Her words hit Ash like lightning, felled him where he was standing. “Please.”
Kiera’s own heart suffered at seeing the look of pain in his eyes. But she couldn’t let him hurt her again. “Please, just leave me alone.”
Ash turned to go, aching all over. Every breath hurt. He’d lost her. Lost her forever. He looked back at her one last time.
And everything inside him stilled, the pain, the fear of losing her. There was only her. And he asked himself, could he let her go like this? Without a fight? Hell, no!
With a new sense of resolve, Ash strode to her. Kiera’s eyes widened in alarm and she instinctively backed away but he caught her hand in his.
“I’m sorry, Kiera, but I can’t let you go. Not again. I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you like I did. But I love you.”
Kiera’s breath caught in her throat at his declaration of love.
“I love you,” Ash repeated fiercely. “I’m going to love you forever. So I won’t give up on you. I’ll keep trying, however long it takes. I promise you this—I’ll earn my second chance with you. If you ever deem me worthy again, I won’t let you down. I’ll make you happy.”
Ash tugged hard at her hand, holding it prisoner in his. His other hand caught her waist and yanking her close, he covered her mouth in an intense heartfelt kiss. Kiera couldn’t resist him. When it was over, he pulled away but didn’t let go of her.
“I just want you to let me go,” Kiera managed shakily.
“Too bad. I won’t let you go. Not again.”
Ash gave her another steamy kiss and finally let her go. Kiera stood there, staring after him as he strode to his car and with a wave, drove away.
What the hell just happened? she thought, baffled. She shook her head and turned to go inside. She’d analyze it all later, all these conflicting feelings inside of her. She couldn’t think about them now.
As she stepped in the door, her friends scrambled away from the windows.
Skye gave her a worried look. “Are you okay?”
Skye. She had a bone to pick with her.
“Just say the words, and Daniels’ a dead man,” Tyler stated.
“Ty, you idiot!” Tasha exclaimed in an exasperated voice.
“Could you guys give me and Skye a moment?” Kiera asked.
Shit, I am so busted! Skye thought.
Cian must have realized it too. “Kiera—” he started but she cut him off.
“I’ll deal with you later,” she snapped.
“Ok, we’ll be in the kitchen.” Tasha grabbed Cian and Tyler, towing them with her. Tyler sent Skye a what-did-you-do? look.
“You’ve been busy,” Kiera stated.
“Kiera—”
“You went to see him.”
“Yes.”
“For god’s sake, why? Because he’s your friend? You’re supposed to be my best friend! Did you think we’d just kiss and make up after the way he hurt me?”
“That’s not why! And I am your best friend!”
“Was it all an act? Taking me shopping, telling me I was strong. That I could get over him?”
“No. God, no!” This was going all wrong. “Kiera, believe me. I only went to see him because I wanted to kick him for hurting you. There’s no worse pain than realizing how you let go of the best thing in your life because you were so wrong. To discover just how awfully you messed up and lost the person who truly loved you. I couldn’t let him go on thinking he was in the right. I’m sorry I hurt you by going to see him. That was never my intention. But if I had to do it all over again, I still would have done it.”
Kiera deflated. “You should have told me.”
“I’m sorry.” Skye took a deep breath. “If you want me to leave, I’ll go.”
“No. I don’t want you to leave. I’m sorry too, for jumping down your throat like that. I know you were only looking out for me.”
“Are we good?” Worry clouded Skye’s eyes.
Kiera sighed, suddenly sorry she’d worried her. “Yes, we’re good.”
Just like that, everything was okay again. Thank god they could never stay mad at each other.
“So what was that kiss all about?” Skye asked.
“That’s what I want to know too,” Tasha added, Tyler and Cian right behind her.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you eavesdropping was a sin?” Skye gave her a look of exasperation.
“Why no. I believe eavesdropping is an efficient way to get juicy news that you wouldn’t otherwise get your hot little hands on.”
“Of course,” Cian agreed.
“I told you he’s a bad influence on her,” Tyler complained.
Skye and Kiera shared an eye-roll at their bickering. They were used to it.
“Sorry we sneaked on you,” Cian apologized to Kiera.
“That’s what you were holding over her head?” she inquired.
Cian gave her a sheepish look. “Guilty.”
Skye pointed at him. “You see what a bully he is?”
“I agree,” Tyler retorted.
“You always agree on anything bad about him,” Tasha remarked.
“I do not! I just agree with the truth!” Tyler gave her an innocent look.
“Pffttt!” Tasha said, hiding her smile.
Cian turned to Kiera, “Though I have to say I wanted to let Skye loose on Ash.”
“Shut up, Cian,” Skye hissed.
Kiera’s eyes widened slightly. “What?”
Cian shook his head at Skye. “Not a chance in hell, love. This is too good to keep to myself. Let’s see, darling, what did you call him? Ah yes, stupid ass, fucking moron, a fool.” He turned to Kiera. “Your ruthless champion here bopped him on the head several times. On top of a blinding headache. Not to mention, tried to attack him.”
