Page 34 of Yearning Difficulties

An awkward silence fell between us. I forced myself to shrug. ‘See you next week?’

Priya gave me a weak nod. ‘Sure.’

After we parted ways, I asked after Chris, who was apparently in the senior common room. I hastened into a run, sprinting through the corridor and making my way down a flight of stairs. When I arrived, I saw the two of them alone in the spacious room. Chris was clutching his phone in his hands and Killian had his back to the door, busying himself in the small kitchen area.

I burst into the room and threw my arms around Chris.

‘Oomph!’ Chris made a noise of surprise and then chuckled. ‘Hey, Zee.’

‘You were fantastic!’ I cried, pulling back from him and searching his face for some sign. Something to hint at the remarkable things he’d said. ‘You’re a dark horse, Christian Bergery.’

‘Sure are,’ Killian said from the kitchen, not looking at either of us.

I ruffled Chris’s hair, making him laugh. I walked towards the surlier twin.

‘Did you hear him, Kill?’

‘Hmm?’ I watched as Killian poured himself some water and drank it down in one hard swallow, his movements a little jerky. ‘No, I came in near the end of it. Good?’

I made a noise of disbelief. ‘Kill! Good? Never mind, you’ll just make fun of us both for being hopeless cases.’

There was something unnameable in his tone of voice when he responded. ‘Sounds like me. If you two saps want to clog the airwaves with romantic nonsense, that’s your business.’

My smile faded. ‘You okay?’

Killian finally turned to look at me. He gave a constricted smile, raising his glass of water in a feeble salute. ‘I’m grand.’

‘Well . . .’ Chris eyed his brother and nodded at me. ‘I feel like calling a certain someone now. So I’ll leave you both.’

I waved him off, smiling fondly. When he was gone, I turned back to Killian. There was something jagged about his aura.

‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ I asked him carefully.

He avoided my eyes. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Chris was really great on the radio.’

I watched him nod. ‘Yeah. He’s always been a good speaker.’

‘Like you.’

‘Nah.’ He moved away from the kitchen corner, taking a seat on one of the many couches. Still avoiding my gaze. ‘I can cut people down. He can build them up. He’s always been better at that. He’s the good one. The angel. The one who didn’t need speech therapy or . . .’

His words dropped away and I sank down next to him on the sofa. I felt guilty for being so excitable about his brother. I should have remembered that Killian was overly used to people comparing him to his twin.

‘You’re not a demon, Kill.’

‘Well, ask my mother, when you really get to know her. Ask her who her favourite is.’

When he finally looked at me again, he smiled repentantly. ‘You’re glowing from the inside, Red. I’m sorry you’re pretending to date the wrong brother.’

I gave him a look of admonishment. ‘We both know he doesn’t play for my team, Kill. And you may be the mean one, but you’re okay. Deep down.’

He laughed. ‘Yes, he’s the angelic one and I’m just okay.’

‘You called him an angel, not me.’

He held up his hands in a peacekeeping gesture. ‘He is an angel. He’s the best of my family.’