Life is chaos. And lies. “He swept me off my feet, you know,” I say as an excuse. “I went with it because I was jealous of you and Julie.”
That was true. Archer Crone was the star quarterback. All the girls squealed and dropped their panties at the sight of him.
“And then he gave me those flowers, and… Gah!” I exhale. “No one had given me flowers before. It seemed so special.” I smile at the memory, though for the longest time they’ve been the memories leading up to the Block Party. The memories laced with regret and guilt.
There is silence. It’s too long. The breeze and the sun and the ocean make it too awkward. I raise my eyes at Kai, and his are blazing.
“Isent you those flowers, Callie,” he says softly, a myriad of emotions in his eyes.
When he calls me by my name, I know he is on edge.
My heart skips a bit. “But… Archer said…”
“What, that they were from him?” Kai smirks.
“No. No.” Shit, he didn’t say that. He just showed up right after they were delivered. “He came over that day,” I explain, “looked at the flowers, and asked me if I liked my flowers. So I said they were my favorite. He said, ‘I know.’”
“Itoldhim that, Callie. Peonies.” He smirks with sadness, then chuckles, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “Come on, baby girl…”
My heart is too heavy to breathe properly. I bite my lower lip, trying not to cry because it’s too much. The past is too much. It’s fucked up and crooked and full of he-said and she-said that I hate so much.
“How did you know?” I cock my head at him.
“I saw you draw them. And heard you tell Abby that those were your favorite.”
My heart tightens at the words. I lower my gaze to the tattoo of the peony on his heart. The petals falling off. It makes sense now. And, oh, does it burn me…
Why am I so stupid to realize things at the last moment?
“Then why didn’t you say that you sent them, Kai?” I say it too loudly, desperately, because this guy is amazing, but, God, does he hide a lot of things inside.
He laughs through his nose, looks down at his feet, and kicks the water.
“I was twenty, Callie. I was too cool for school. I was best friends with the king of Deene, the son of the Secretary of Defense. And I sent flowers to the girl I wanted. As soon as I did, I felt stupid. Especially with Archer taking notice of you. And you know, Archer always gets what he wants. And he did. In a way.”
Kai ruffles his hair as he stares down at his feet. I’ve never seen him like this—lost at the words. Hesitant. Awkward.
“But why didn’t you admit it? If you liked me, it would be easy.”
I want him to explain. Because his silence four years ago changed everything.
Kai finally raises his eyes to meet mine.
“Easy?” A nervous chuckle escapes him. “I didn’t justlikeyou, Callie.”
He smiles, and his smile is weak. It’s makingmeweak. I don’t look away, though my heart is about to explode.
He takes a step toward me and cups my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks.
He chuckles. His chuckle is so out of place in a moment like this.
My eyes burn with tears. My heart is pounding.
Say it, I beg him in my mind.
Because I feel it, too.
He leans over and presses his forehead to mine.