Chapter Eighteen
Brian fiddled with the keys in his hand nervously before lifting his hand to knock on Kara’s door. He was still confused as to why exactly she wanted to talk to him, but he was glad she’d called. Never before had she stayed angry at him for so long, deliberately avoiding him and everyone he was involved with. He wasn’t sure what to expect from her tonight, but at least she was speaking to him. He thought back to the fight they’d had, searching for the reason behind her anger.
“I’m sorry, Ker-bear. I’ve just been worried about you- so has Kevin, and it seems to come out in irrational and ridiculous ways.” He smiled slightly before continuing. “We’re really not bent on pissing you off. I’m sorry I embarrassed you.” He looked over at AJ “And I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. It’s just that-“
“She’s your baby cousin.” AJ finished for him. “I know.” And judging from the frustration evident on Kara’s face at his word choice, she knew, too.
She opened the door, and suddenly the light went on in his brain. Leigh had told him, AJ had told him . . . heck, NICK had even told him, but until now, he hadn’t quite understood. She was pissed because they refused to treat her like an adult. Much as he hated to admit it, she wasn’t the little kid who’d tagged along with him when he went to the park, the one who played football in the streets with all the guys. She was grown up, and she deserved to be treated as though she was.
“Hey. Ready to go?”
“Yeah- I just need to grab my wallet and lock up.” She peered into the darkness behind him. “Where’s Kevin?”
“He’s gonna meet us at the restaurant.”
“Oh. Okay.” She stuffed her wallet in her pocket, then shut the door behind her, double-checking to make sure it was locked. “I’m ready.”
“Well, then . . . let’s roll.”
He didn’t speak again until they were on the freeway, and then they both spoke at once.
“So, how’ve you been?”
“So, how are rehearsals coming?”
“You first.” They both said at the same time, then began to laugh.
“Okay, I’ll go first.” She said, chuckling. “I’ve been alright. And you?”
“Alright. Rehearsals are going well, and it’s good to have Leigh back in town.”
“I’ll bet. She’s a good woman.” He raised an eyebrow in surprise at the compliment, looking at her curiously.
“Long story. Let’s just say that we have a greater appreciation for each another now.”
“Things have been okay, I guess. I missed you, though.” Kara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, staring out the window at the road ahead. He was reaching out, but she wasn’t quite ready to go down that road back. It would be a while before things went back to ‘normal’, and even then, it would never be quite the same.
Brian frowned at her obvious ignorance of his statement, furrowing his eyebrows as he concentrated on the road ahead of him. They rode in relative silence the rest of the way, each lost in their own thoughts.
Kevin was sitting on a bench in front of the restaurant waiting for them when they arrived. Kara waved, and he jumped up to greet them. He reached out to give her a hug, stopping short when he saw the expression on her face.
“Hey, Kara.” He nodded to his other cousin. “Bri. Good to see you.”
“Good to see you, too.” She ground her shoe into the cement during the awkward silence, then looked up at him. “Let’s go eat!”
The two men followed her into the restaurant, shooting each other confused and somewhat worried glances. She’d never been this detached with either one of them before, and it wasn’t a good sign. Even when she was angry, she’d always been open with them, always been honest. They were looking at a woman who had shut them out, and it scared them. Had they been able to see into her head, they would have understood that her own confused thoughts were causing her to act this way, more than anything they had or hadn’t done. She just didn’t know where to begin.
As Kara walked ahead, she tried once again to sort through the jumbled thoughts, words, and emotions swirling around the situation. She felt guilty, angry, confused, and . . . sad. The comfort they’d always felt with one another had been erased, and she was responsible for that. The cautious manner in which both men had approached her tore at her very soul, and she had to blink back tears when she thought of how things used to be. It was a double-edged sword. She longed for the simplicity of childhood, the closeness they’d had. On the other hand, she wanted to be seen and respected as an adult, and with that came a whole lot of responsibility, part of which was acknowledging her part in this mess. Opening the restaurant door, she let out a deep sigh. There was some serious repair work to be done, and she hoped they were up to the task.