AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s fine. I get it. But I needed the distraction and I knew it would make my parents happy.”
“Do you always do things to please other people?”
Her eyes snapped to mine. “Do you always ask annoying questions?”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?”
“Whatever, Aiden.” Her pace quickened as she took the grassy embankment leading away from the dock toward the beach that backed onto the Bensons’ house.
“You can find your way home from here, right?” she asked.
“Come on, freckles, don’t be like that.” I reached for her, but she dodged my hand.
“My parents want you to come for lunch tomorrow, but I’ll tell them you’re busy.” She took off in a hurry.
“I’m not,” I called after her, pissed that she was acting so stupid over nothing.
But Dayna didn’t reply, and I didn’t go after her.
CHAPTER7
DAYNA
“Dayna Bug, is that you?”Mom called when I slipped into the kitchen.
“Yeah, Mom.”
“How was your day? Did you and Aiden have fun?” She appeared at the door, smiling.
“It was fine, Mom. I’m not feeling great, though, so I’m going to head up to my room.”
“Oh no, are you coming down with something? Mrs. Jenkins across the street had an awful stomach flu last week. Something is going around.” She came over and started fussing.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said, brushing her off. “I’m just tired.”
“Go on up, sweetheart. I’ll bring you some tea.”
“I’m good, but thanks, Mom.” I just wanted to be left alone.
“Oh, okay.” Dejection coated her words, and I felt like a total bitch. She only cared, and after Dalton, I had to give her that much.
“Honestly, Mom. I’m fine. Nothing a little nap won’t solve. Maybe we can watch a movie tonight, the three of us?”
Her smile lifted. “Oh, that would be wonderful. Just like old times. Get some rest, Dayna. I’ll make your favorite for dinner.”
“Sounds great.”
My cell phone burned a hole in my pocket as I headed upstairs. Josh was acting strange. It had only been a couple of days since he left, but it might as well have been weeks. He was too busy to take my calls. Too busy to text me back more than one or two words at a time. Too busy to even tell me he missed me, apparently. And then, when I’d called him out on it, he’d had the audacity to act likeIwas overreacting.
Inside my bedroom, I lay on my bed and pulled out my phone, rereading Josh’s most recent text message.
Josh: God, babe, I’m sorry. Things here are so busy, and I’m a little stressed. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. The team is great. I think I’m going to really love it here. A couple of the guys want to take me out tonight, couldn’t say no. So rain check on our video call?
I began typing out a reply but deleted it all, hitting call instead. It rang out, eventually going to voicemail. Only this time, I didn’t bother to leave a message.
Space.
He wanted space.
