Just friends? Pfft. Yeah, right.

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“So how was it?” Kayla asked, flopping down beside me on the couch.

I had just come back from my dinner with Dave. We talked more today. We had sat atop a hill, pretending it was our spot back in Ireland, and watched everything go by. It felt different but the same somehow. When he told me he was going back to Emily, i put on a smile and told him i had a great time. He looked like he wanted to tell me something but he never did. And i never asked. I did not want to say anything that would ruin our last day.

“We talked,” i replied, pulling off my scarf from my neck.

Kayla stared at me, green eyes wide. “And?”

“That’s it, K. We just talked. He’s leaving tomorrow,” i stated, standing up to go to the kitchen. I needed some tea.

Kayla stood up with me, hands on her hips. “Did you tell him?”

“Tell him what?” i asked, pouring hot water into a mug.

“Don’t play coy with me, Julia,” she said sternly.

I spun around. I was just too tired for all this. All i wanted to do was curl up in my bed and watch Friends on rerun, while drinking my tea. I wanted to pretend that everything was alright and fine. But, obviously, Kayla had other plans.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Kayla asked, sounding like she was controlling her anger.

“He’s got Emily now. I need to learn when to back off,” i said, holding her furious gaze. “And you need to learn too.”

Kayla looked stunned for a moment before she glared at me. “Stop running away from your feelings.”

“I am not running away. I have accepted that I have feelings for Dave but i am not going to come in between him and Emily. Don’t you think that if he had any feelings for me, he would have told me?” i asked back, eyes flashing.

“Just tell him, Julia. You’re going to regret it,” Kayla pleaded. All anger in her eyes gone. “It’s been five years.”

I sighed and turned away from her, wrapping my fingers around the warm mug. I wish the warmth from it could seep into my cold bones. A knock from the door jolted me. i turned to find Kayla opening the door. Dave stood in the doorway, hair windblown and eyes dancing. Kayla turned to me, her eyes telling me to just talk to him.

“Can i come in?” Dave asked, hands in his pockets.

“Sure. I’m sure Julia has something to tell you,” Kayla remarked, closing the door as she left.

My cell phone immediately played my ringtone for a when i received a message. Looking at it, i saw it was from Kayla. She wanted me to confess to him. Agh. This girl really does not know when to stop.

“Want some tea?” i asked Dave as he sat on the couch.

He nodded, leaning back and watching me. “I hope i’m not intruding.”

I smiled at him, setting a cup of steaming tea before him. “Don’t be silly. Kayla just needed a walk.”

“At 11pm?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I just waved my hand dismissively. “She’s like that.”

I heard my phone ringing and Dave looked over at the kitchen counter. I rolled my eyes and went to get it. It was another text from Kayla telling me that i better tell Dave about my feelings before he leaves. I gritted my teeth, cursing in my head mentally. Turning my cell phone to silent, I went back to Dave.