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I’m also worried about clothes for the following week, but I can probably go over when Kyle isn’t home sometime this weekend. I take my ring off before bed, setting it in the bathroom before I slide under the covers and try to tune out the world.
I’ll have a plan next week if the interview goes well. I can make this work for me and get over Kyle Owens once and for all.
20
The Real Thing
Kyle
TheweekafterLainawalked out on me, I took a couple of days off. I helped from home online, but I just didn’t want to deal with people.
I also set up lunch with my parents, thinking about what Laina said. They are my family but need to accept me the way I am and that doesn’t include being set up in a marriage that suits them and not me. We talk for a long time, and Mom admits she doesn’t know Laina. Mom always felt jealous that I preferred going over to Laina’s house rather than staying home, admitting that she wasn’t there for me a lot.
Dad seems disappointed that I’m not putting the company first as he did all those years, and I remind him how much he wasn’t around for his wife and son. I respect he was providing for us, but that will never make up for the quality time I missed with him.
I won’t let them dictate how I’m going to live my life.
They should let me grow on my own and stop trying to help me. I’m an adult and I’ll get married when I find someone I love and want to be with, assuming Laina is gone. I haven’t been able to get a hold of her and stay away from work. That’s not the place to deal with our personal problems.
This hurts more than I ever thought anything could and I feel like a ghost of myself every moment I’m awake. Sleep is fleeting and I spend most of the night tossing and turning.
When I return to work, I see a version of Laina walking into the building. She’s pale and doesn’t look like she’s slept. I know I haven’t.
I don’t approach her but see her enough to know she’s wearing the ring. The act is still going, but I’m so ready for it to end. I want the real thing. On Friday, I get a call from personnel about a reference check for Laina with a company in Boston and my heart sinks into my stomach.
She’s leaving me.
I need to stop this, and soon.
Saturday, I get up early and run some errands. I buy all the tulips I can find at the nearby florist and carry them to my car once I have a gigantic bouquet in my arms. I want to take her to dinner or lunch, but figure that talking to Laina first is the best idea.
I drive to the apartment and park, seeing her car in her spot. She’s here so we can talk, and I get out of my car, carrying the flowers to her door. When I knock, it’s quiet for a few minutes and I wait with the flowers as it feels like hours pass by.
“What do you want?” Laina asks, cracking the door and peering at me.
“We need to talk. Can I come in?” I ask and she sighs as she seems to consider her answer.
Laina pales and steps back to open the door.
“A marketing company in Boston called to do a reference check. Are you running away, Laina? We just found each other again.” I say as she blinks away tears. “Don’t you remember how you felt when I had to move?”
“We were kids then. It’s different now.” She brushes her cheeks with her hand as I move to set the flowers on the counter.
“Is it? When my dad told me we were moving, I felt devastated. I’ve never felt at home as much as I did in Boston, Laina. The first day I saw you at work, I felt the same way. We went back to where we left off, just as adults. I can talk and laugh with you easier than anybody. I want to spend time with you more than anyone else.” As I step forward, I feel her bare finger. Pain slices through my heart, but I force it away. It’s time to tell her the truth about how I feel.
“I’m in love with you, Laina. I’ve been stupid for not telling you, but I was afraid you didn’t feel the same way. Everything got so complicated so fast and I kept pushing my agenda when there was nothing fake about it. I fell in love with you as soon as I saw you again.” I tell her as she stares at me with shimmering blue eyes.
“You love me?” she asks as I nod and pull her into my arms.
“Completely. I talked to my mom this week and told her I want to set some boundaries and she agreed. I don’t think it will happen overnight, but we made some progress over lunch. She knows that you’re a part of my life and I’ll always choose you, Laina. There was never a time since seeing you that I wouldn’t. Don’t go to Boston.”
“I thought it seemed like moving away was the right idea. Kyle, I love you. I didn’t think you felt the same way.” Laina sounds stunned, and I tangle my hands into her hair.
“I do. I love you. The plan was stupid and I never should have put you through all that. I want to make it real. I’ll start over with a new proposal and a new ring. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, but I want you to stay. I want to marry you, Laina. For real.” After looking into her face, I kissed her softly.
It feels perfect, and she slips her arms tight around my neck, kissing me back. We fall to the couch, and I pull her over my body, aching to be inside of her. We kiss hungrily and she seems to be more aggressive with her actions now as I chuckle.
“Whoa you’re something else today, Laina. I take it you like this kind of stuff with me?” She pulls away to look at me.
