It’s not the same. It’s not right. It’s not him.
I’m on the couch, hunched forward, elbows on my knees, resting my mouth against my clasped fists, when the front door clicks. My heart skips a beat and my breathing picks up.
He’s here.
78
Seth
Now playing: “Twin Flame” by MGK
Idropmyduffelbag on the floor with a sigh and shrug off my jacket. The trip back to San Diego took forever, with delayed flights and then there was some problem with one of the engines of the airplane, and we had to make a stop in Portland and wait for a connecting flight from there. It’s been hell, and I just want to go to bed and sleep this day off.
I kick my shoes off and walk into my living room and come to a stop.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Kaden roars from where he stands by my couch. He’s wearing my white RTA hoodie, the onewith the wordSINNERprinted on the front, and he looks… He looks wild. Still gorgeous but wild.And fucking ouch, my heart.
“What?” I exhale.
“You tell Kit about some family emergency and then you turn your fucking phone off? What the fuck is that? Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
I just shake my head, in shock of seeing him standing here, in my apartment, in my clothes.Are those my sweatpants?
“Where have you been?”
“Seattle.”
He scoffs, and drags a hand down his face, shaking his head before he comes around the coffee table and walks up to me. He’s just a few feet away and I can smell my body wash on him. My fabric softener, but he’s wearing his cologne and my heart aches at having him close to me again. I’ve missed him. I’ve missed him so damn much and now he’s here and—
“What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you!” he all but shouts, arms thrown out. “For six fucking days, Seth! I’ve been here waiting for you for six fucking days! I’ve been driving myself mad and you’re off in Seattle with your fucking phone turned off?”
“You’ve been here?”
“Six days.”
I shake my head. “Why?”
He drops his head forward, shaking it. “Why?” he parrots, looking up at me. “Really?”
I frown, not following for a single second.
There’re dark circles under his eyes, his hair is messy like he’s run his fingers through it non-stop. And I think he’s shaking a little bit. He looks like hell.Because of you.You broke him, too.
“How long have you been in love with me?”
I startle. “What?”
“I wanna know when you knew that you were in love with me.”
I drop my gaze to the floor, shame coloring my cheeks. “Kaden.”
“Tell me.”
I rake my hand through my hair, scratching my eyebrow and shuffle into the kitchen. I grab a glass and get a drink of water to buy some time.
“Look,” I say, putting the glass on the counter and turning back to him. He’s behind the kitchen island, his eyebrows drawn low and his breathing shallow. “I’ll tell you anything you wanna know, but it’s been a long day. The flight was delayed and—”
