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Micah
Radio silence.
It’s been three hours since I replied to Lex’s text, and she hasn’t even read my message. I know because I’ve been checking my phone every five minutes.
LEX: Need to reschedule tonight. Too much information to study.
ME: Want me to bring over some dinner instead?
It’s unlike her not to respond right away. She was fine earlier, which makes me worry that something is wrong.What did her and Kendall talk about? Did something happen? Is she backing away from me?
There’s only one way to find out. I need to see her. She won’t be able to lie to my face.
After throwing on a clean shirt, my keys are in my hand and I’m about to head to her dorm when Dec and Kendall walk through the door. Kendall’s eyes meet mine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“What happened?”
“What do you mean?” she counters, avoiding eye contact.
“You know exactly what I mean. You had coffee with Lex this afternoon and now she’s avoiding me. What. Happened,” I demand, my voice rising, causing Declan to straighten his shoulders and move closer to Kendall.
“Calm the fuck down, man.”
“I’m calm,” I assure him, but even I can hear how on edge I am. Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I repeat the words, “I’m calm. Sorry. Look, I just need to know what she said. Did I do something wrong?”
“If you did, which I don’t think you have, that’s something you’d want to ask her.” Kendall steps around the island to stand next to me. “This is all new for Alexis. Nothing is more important to her than school. Her scholarship—”
“Why does it always seem to come back to that?”
“Because she thinks it’s all she has.” Kendall’s words are like a slap across the face.
“She has me.”
“Right now she does. But what about in a year? Or two? She needs her scholarship, and if she loses it, in her mind, she loses everything. She’ll have to move back home. She won’t be able to finish college or go to grad school. Have you talked to her about her goals? What she wants to do with her life?”
“I mean, a little.”Have I?I know she’s working her ass off taking summer classes.
“That girl has more determination in her pinky finger than most people possess in their entire body. The last thing she wants is to go back to the life she had before she came here.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Again, you need to talk to her about that,” Kendall says, placing her hand on my shoulder. “I think there’s a lot you two need to talk about but not tonight. She has a big test tomorrow. She needs to study, and as much as you don’t want to hear this, you’re a distraction.”
I run my hand through my hair. “She may have mentioned that a time or two.”
“Talk to her tomorrow, Micah. Give her the time she needs to study. To focus on school. She doesn’t know how to balance having you in her life and achieving the goals she’s set for herself.”
I toss my keys on the island, grip the edge, and resist the urge to race over to her place. I want to see her. I need to see that she’s okay. That we’re okay. Even if it’s just her studying. Even if she kicks me out five seconds after I get there.
“How can I help her?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder to where Declan is now standing at Kendall’s side.
“Give her time. That’s all you can do. Let her dictate the pace. When she disappears, don’t freak out. Don’t be like your brother and barge into her apartment.” She laughs, nudging Dec with her shoulder.
“I don’t agree with that,” he says, kissing the top of her head. “It worked out just fine for me. Plus, it was Micah’s idea.”
“You’re lucky it didn’t backfire. Keep in mind, I’m not Alexis.”
“No, you’re not,” he agrees, staring down at Kendall with a glimmer in his eyes.
