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“Please don’t ask me.” She smiles, but it’s so forced and bright, it looks deranged. “I have to do this on my own, and you forcing me to talk about it will only make it worse.”
“But I want to help you. I’m worried.”
“Don’t be.” The spark in her eyes is fierce. “I’m strong, and nothing can beat me. Come on, you know that.”
“I do.” I nod, happy to see her old spark back for a moment.
Unfortunately, it’s only a moment. The second she thinks I’m not looking, her lips dip into a frown once more and she’s shuffling toward the door.
“I forgot my…” She points over her shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”
“But—”
The door clicks shut, and with an unhappy sigh, I nestle back down against Casey, worry coursing through me.
Replaying the conversation in my head, I try to figure out what might be eating at Leilani and wishing she’d let me in. But I know her. She doesn’t share stuff until she’s ready, and even then, she’s a very private person. She always wants to deal with her shit in her own way and in her own time.
But whatever’s got the better of her now seems too big for her to handle on her own.
Closing my eyes, I whisper a prayer, hoping she’ll let me in before she digs herself into a hole so deep, she can’t get out of it.
CHAPTER 50
CASEY
It’s been two weeks since I told Caroline I love her. I still reel a little every time I think it, but it’s becoming more natural and easier to say. I find I mean it just as much as I did the day before, and no ball and chain has appeared in my life. Every morning I wake up, my ankle is shackle-free whether Caroline’s lying next to me or not.
We’ve spent as many nights as we can together, including a wicked weekend in Denver where a whole bunch of us crashed at Ethan’s dad’s place for two nights. We went into town, danced our asses off, and enjoyed some liquor. Ethan’s dad played Mr. Uber, and it was the best.
Oh, except for the fact that Asher drew short straw and had to drive Leilani back one night early because she was adamant that she had a test she had to study for. Caroline wasn’t sure if she believed her or not, but the fact that we got her to come at all was a miracle, so she didn’t want to push it.
Caroline’s been trying to get the truth out of Lani, but all she’s managed so far is getting her tight-lipped friend to join in on a few things. She’s really hoping that will help, but the fact that she bailed early on the Denver trip was a total bummer.
We thought she’d been having fun. She joined in a few laughs with us, did some line dancing at the club we went to, and even beat our asses in a game of poker. But a few minutes after the girls came back from their spa session, Lani started packing her things and saying she needed to go.
In the end, Asher gave me the darkest look known to man while he opened the door for Leilani. She sat in the back seat like he was her chauffeur or something. As he stalked around the car, he muttered, “You owe me so fucking big, man.”
I thanked him with a kiss on the cheek, which he made a big show of wiping off before giving us all the finger and getting behind the wheel.
The rest of us spent the night imagining just how painful the car ride must have been and cracking up over Asher and Leilani’s misery.
Caroline felt really bad about it in the morning, though, and has been working overtime trying to make it up to her best friend. Leilani told her it was fine and to stop working so hard. Actually, she kind of yelled it.
“I’m good, okay? Just leave me alone!”
So yeah, things aren’t going great in that department.
As for Asher, he’s still giving me the icy stare-downs when I see him, and he hasn’t told me shit about the drive, so I’m guessing it sucked.
Oh yeah, and he’s also super pissed with me over a surprise I’ve arranged for Caroline. Yes, I probably should have asked him about it first since it’s happening in his uncle’s house, but I knew he’d say no, and it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?
My belly jumps and pinches as I walk up our front steps.
Caroline’s already here. She texted me a few minutes ago, and I told her to wait in the living room.
“Did you get it?” Rachel meets me in the entryway, her face alight with excitement.
I hold up the box and grin.
