Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Gettin’ a breather.”
“Yeah, same. Mind if I sit?”
He scoots over a little on the large barrel, and I squish in next to him. We’re very close, our bodies all squashed together.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him.
“Yeah, just findin’ time to think right now ain’t provin’ to be easy. Shit is crazy. What you did ...”
I glance at him, even though we’re so close I have to lean back a little. “You’re upset at me?”
“Yeah, you could say that. It was fuckin’ stupid, Briella. But you already know that. It was scary, you gotta know how it felt knowin’ you might be the next body landin’ in the dirt.”
I blink, confused.
I know Mykel likes me, but I’m not sure why he’s so bothered by it. I mean, of course he doesn’t want to see me dead or anything, but I sure as hell didn’t think he’d be this upset.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
“You don’t mean to do anythin’ you do, Briella, but you still do it.”
“Okay,” I say softly. “I get it, you’re angry. I was wondering why you haven’t said a lot to me, but if there’s something you want to get off your chest.”
“There isn’t,” he growls, cutting me off. “Doesn’t matter fuck all to anyone what I think, or what I want. You do what you want. Alarick does what he wants. There ain’t a single care in the world for the rest of us.”
“Mykel ...” I say, feeling bad that he’s been bottling this all in.
“Don’t bother, Briella. It is what it is. Nothin’ I can do about it.”
I feel like there’s something more to this.
Something he’s not saying.
“Is there something else you want to talk about? Has something happened? It’s not like you to be this down and ...”
“I said it doesn’t fuckin’ matter,” he barks.
I stand, turning so I can see him. “We’ve been friends for a long time, Mykel. Please don’t speak to me like that. If you’ve got something to say, then just say it.”
“You don’t want to hear what I’ve got to say.”
“Try me.”
He looks me dead in the eye, and his next words completely shock me. “I’m in love with you, Briella.”
I blink.
Did he just?
Did he just say he was in love with me?
How the hell did this come about?
When did this come about?
I knew he had interest as some point, I mean he kissed me, but I didn’t know that those feelings went deeper.
God how did I not know those feelings went deeper?
“I don’t ... I don’t understand. When did this happen?”
“It has been a long fuckin’ time coming. I’ve cared about you longer than you know. It was fuckin’ easier when you weren’t here. Got over it, felt like it didn’t matter, then you came back and it’s all there again. Know you don’t feel the same, I know you’re in love with Pres, but you gotta know because I can’t breathe anymore keepin’ it inside.”
“Oh, Mykel,” I say, feeling horrible.
I can’t imagine anything worse in this world than knowing you’re in love with someone and that someone doesn’t feel the same way.
He stands and looks at me. “All of this, it’s goin’ to destroy you. It’s already destroyin’ you. I can’t stand back and watch much longer. I can’t deal with losing you, Briella. Loving you is hard enough.”
Oh, god.
Tears spring to my eyes and I reach for his hand as he goes to step away. He looks at me and, for a moment, my heart flitters rapidly. If I wasn’t so in love with Flick, I could one hundred percent love Mykel. He’s gorgeous and he’s kind and he’s so fucking perfect in every way it counts.
“I’m sorry, Mykel,” I say softly.
“It ain’t your fault.”
Then, just like that, he’s gone.
And I’m left wondering what the hell just happened.
“HOW’D THAT FEEL?”
I’ve been standing outside for a few minutes, alone in the darkness, alone in my thoughts, when I hear a faint voice. Slowly, Flick appears from around the side of the house, walking toward me, cigarette in his hands. I’m guessing he heard that entire conversation, judging by the look on his face.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know Mykel is in love with my woman.”
“Yes, well, maybe you should take a page or two out of his book,” I throw back, snappily.
I’m not angry at him.
Well, I mean I am, because he’s basically dismissed me since everything went down, but I’m mostly disappointed in him and the way he’s dealt with all of this. I love him, no doubt in my mind about that, but right now I don’t need him making me feel bad about something I have no control over.
“Be very fuckin’ careful, Briella. You’re already pushin’ me too far of late.”
I snort. “You too far? How about me, Flick? You’ve given me nothing, so you don’t really get to come out here and start something. Maybe you should go back inside and talk to that pretty girl you were enjoying. I’m sure she’d love to experience the pool table with you.”