“You’ve been holding out on me!” Tyler gasped at Skye, with a hand over his heart. He looked like one of those high-class prim ladies who got shocked at anything remotely scandalous. Skye’s lips unwillingly twitched. He was so funny. And he knew it too. He was always doing stuff like that to make her laugh. Ty said her icy shield needed a few cracks.
Tasha gaped at her. “Seriously?”
“What?” Kiera repeated.
“Then she annihilated the guy by stating just how her best friend was too good to mope over a loser like him and would have a wonderful life without him,” Cian related.
Skye closed her eyes with a groan. There was no way she was bringing Cian anywhere with her ever again. She told him so. The goof only flashed her a cocky grin. Probably because he knew he’d get around her.
Tyler hooted with laughter. He patted Skye on the head. “You, my Skywalker, have made me proud.”
“Oh, ye Powerful Obi-Wan,” Skye scowled at him. Tasha belly-laughed at their interaction.
Kiera was the only one who didn’t say anything. The others went quiet when she came to stand in front of Skye.
“Kiera.” Had she made her mad again?
“Oh, be quiet.” Kiera hugged her tightly. “You’re the best friend ever.”
Skye hugged her back, relief washing over her.
Kiera went to Cian next and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for telling me. She would never have said a word.”
“She goes all Fort Knox on us when it comes to keeping secrets, doesn’t she? Right, love?”
Skye sent him a baleful look. Cian just smiled smugly. Ignoring him, she turned to Kiera. “So what did Ash want?”
Feeling unsettled, Kiera told them. She felt like she’d entered the twilight zone. Just last night, Ash had broken up with her and looked at her with such contempt. Then today, he’d done a turnabout and told her he loved her and wasn’t going to let her go? What should she do?
“So he says he won’t give up, eh? Good for him.”
&
nbsp; Startled, Kiera looked up at Cian at his words. Skye silently agreed.
“He hurt you and now he wants to make up?” Tyler resumed in disgust.
“Ty, remind me never to forgive you if you mess up,” Tasha said, exasperated.
Tyler stared at her warily. “Well, I’ll just have to make sure I don’t mess up.” He pulled her into his arms and beamed down a charming smile at her. “Besides, if that ever happened, you’d make my life a living hell, of course.”
“Of course,” Tasha smiled adoringly up at him.
Cian ignored them, addressing Kiera. “When you truly love someone, you fight for her, fight to keep her in your life.” His eyes zoomed in on Skye. She obtusely kept her head down. Pig-headed woman.
Tasha giggled and poked Tyler. He just shook his head as they watched Skye.
Skye could feel Cian’s stare drilling holes in her. His words robbed her of speech. Her foolish heart filled with overwhelming love for him.
Kiera watched them with a pleased smile. Even with the confused feelings going on inside of her, she was happy for her friend. With Cian, Skye was in good hands. He made her happy. As for Ash, his words resonated in her. Could he truly love her like she loved him? Only time would tell.
But she didn’t feel as broken-hearted as last night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The next day, the constant ringing of the doorbell shook Kiera from a sound sleep. She sat up, rubbing sleep out of her bleary eyes and focused on the clock on the nightstand. Ten-fifteen a.m.
She glanced at Tasha and Skye, who were still slumbering away. The guys had left after dinner. Along with Skye, Tasha had stayed over. She and Tasha’d crashed on her bed while Skye had taken the sofa bed.
Kiera got up and groggily headed for the door. Flipping the lock, she pulled the door open.
And gaped at the mountain of roses in front of her.
“Delivery for Ms Carmichael,” a voice said from behind the mountain and pushed the flowers at her.
Startled, she automatically took them.
“What the—” she started only to have a clipboard thrust at her face.
Kiera blinked. She turned and set the bouquets down and looked up at the delivery guy, who appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old.
“You make deliveries on Sundays?” Kiera asked him, surprised.
“Nope,” he answered cheerfully. “Special delivery. If you could sign here.”
Baffled, Kiera signed her name. Who would send her flowers on a Sunday? She asked as much to the delivery guy.
“There’s a card,” he said helpfully. “See ya!”
He skipped down the steps, got in his car and drove away. Kiera was kept staring after him. She shut the door and kneeling down, stared at the flowers. There were easily some six dozen roses or so in there—yellow, white, red, pink, peach, orange.
For a moment she could only stare at them in shock. Maybe the kid had made a mistake. These couldn’t possibly be for her! Then she saw a white envelope with her name on it. Well, that sure proved her wrong.
Kiera hesitated, then opened it. The front of the card was a color picture of Ren and Kyoko, the main characters—two lovers, from her favorite manga Skip Beat. She gasped. Who could possibly know about how much she adored this manga except for Skye? Just open the card, dummy and you’ll know.
Taking a deep breath, she opened it. It read:
Kiera,
The roses can’t make up for all the hurt I caused you. I know right now it’s hard but I hope one day you will be able to forgive me.
Just as to me, you’re my Kyoko, I hope that I am your Ren. I know I messed up big-time but I have faith in us and always will. We belong together. I believed that even when I was a fool and hurt you and I believe it now.
Give me another chance, my love.
Always and forever,
Your Ash.
Oh my god. This was the most sappy, romantic gesture anyone had ever done for her! Ash’d known exactly how to get her attention.
