My throat works in a swallow as my mind replays it all.
Every. Single. Detail.
I’m so gone for Kate.
It’s like I’ve reached new heights of pathetic. The things I would do for this woman after only dating her for what, two months?
Sure, she’s hot—ridiculously so—but Kate’s mind is a maze I want to get lost in over and over again. It’s our late night talks that get me. Anytime I can get her talking about art, she lights up all animated-like, and I just sit back and watch. She’s wicked smart, too. Even though we share the same major, it’s obvious her knack for art history far outshines mine.
That being said, I think Tired Kate is my favorite. After a certainpoint, she becomes loopy and hilariously funny. But she cracks herself up even more, which only makes me laugh harder. For as sassy and stubborn as she is, deep down, Kate’s a complete sweetheart.
I’m about to follow Kate and her tiny miniskirt into the arcade when my phone rings. Kate’s dark eyes question mine, but then I see the name on the screen, and my stomach slumps.
“I’ve gotta take this,” I say. “Are you okay to wait?”
“Of course,” Kate says, moving to the side of the line of arcade-goers.
I let the door seal shut between us, feeling Kate’s gaze following me as I step closer to the curb. I brace myself and answer the call.
“Hey Mom, what’s up?”
Mom’s naturally buoyant tone is strained, her consonants somewhat slurred. “Hey hon, could you bring me some Advil? I can’t find any, I’ve got a pounding headache, and I’ve got an early home showing tomorrow.”
“Where’s Zeke?” I ask, praying my intuition is wrong even as it prickles my skin. “Why isn’t he taking care of you?”
“Zeke is…not coming around anymore,” she mumbles.
I inwardly curse, but panic shoots through me. “Last time I was there, I made sure you had a few extra bottles in your medicine cabinet.”
Mom’s sudden giggle detour drives a punch to my gut. “Oh my gosh, I’m so dumb. Theyarein the medicine cabinet. Thanks, sweetie. You’re the best. Do you know you’re the best son? Gosh, I love you.”
“Yeah, Mom. I know.” I scrub a hand down my jaw. “And I love you, too.”
I’ve barely ended the call before the suctioning seal of the arcade door pops open behind me.
“You okay?” Kate’s tone is gentle, imploring, but shame rises in my gut like a firestorm.
“More than okay.” I swivel toward her with an easy smile. “You’re here.”
But Kate’s eyes continue to probe mine, her mouth slanted. “Is someone messing with you? Do I need to take a little jaunt to slash someone’s tires?”
A laugh bursts out of me—areallaugh—and the defiant pinch in her brows softens. The fact that someone would so vehementlysupport me—albeit a somewhat morally gray girl eager to slash tires—warms me more than she’ll ever know. The tension coiled in my stomach loosens a bit. Mom just needs Advil and a good night’s rest. She’ll be fine.
“Down, girl,” I chuckle, ruffling Kate’s hair before lacing my fingers through hers. “You don’t need to vandalize anyone’s property just for me. Come on, let’s go waste some tokens.”
“But you know I would, right?” she says, walking beside me to the door. “Anyone that messes with you now messes with me.”
I breathe another laugh before pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. “I’ll make sure to warn people.”
KATE
“I’m going to win.” I state this fact again, dancing on the balls of my feet. The air hockey table puffs a steady stream across my fingers, and I grip the paddle tighter. “You, my friend, are going to besoembarrassed in front of all these people.”
Brandon makes a show of scanning the somewhat sparse crowd inside the arcade and nodding. “You’re right. I’ll be utterly humiliated. Might as well just hand over my man card right now.”
I laugh, and his dimples deepen. It’s so easy to laugh with Brandon. These last two months with him have felt… light. Like the worries that weigh me down can’t when I’m around him. He’s like a sexy anti-gravity chamber in a leather jacket.
“And ‘friend’? Really?” His green eyes smolder as they meet mine. “I think after last night, there’s no way you can still call me that.”
