35. McKenzie
THIRTY-FIVE
MCKENZIE
I haven’t been back to the Danvers’ house since the incident. I’ve tried to reach out to Kylie a few times, but every text and every call has been met with silence. Tyler has checked in a few times, but even he hasn’t been able to get in touch with Kylie.
I was able to stay on a friend’s couch for the first few nights and then was lucky enough to find a posting for a roommate on the La Vista U social media page. The girl’s old roommate dropped out of classes and moved home right after the semester started. She needed someone immediately, and it would only be until the end of the semester. It’s exactly what I needed. Like maybe the universe was finally throwing me a bone.
Tyler has asked me several times to come back to the house, but it feels wrong to do that while Kylie is hurting because of our decisions.
But I miss him.
I miss them .
Part of me worries that Tyler will walk away from us. That would be the easy choice, and I’d understand if he did. But my heart hurts just thinking about it.
So, I’m surprised when I walk out of Alessandro’s one night after my shift to see him leaning against my car.
I run into his arms, and he squeezes me so tight, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, almost in tears.
“I needed to see you. I’ve missed you so much.”
There’s so much I want to say but can’t bring myself to say any of it. I want to know what happens next. Has he talked to Kylie? Where do we go from here? Are we done? I have so many questions.
I don’t ask any of them, though, because I’m scared of the answers.
Instead, I keep my cheek pressed to his chest, listening to his racing heart, just like I used to do when we lay in bed.
“Are you ok? Are you set up in your new apartment?” he asks, still not letting me go.
“Mmhmm. It’s fine. Luckily, the girl who moved out left her mattress. It’ll be fine for a few months until graduation.”
“Right. That’s good.” We’ve never talked about what happens after graduation. To be honest, I have no idea. I know I need to start looking into jobs. As much as I love Alessandro’s and appreciate everything the team there has done for me, I don’t want to be a server forever. And I’m certain Angel doesn’t want that for me, either.
“How are you?” I ask.
He inhales deeply. “I’m. . . I don’t know.”
I look up at him, and he leans down. The tip of his nose brushes against mine. His lips are inches away from mine. It’s killing me not to kiss him right now.
“I wish things were different,” I say.
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
The front door of Alessandro’s opens, and a server and a line cook walk out. It’s dark, so I doubt they can see us, but Tyler and I take a step away from each other just in case.
“I should go,” he says solemnly.
He doesn’t want to go. I don’t want him to go. But we’ve already caused so much damage.
I nod and take another step away to give him room to leave.
He starts to walk back to his truck parked on the opposite side of the lot, but he stops, turns, and marches back to me.
His lips connect with mine, and he’s kissing me like it’s the first time all over again. My arms wrap around his neck, my fingers tugging at his hair. His tongue swirls with mine, and it feels like we can’t get close enough.
“I’m going to ask you something that I have no right to ask, but I’m a selfish bastard, so I’m going to ask anyway,” he says after he pulls away. His forehead presses against mine as we try to catch our breath.
“What?”
“Wait for me. I know it’s supposed to be me and you, deep in my soul. You’re it for me. I just need time to figure this out with Kylie.”
There’s no hesitation in my answer. “I’ll wait. I’ll always wait.”
His hand cups my cheek as he kisses me again. “I don’t deserve you.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
His thumb swipes a rogue tear from my cheek. “I love you.”
He kisses me one last time before getting in his truck.
My heart breaks all over again as I head back to my new apartment alone.