At least, that was the plan. But as I watched my brother push his food around his plate, lost in thought, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still not quite right.
I wish he'd trusted me more, that he'd realized I'm more than a sister in his life. But some relationships can't be forced, no matter how much one person wants to be in the other's life.
CHAPTER 29
Kyle
Lily: [picture sent]
Kyle: You look extremely adorable with that hat.
Lily: You write like you're in love.
Kyle: No way.
"Move that table over there,away from the pool," Oliver yelled from inside the house. "Mike, please, no more foam. I think that's enough."
We were at Oliver's house putting the finishing touches on the patio to get everything ready for the party. Being here today made me feel good, and I felt relieved about it. I had been anxious for this day to arrive for months, but everything felt better than I expected. I was with my friends, and I knew it was going to be a day I would enjoy, at least if everythingwent well.
However, I couldn't help but overthink.
I had been texting Jeremy throughout the day to make sure he was okay, and especially away from here. But apparently, he was too busy with piano lessons to give me the attention I wanted. At least knowing that Lily and her family would be gone all day put my mind at ease.
Everything's going to be okay, Kyle. Calm down.
By 6 p.m., people started arriving, and I was a little calmer, enjoying the music and the atmosphere. I hadn't realized how much I missed having all my loved ones around me. Being able to count on friends and not feeling like a stranger around others, like I did in Australia.
If there's one thing I'd regret forever, it would have been staying away for so long from the people who had sincerely been there for me growing up, and something I was trying to do now was enjoy these few moments before my life was the same again.
Will it be possible for us to be that close again in the future? I couldn't wait to find out, especially since our encounter at the club felt like that, even though Oliver was missing.
I glanced at where he was; since Brandy had arrived, he hadn't left her side. He looked like a lapdog who hadn't seen his owner in days.
The situation made me a little uncomfortable, especially because Brandy seemed very comfortable around him, but I tried to play it cool. At the end of the day, it was more worth it for Leo to have his heart broken and be free than for the same thing to happen the other way around.
A splash of water brought me out of my thoughts, and I saw Mike and Jared approaching me. "You are extremely dry, Kyle. I think it's time you get in the pool," Mike said.
"No thanks, I'm fine," I replied, pointing to myglass of alcohol.
"I don't think you're understanding," Jared said. "We're not asking you."
When I realized what they wanted to do, I quickly got up from the chair and tried to run to the house, but they were faster and grabbed me.
Despite my struggles, they ended up throwing me into the pool. The water was shockingly cold, and I came up sputtering but laughing. "You assholes!" I yelled, but I was grinning.
"Come on, it's not that bad!" Tom called out, cannon-balling into the pool beside me and sending another wave of water everywhere.
This encouraged more people to jump in, as if suddenly being in the water seemed like the best thing ever.
Within minutes, half the party was in the pool. Someone had waterproof speakers, the music was blasting, and everyone was splashing around, playing water volleyball, and just being the carefree teenagers we were.
I found myself genuinely laughing out loud for the first time in what felt like ages today, letting myself get caught up in the carefree energy. Mike started a massive splash war that turned into chaos, with everyone choosing sides and teaming up for water attacks. Even the girls who had been trying to save their hair and makeup gave up and joined the action.
"Remember when we used to do this every summer?" Jared said, floating on his back next to me during a brief lull in the madness.
"Before we all got too cool to just hang out with each other," I agreed, feeling a pang of nostalgia for simpler times.
"Who says we're too cool now?" Tom grinned, dunking Jared underwater immediately.
