Page 100 of Between the Boards
“That’s great, Kairi,” I say with a warm smile, but she doesn’t smile back.
“Colton…” The seriousness in her tone immediately puts me on edge. “I don’t think our fake relationship was a good idea.”
Oh.
The words hit harder than they should, because even if it was fake at first, it stopped feeling fake for me a long damn time ago.
I force myself to nod casually like my chest didn’t just cave in. “Okay.”
Kairi studies my face carefully, probably noticing the exact moment I start trying to hide how wrecked I feel.
So I do the dumbest thing possible.
“I guess things with Zale went well after I left?”
She doesn’t answer immediately, her mouth slowly curving upward into a mischievous smile, and I realize I’ve misunderstood something.
“I told Zale I just want to be his friend,” she says. “Without benefits.”
My eyebrows shoot up.
“You did?”
She nods, twisting her fingers together in her lap, and for a while she doesn’t say anything. The only sound coming from the ocean as the waves roll quietly against the shore a few feet away, and the breeze shifts through the dunes behind us.
“Kairi?”
She lets out a shaky laugh. “I realized something while you were away.”
My chest feels tight as I watch her lip begin to tremble. “What?”
She turns, eyes finding mine. “I-I think I love you.”
The words knock every coherent thought out of my head. “Kairi?—”
“No, let me finish before I lose my nerve,” she says quickly, taking a deep breath. “I think I've known for a while, if I'm being honest. I just kept finding reasons not to admit it.”
My pulse pounds loudly in my ears as I watch her fighting to keep it together.
“I was scared,” she admits softly. “Because if I let myself fall completely and it doesn’t work out...” Her voice cracks slightly. “I wouldn't just lose a relationship, Colton. I’d lose my best friend.”
A tear slips down her cheek so I reach over and take her hand in mine.
“You've become such a huge part of my life.” She releases another shaky breath as she looks down at our hands. “I keepthinking about what would happen if we tried this and fail,” she continues. “What if everything changes? What if things become awkward? What if I lose you completely?”
The thought alone feels impossible and I shake my head.
“Kairi.” She looks up at me. “You could never lose me.”
Her brow furrows. “Colton?—”
“No, listen to me,” I interrupt, moving closer until our knees touch. “If we try this and somehow it doesn't work out...” I shrug. “Then we'll figure it out. But I promise you'll always have me.”
She stares at me and tears spill down her cheeks, before she roughly wipes them away.
“You're stuck with me, darlin'. Forever,” I say with a small smile as I squeeze her hand.
A watery laugh bubbles out of her. “Forever?”
