I can’t find the appetite to finish the plate in front of me.
Haylee leans over, forcing me to look in her direction. “Hey, you okay?”
I shrug because honestly, I’m not sure. “Maybe this was all too much, too soon.”
Maybe we had forced this all on her without her being ready.
“She’s going to be okay. She’s so strong and has a heart full of love. Just like you.”
I turn from looking outside at nothing back to my beautiful girlfriend and lean in, pressing my lips against hers. When we part, she blinks, staring up at me.
“What was that for?”
I smile at her, a genuine, honest smile that she is responsible for putting there. “For being you.”
Once the three of us are done at the table, Dani and my mom still have not arrived back inside, so we move our conversation to the couches. Haylee and I take our usual spot while Kyler sits across from us. Not long after, my sister returns from outside, halting the side conversation Haylee and I were having. Her eyes are red, a visible sign of crying, but she has color in her cheeks and doesn’t look broken. Kyler leans in and whispers something, and she nods. She turns away from the conversation with Kyler to rub her hands over the couch.
She’s going to be okay, and damn it if I’m not going to do everything in my power to make sure that statement is true.
Cami: One more week till I’m back. Get excited biAtch!
Me: Yay, I’ve missed you.
Cami: I’ve missed you, too.
Me: How’s lover boy?
Cami: He’s not a boy. *winkface*
Me: How’s lover man? Lol.
Cami: Things are great. So much to fill you in on. His family is interesting, to say the least.
Cami: Oh by the way, thanks a lot for ditching house sitting. *Eyeroll*
Me: Whatever. When you originally proposed the idea, you just wanted me stopping by anyways. I stop by and get your mail after class.
Me: It’s great being back in my own home though.
Cami: Fill me in on what’s been going on?
Me: There’s way too much to text, but here’s the cliff notes.
Cami: You know I prefer cliff notes over the real thing anyways.
Me: I think something might be going on between Kyler and Dani. They hang out a lot.
Cami: No shit! Sex on a stick and the long lost sister? Damn, I miss everything.
Cami: But how do you know they’re not just being friendly? Maybe she just doesn’t want to be a third wheel with you two – hello! Been there done that, so Ky is the only other option. Remember, Ky has been rocking the whole third wheel thing since the beginning so maybe he’s just tired of you guys.
Me: I mean, I guess that could be, but it
’s the little things I’ve been picking up on that have my wheels turning.
Cami: Like what?
Me: Well, she never left the house, yet all of a sudden, he convinced her to go to dinner with him, Lauren and Kate.