Gabe
*Kayla*
January 16, 2016
Listening to Mrs. Perkins admit to plotting to get Dallas and I together was unanticipated. I never would have imagined that the sweet, gentle Mrs. Perkins could have orchestrated such a plan.
While I’m slightly devastated to hear that the first year of my relationship with Kyle was fraudulent, I am also grateful. Because of her plan, I did end up having a platonic relationship with Kyle, which I had valued greatly. It then progressed to falling in love with Dallas, which never would have happened without the mutual love we both had for Kyle.
I watch as Dallas hugs his mother, whispering into her ear, and I smile. The past few months, their relationship has been strained due to the loss they both suffered. But today, it seems as if they have overcome whatever emotional hurdle that was before them.
“Kayla. Come here.” My eyes refocus onto Mrs. Perkins as I exit my thoughts. I quickly walk over and step into her arms.
When I heard her say that I have been important to her since I was a child, I had to fight the urge to cry. I have only known Mrs. Perkins vaguely through my mother. My mother did claim to talk a great deal about me to her coworker. I never would have thought it would lead to Mrs. Perkins developing motherly feelings for me. I had met her only a number of times until Kyle started coming to my house for tutoring.
I cling to her, taking a deep breath as I blink back tears. “Thank you,” I whisper to her, breathing in her fresh shampoo scent before I step back and look over at Dallas. He smirks and reaches up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.
“Mom, I need to speak with Kayla privately. Can we be excused?” Dallas asks, tilting his head to gaze at his mother.
Mrs. Perkins nods and places a kiss to his cheek before giving my shoulder a squeeze and walking into the kitchen. “Banana nut bread will be ready in about forty minutes.”
I grip Dallas’ hand as he turns and leads me up the stairs to his bedroom. He sits me down on the bed and shuts the door before joining me. He lays back on the plush pillows and opens his arms for me. I crawl forward and rest my head on his chest, placing my hand on his toned stomach.
Dallas subconsciously plays with my hair, rubbing it between his fingers. “It wouldn’t have mattered,” he says softly. I stare at the bathroom door across the room, waiting for him to continue. “I would give you every cent I have, every portion of my fame and successes. If you had used Kyle to get to me, I wouldn’t have cared. When Mikey told me, I just thought he was trying to turn us against each other. I didn’t believe him, even though he does know your favorite author and your mother’s work schedule.”
My eyebrows come together as I frown. I knew Mikey must have kept tabs on me if he was plotting my murder since I reclaimed my father. But to hear Dallas admitting that Mikey knows these facts disturbs me.
“It was only when my mother said the same thing, it planted a seed of doubt. I was slightly concerned, but when I asked you, a brief, terrifying thought crossed my mind. By asking this absurd question, I risk losing her trust and her. I can’t lose you, Kayla. No matter what, I can’t bear the thought of not having you by my side. So I came to the conclusion that if you did use Kyle, I wouldn’t care.” I look up at him to see tears in his eyes. He’s staring at the ceiling, but when my eyes focus on him, he tilts his head downward to look at me.
Dallas runs the back of his knuckles across my cheeks. “We’re going to get Mikey locked up. We’re going to ensure that Kyle finds the peace he deserves. And then I am never going to let you go.” I smile softly at him.
Dallas wants a future with me. Whatever doubt I had in the back of my head, us not having anything in common after all this, has vanished. We both want to spend the rest of our lives together, and nothing else matters.
We will work through everything else.
“I love you, Dallas,” I say softly. Dallas smiles and shifts to place a kiss to my forehead.
As much as I would enjoy lying in his arms for the rest of the day, I have to tell him about Shelby. As he said, we will have time for this after we help Kyle.
I prop up on an elbow and interlace our fingers together, resting them on his chest. I look into his eyes of endless blue. “Shelby dated Mikey…She is our answer,” I say.
Dallas stares at me with a blank expression for a moment, not grasping what I’m saying, before understanding dawns on him. He sits up and looks at me with wide eyes.
“Kayla, you’re brilliant.” I smile. “Do we know where she lives? How to find her?”
“Anne is already on it, asking people from the basketball and football team, seeing if anyone knows of her. When she finds anything out, she will let us know.”
Dallas runs a hand through his hair and lets out a deep breath. I can see the hope welling within him. He’s eager to come to the end of this, just as I am.
Even though it means we will have to say goodbye to Kyle, once and for all.
Anne called a few hours later, providing an address. I was eager to find out how she got the information, but Dallas was already out of the house and starting the car before I had the chance to ask.
We drive to Shelby’s house in Naperville with the speed that could grant us many tickets. Dallas didn’t care; he had to get to the house as quick as possible.
We have to get the answers.
Once he parks on the side of the road, Dallas runs to the house, and I let out a sigh, reaching over to take the key out of the ignition. I follow after him at a calmer pace, approaching the front door, where he waits for it to open.
He knocks again, and a moment later, the hunter green door is pulled open. I look to see Shelby, who stares at us with wide eyes.
“Shelby—” I am cut off when she goes to close the door. Dallas quickly sticks a foot out to prop it open.
“Please, go away. I don’t know anything.” Her voice shakes. I pull my eyebrows together and let out another sigh. She’s scared. Does she think Mikey will come after her if she testifies?
“We need to know.” Dallas’ voice is weak, begging for her to help us. I look over at him from the corner of my eyes.
“Shelby, please. We have to put him away. Please, help us.” Shelby doesn’t answer. She tilts her head to the side, to look at something behind the door. I see her lift her left hand and make quick movements.
I squint, trying to understand what she’s doing.
Does it look like…sign language?
I bite my bottom lip and wonder who she’s talking to.
The door is wrenched open, and I see a boy around the age of ten looking up at us, his big blue eyes boring into me.
Letting out a gasp, I look over at Dallas to see his eyes widen.
He looks like Kyle…
The boy turns and signs to Shelby, making a few gestures toward Dallas and me. What is he saying?
“Come in.” Shelby sighs, stepping back.
We follow her into her living room, the boy walking with his sister. They both sit on a couch, and Shelby directs us to the other identical couch. I sit, looking at both of them as they continue to silently converse.
“Fine!” she bites out, making an abrupt motion before she looks at us. “I read lips,” she says softly, looking around as if something was going to jump out and take her.
Dallas and I don’t say anything. We both wait for her to continue, too scared that if we pressure her, she will shut down and kick us out.
Shelby looks over at her brother, who just nods his head. “Gabe is deaf. I took sign language courses with him, and I learned how to read lips. It was the day after jet skiing. I was watching from a distance while Mikey was speaking to some man. I only got Mikey’s side of the conversation.” Shelby stops.
Her hands shake on her lap, and I notice her gulp. “You probably think I’m a coward…but I was scared. Of Mikey. Of what he would do to Gabe if he found out what I knew. I mean, he was so willing to kill Kyle, why not Gabe?”
Dallas tenses beside me but remains silent. “We’re going to lock him up, Shelby. Nothing will happen to Gabe,” I say.
Gabe nods his head in agreement.
“He was angry, telling the man that he didn’t do what he paid him. He killed the wrong person and that Kyle was never supposed to be harmed. It took a while to understand. But I finally put it together.” Shelby looks over at Gabe and grabs his hand. “I’ll testify. I will help you put him in jail. But once that’s done, I want you to stay away from me and my brother.” Her voice is firm as she lifts her eyes to stare at us with a sharp expression.
I bite my bottom lip and nod my head.
“Good. Now, call the cops and let’s put this bastard behind bars.”