Chapter 4

 

 

Aura cried for a long time, and Reed didn’t move. It felt like he was keeping her from shattering, like her body would just crumble to dust if he didn’t hold her together. When it finally subsided she shifted and he retreated.

“I’m sorry,” she said. She grabbed a napkin from the cup holder and wiped at her eyes.

“For what?” he asked. “Feeling lost?”

“I’m sorry for dumping all this on you,” she said. “You don’t deserve it.”

“We’re not in love,” Reed said. “That doesn’t mean we aren’t friends.”

She managed a sad smile. “Guys can’t have friends that are girls—not when they have a girlfriend.”

“Does it break the laws of physics?” he asked.

She released a bark of laughter. “No, but I suspect it would cause more conflict than you want.”

“You’re right,” he said. “You and I can’t be friends. But we can be.”

She wiped her eyes of the lingering tears, her expression one of puzzlement. “What do you mean?”

“Do you have feelings for me?”

She regarded him for several long seconds and then slowly shook her head. “I think I wanted to. You did save my life, and I guess I wanted to hold onto you. Does that make you feel bad?”

“No,” he said. “I’m relieved. But I hope we can be friends—and I mean real friends.”

She cracked a smile. “Like we were before you started to like me?”

“Yes,” he said.

“But how,” she asked. “There’s no way Kate is going to be okay with this.” She grimaced. “And I did try to kiss you. I’m so sorry. I’m just floundering and wanted something to latch onto.”

“I’ll tell her,” he said. “But if you become our friend . . .”

“You think that’s possible?” she asked, a tremor of hope in her voice. “I really don’t want to lose my only friend right now.” Tears welled up again.

“Let’s go,” he said, reaching for the gearshift.

“Right now?”

“You only have tonight, right?”

She nodded. “What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “But we’ve got twenty minutes to come up with something.”

On impulse he pulled out his phone and called Kate. She picked up on the first ring. “Reed? Is everything okay?”

“I think so,” Reed said. “But we have a problem. We’ve decided that to remain friends, she has to be friends with you.”

Reed held his breath as he listened to the silence on the other end of the line. He knew he was risking a lot by putting her on the spot, but it was his only chance at helping Aura. If Kate said no, he would have to say goodbye to Aura. Permanently. There was just too much history between them and, if it came to a choice, his heart was with Kate.

“If she’s a friend of yours, she’s a friend of mine,” Kate said cautiously.

“Can I talk to her?” Aura asked.

“She wants to talk to you,” Reed said.

Reed handed her the phone and then backed out of the parking lot. As he drove down the mountain Aura began to speak. Tears came to her eyes again, the emotion thickening her voice.

“Reed is a good guy, Kate. Since I woke up I’ve been lost, but he’s helped me see that I will be okay. And I really would like to get to know you . . . if you’ll let me.”

Reed tried to quiet his breathing but Kate’s response was inaudible. The next several minutes became a game of frustration as he listened to her sounds of agreement and brief answers. Aura even laughed once and glanced at Reed, a motion he found to be distinctly irritating. It wasn’t until he was pulling into his driveway that she hung up.

“Kate’s on her way.”

“Really?” he asked. They got out and she walked around the car. “What else did she say?”

Before Aura could answer, Kate’s car appeared at the end of the block and she drove up to the house, but instead of pulling into the driveway, she parked on the road and got out, leaving the engine running.

Reed stepped to Kate and embraced her, highly conscious of the fact that Aura was watching. When they parted Kate smiled and motioned to her car, which Aura was already walking to.

“What’s going on?” Reed asked.

“You wanted us to be friends,” Kate said so Aura couldn’t hear. “This is me trying. We’ll be back later.”

“So what am I supposed to do?” he asked.

She pointed to his house. “Do what I did. Sit around and worry.”

She flashed a faint smile and strode to her car, leaving him on the lawn. “This wasn’t how I planned for tonight to go!” he shouted.

Kate merely waved and pulled out her phone. She typed a quick text and then put her phone away before pulling onto the road. Just as she disappeared, his phone buzzed with the message she’d sent.

I can’t promise we can get along but I promise I’ll try. Sometimes girls just can’t be friends.

He sighed and sent a quick reply, grateful for her effort. Then he looked around himself, wondering what he was supposed to do now. It wasn’t very late, so he shrugged and walked inside. To his disappointment, his house was empty.

He’d had weird dates before, but this was the first time he’d been abandoned halfway through the night. He sent a quick text to Jackson, who responded a moment later saying they’d gone bowling.

Reed stared at the empty house and then groaned. He sank onto the couch and stared at the TV. He had homework, but that didn’t sound appealing. Neither did watching a movie by himself. Then Jackson sent another text.

Don’t just sit there. Get over here.

 He grunted in amusement and picked his keys up for the second time. Ten minutes later he was parking at the bowling alley. Once inside, he paid and collected shoes and a ball before joining Jackson and Shelby. The blondes were also present, as was Tanner, Ember’s new boyfriend.

“Thanks for the invite,” Reed said to Jackson, sitting to lace his shoes.

“Everyone crashes and burns,” Jackson said sagely.

“I didn’t crash and burn,” he protested.

“Your date abandoned you for your girlfriend,” Shelby said, her tone apologetic. “I’d say that’s the pinnacle of crashing and burning.”

He endured their laughter and finished lacing his shoes. It may have been a weird night, but at least bowling would keep his mind from dwelling on Kate and Aura. Besides, if he didn’t hear anything it would mean they were getting along. Right?

Kate had apparently been bowling with the others when Reed had called. Reed took her place, continuing Kate’s game where she’d left off. It made him smile to look up and see Kate’s name on the screen and know the end score would come from them both.

“How are Tanner and Ember doing?” he asked Shelby, lowering his voice so only she would hear.

“Good,” she replied. “He’s shy, and I think he’s intimidated by our group, but his quiet protects him from Ember’s anger.”

Jackson and Shelby were about to bowl, and he jumped forward to beat her in sending his ball down the lane. She scowled as his ball hit the pins first, but a smile took its place when she got a strike a moment later.

“Being first doesn’t make you best,” she said sweetly.

“I still have a higher score,” he said.

“But you’ve got a split,” she replied. “Good luck with that.”

She laughed and strolled back to her seat. Ember went next, and managed a spare. When she returned, Tanner quietly congratulated her on the frame. Tall and very muscular, Tanner liked working out and playing football, but he was the quietest guy Reed had ever met. He was also one of the best chess players in the chess club.

Tanner raked his dark hair back and then adjusted his glasses before nodding to Reed. “Good to see you again,” he said.

“You too, Tanner,” he said. “How’s your semester going?”

“Better,” he said.

Tanner’s eyes flicked to Ember and then he flushed. Noticing the interchange, Ember smiled and put her hand on his knee, causing him to flinch. Reed shook his head, wondering what had made him so shy. Jackson leaned over.

“Shelby and I have a bet going if Ember will make him run. You want in?”

“Ten bucks says they stay together through Christmas.”

Shelby smothered a laugh as Jackson raised his eyebrow. “Really? Do you see how red his face his? He may be twice her size, but he’s got the heart of a kitten.”

“But he likes her a lot,” Reed said.

Jackson shrugged. “It’s your money.”

Reed watched Tanner with Ember, his thoughts once again on Kate and Aura. He’d traded places with her like a wrestler tagging another into the match, and in a weird way, he’d never felt closer to Kate. She may have been with Aura, but Kate was still on his team.