Overwhelmed, Kiera hugged the card to her chest and sat back, staring in awe at the roses at her feet.
That was how Skye and Tasha found her half an hour later when they woke up and came searching for her.
“Holy cow!” Tasha exclaimed.
“Wow,” Skye said.
“Where did those come from?”
Kiera didn’t reply. She kept staring at the flowers with dazed eyes. Skye squatted down beside her and touched her shoulder.
“Kiera, you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I think so.”
“You think so?” Tasha remarked in an amused tone.
Kiera shook her head, as if pulling herself out of a spell. “Yeah, um. Right.”
“So who are they from?” Skye shared a look with Tasha. They both knew who had probably sent them.
“Ash,” Kiera breathed out.
Tasha eyed the flowers with a smile. “Whoa. The guy pulled out all the stops, didn’t he? These babies must have maxed him out.”
Kiera wordlessly handed over the card to Skye. Skye’s eyes widened as she opened it.
“Wow.” Tasha voiced out Skye’s own thought as she read over her shoulder. “Corny, yet effective.”
Skye handed the card back to Kiera. “What are you going to do?”
Kiera again hugged it to her chest. “I don’t know.”
“Well, there’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy the flowers,” Tasha remarked cheerfully. “C’mon, we’ll give you a hand.”
Between the three of them, they gathered the roses and headed into the kitchen. The phone rang just as they finished putting all the flowers in water. They stared at each other then Kiera picked up the phone and said cautiously, “Hello?”
“Did you get the flowers and the card?”
Kiera’s eyes widened as she looked at Tasha and Skye. Who? they both mouthed. Ash, Kiera mouthed back. “Ooh,” they whispered in unison. Kiera ignored them.
“Yes, I did.”
“Do you like them?” There was a note of uncertainty in his voice.
Kiera’s heart softened. “Yes. Thank you.”
“I’m glad.”
She could hear the relief in his voice. “The card… how?”
“I wanted to give you something that was special to you.”
“It is.”
They both fell quiet. Kiera clutched the phone, her pulse speeding up. Talking to him felt awkward and yet at the same time, it felt like a soothing balm to her heart.
“Does it help?”
Kiera knew what he was asking, if she forgave him. She thought over their break-up, the pain of it. Somehow, it felt like another lifetime.
“I don’t know.” She truly didn’t. She felt confused.
“Oh.”
The sadness in his voice struck a chord in her. “Maybe a bit,” Kiera admitted.
“Thank you for that. I… I’d better let you get back to what you were doing.”
“Yes,” she replied, reluctantly.
“I love you.”
Her breath caught in her throat at the words.
“I know you can’t say those words back to me yet,” he continued. “I’ll wait. I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s alright. I understand… bye.”
“Bye.” She set down the phone. Tasha and Skye pounced on her.
“So what did he say? What did he say?”
Kiera blinked. She’d forgotten they were here. “Um, well.” To her mortification, she blushed.
They went ‘Ooh!’ again. If it were possible, she blushed even harder.
“What did Ren want, Kyoko?” Tasha teased.
“Oh, shut up,” Kiera muttered. “He just asked if I’d gotten the
flowers and card and liked them. He said he loves me. What do I do?”
“Oh, sweetie,” Skye said softly. “Give it time. Give yourself time.”
Tasha wrapped an arm around Kiera’s shoulders. “Yes. Take it slow.”
Kiera sent them both a grateful look. “Thanks, guys. You’re the best.”
“You’re the bestest,” Tasha quipped.
“Is that even a word? ‘Bestest’?” Skye teased.
“Of course!” Tasha replied back, indignantly.
The doorbell rang again. Kiera went to get it, leaving them to bicker. She opened the door to find Tyler and Cian on the doorstep. Tyler had a box of disposable cups, snug in their holders in his hand whereas Cian was holding another box that looked kinda heavy. She stared at them curiously.
“Hey guys, what’s up?”
They both flashed her a blinding grin.
Cian held up his box. “Brunch?”
SKYE LOOKED up as Kiera entered the kitchen with Tyler and Cian in tow. Her stupid heart did a happy little dance at Cian’s presence. Be still, stupid heart, she told it sternly.
“What,” she stated flatly.
“We figured you’d sleep late so we got brunch,” Cian smiled winningly.
“My heroes,” Tasha exclaimed. “We are famished!”
“Must you always encourage him?” Skye said, irked.
“Why, yes,” Tasha smirked. “It makes up for the lack of encouragement he gets from you.”
Skye sent her a sour look.
“Where’s my reward?” Tyler asked.
Tasha got up from her seat, walked to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long sizzling kiss. “That reward enough for you, handsome?”
“Wow,” Tyler breathed. “Thank God, you’re my girl.”
Tasha gave him a wide smile. “You betcha, you hunk.”
“You guys are so cute,” Kiera said, smiling.
“Ugh, can you please not do that in my presence? It’s disgusting,” Skye complained.
Tasha laughed. “Aw, look, Ty, we’ve scarred the kid for life. Whatever are we going to do?”
In answer, Ty dipped Tasha over one arm and fastened his lips to hers. They pulled apart, grinning.
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