Chapter Thirteen
Amelie
“Bugger off, Kalen!” I moan what feels like moments later when the door slowly creaks open.
“I’m surprised he’s not in your bed with you,” a bitter voice sounds out. My eyes fly open in panic.
“Smalls!” I sit bolt upright and clutch the covers to my chin. “What time is it?”
“Early. We’re the only ones up.”
“Are you okay? Did something happen?” I frown. Why is he waking me up so early? I feel like I just closed my eyes. We’re supposed to be going to the beach today and it’ll be hell on so little sleep. Kalen isn’t going to let me doze in the sun, he’ll want to play in the ocean and be his usual hyperactive self.
“No. I’m not okay.”
“What is it?” I ask, concern filling my eyes. I scoot over in the bed to make room for him and pat the mattress beside me. Wordlessly, Smalls slides in and lays his head on my pillow. I copy, turning onto my side so that I can face him. We’re so close our noses are almost touching.
“What happened?” I repeat on a whisper.
“I saw you. With him. Last night.” The cover, pulled up to my ear, trembles lightly under Smalls’ barely suppressed anger. Is he...jealous?
“Smalls—”
“Amelie, I’m so sorry.”
“What? Why?” I blink, surprised by his sudden change of topic.
“Where do I start? I should never have pushed you away. I shouldn’t have said we can’t be happy together. We can make us work. I can talk to your dad and Aadi, I’m sure they will....”
“Smalls…” I warn, I thought we sorted this out, he seriously isn’t doing this right now.
“No. Let me finish, babygirl! Ah...fuck it…”
He doesn’t finish. He plants his lips against mine and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. Oh my god. I pull away at the same time as my hands find his chest and push.
“No no no no no. I can’t do this with you!”
“Amelie, please—”
“No. You were right last time. This...us...it isn’t right. It isn’t meant to be like this.”
“But I love you.”
“And I love you. I always will but—”
“No. No buts. Listen, come home. I’ll go to the police and tell them it was me. We can be together if you wait until I’m out of prison. Wait for me, babygirl. Be mine.”
“I can’t do that, Smalls.” I sigh at the painful twist in my heart. He doesn’t mean it. I have no idea what’s triggered this desperation in him, but I know it’s not his true feelings talking. “It’s not that kind of love. And I can’t let you throw your life away for me, not when I can’t be there waiting for you. I can’t love you like that. Like you deserve.”
“But you can love him like that?”
I nod.
“And the others?”
“Smalls—”
“How? How Amelie!? How can you love four of them but not have any room for me?!”