiss, but more so over me touching my lips to Rommy’s.
It was obvious Kayson cared about her, maybe even as much as I did. We’d all grown so close. But on what level did we care? Why was I thinking about kissing her? Why did I want my boyfriend to?
Now she was leaving.
To another part of the world.
So far away.
Too far away.
Kayson nodded again before he gave her one last kiss on the temple. She patted his back before he set her back on her feet.
When she stepped away with tears streaming down her face, my own dam burst.
“You weren’t supposed to cry,” I wailed as we reached out at the same time to hug each other. I buried my face into the crook of her neck and felt her running a hand over my hair.
Don’t go. Please.
I want you here.
Stay with us.
But I couldn’t do that to her, not when I didn’t know exactly how I wanted her to stay—as a friend or more. It was selfish to think about all this as she was leaving. I needed to work myself out before anything.
“The best thing about being kidnapped was meeting you and Quake. You’re a sweet, wonderful, gorgeous person, Eve, and never think badly of yourself again because I love the woman you are, and if I hear you say unkind things about yourself, I’m going to have to slap you silly.
Don’t be mean to my person.” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat.
I whined, shaking my head, unable to form words.
“Take care of your big guy. The love you have for each other is something special, and I know it’s going to be amazing.” She gave me one last squeeze before stepping back.
When I started to reach for her, she smiled sadly and moved out of reach. Kayson curled an arm around my waist, holding me in place.
Rommy grinned, new tears welling as she sent us the peace sign. “You two are the best people in the universe. Later, gators.” Then she turned and rushed through the crowd.
Kayson kissed my shoulder. “It’ll be okay.”
Would it?
Why did it feel like my heart was being crushed?
When I heard his sniff, I turned in his arms and looked up at him.
Oh God. My beautiful man had tears in his eyes too.
He gave me a tight smile and shrugged. “I ain’t immune to all the tears you two produced.”
Cupping his cheeks, I went to my toes and kissed him before wrapping my arms around him. “Goodbyes suck,” I said again.
“Fuck yes they do.”
I wanted to drag Kayson with me to go find her.
We had to keep her here with us.
Kidnap her ourselves.
Because something already felt like it was missing.
* * *
Quake
Lock it down.
Lock it the fuck down.
Clenching my jaw, I hugged Eve to me.
Rommy’s words played on my mind.
“I know you’ll love her with everything you have because you’re a good man, Quake. You and Eve mean so much to me, and I’m going to miss you both like crazy. Take care of each other while we’re apart, you smart, smoking-hot man.”
I hadn’t even laughed at her words. I’d been too choked up to say anything.
I wanted to tell her she meant a lot to us, too, but I couldn’t even do that.
Rommy was now gone. She’d be going through security and then getting on a plane back to Australia.
It didn’t sit right with me.
Eve was struggling too. The tears from all of us were enough of a sign. They weren’t for just a friend either. Rommy had made a place in my heart and Eve’s. She was lodged, stuck, and seeing her walk away was fucking hard.
It hollowed my gut.
I wanted to pick Eve up and carry her with me to go after Rommy, then grab Rommy under my other arm and take them both home.
Fuck.
This shit wasn’t right.
My chest goddamn ached.
But it was too late.
She was gone.
And it really wasn’t right to try and figure out if the two of us could become three. Eve had only just accepted me. It’d be so wrong of me to suggest that our feelings for Rommy were something stronger than friendship.
Eve would have to figure it out for herself without my help.
If she ever did.
* * *
Romania
Customs was just around the corner. I had to keep it together for now. I had to get through to my parents and then I could shatter. I wanted to stay. I wanted to be with them, but they didn’t see me as anything other than a friend.
With my head down, I turned the corner and thumped into a chest.
I looked up into Dad’s sad eyes. His hand dropped to the top of my head. “Kid?”
I shook my head.
“You can let it go,” he told me.
Again, I shook my head, jaw clenched, tears welling.
If I let go, I wouldn’t be able to stop, and I’d be a mess through security, and they’d think I was a drug lord or a bomber or something.
Dad cupped the back of my head. “You’re always a strong, brave woman, Rom. But it’s okay to let go. Who gives a flying fuck about anyone else seein’ my daughter lettin’ her emotions ride her. They mean a lot to you, darlin’. Let it go, Rom.”
My face crumbled, and I pushed in against Dad’s chest, crying, sobbing.
It’s not fair.
It’s not fair.
It’s not fair.
I was supposed to find love that could last forever and get to keep it, not have to walk away from it.
It wasn’t fair.
I just wanted them to care about me like I did them.
But I couldn’t have them.
I couldn’t keep them.
They weren’t mine.
“Oh, sweetie,” Mum whispered from beside me and then I felt her hugging my back. “They mean something big to you, don’t they?”
I nodded against Dad’s chest.
“One day they’ll realise what they lost.”
Sniffing, I wiped at my face and shook my head. “I-I have to let them go. They… they don’t need me messing up their love.”
Wiping at my face again, I swallowed thickly and forced my emotions down. Still, my eyes welled again so I scrubbed at them. “I’m okay. I-I’ll be okay.” The tears wouldn’t quit, though, and my parents’ stare had me thinking that they thought I was the biggest liar in the world.
Which I was.
It hurts.
So much.
My chest burned.
They’d stolen a part of my heart, but they didn’t do it on purpose. They didn’t know my heart wanted to stay with them.
I was just their friend.
That was all I’d ever be.
Sniffing again, I rubbed more tears away. “I’m okay.” I gave them a watery smile.
Dad’s jaw clenched. “You’re not, but it’s okay to be heartbroken, kid. Your mum and I weren’t blind when it came to you placin’ your feelin’s in their palms. They’re fools for not seein’ the way you felt.”
I scowled, but I was still leaking and swiping the tears away. “They aren’t fools. They’re the best people ever. Don’t be a dick, Dad.”
He snorted and cupped the back of my head to drag me against him again. “Okay, kid. I’ll try not to be.”
“Thank you,” I cried, gripping his tee under his cut.
One day it wouldn’t hurt as much, but for now, I’d allow the pain to take me under. They really did mean so much to me.
I love them.