I clicked my feet on my board and stood tall, hands on my hips looking up at him.
He was staring at me. Blinking and taking a step closer, he placed a hand on my waist, shocking me. Even through the thickness of my jacket, I felt the pressure of his...
Lilo slept soundly in my lap with a smile on her face. She had ice cream after dinner and the little sugar high had finally knocked her out after an hour of running around.
I ran my fingers through her curls, my fingers passing over her hearing aid.
I kissed the center of her cheek.
Nalu walked into the kitchen, fatigue resting behind his eyes.
"How is she?" I asked quietly, leaning my arm on the tabletop.
He ran a hand through his pink hair and shrugged. "Not good. I dunno..." he pulled bottled juice from the fridge and shook his head. "I wish dat man had been out dere a bit longer. I'd smack him upside the head or somethin' "
I nodded my head lightly, clenching my jaw for a moment. "I wish I knew what he said to her exactly. Did she say anything?"
Bowie had gone up to her room after she came in and I hadn't spoken to her one on one.
And I wasn't sure what to say to even make her feel better.
The look on her face when I saw her come in killed me on the inside. The empty bloodshot look in her eyes, the frown on her lips...knowing all of the smiles of Bowie, the soft sides to her, and the strength in her optimism and care....and then seeing her so broken had brought something out of me.
I wanted to hold her and listen to her talk about everything. I wanted to be her comfort during her times of grief and pain.
"Not much. Jus dat he said he didn't know dat she had feelings for him."
"Bullshit," I cursed, already irritated.
He asked her out twice in the past month and she said yes each time. How exactly did that not translate for him?
Nalu abandoned his drink on the counter and made his way over to me. Placing both hands on the counter, his eyes grew serious.
"I'm gonna be real with y'a, I just watched my best friend cry her eyes out over a guy. I need to know right now if I have to be—"
"No...no," I shook my head. "I'm not..." I sighed. "I mean yes, I have feelings for Bowie but right now I'm not going to pursue them. She needs time and space."
His jaw unclenched and he sighed, a tired look on his face. With a cross of his arms, he stared at me dead on.
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"I know that you wouldn't. I just—-" he took a step back, a breath leaving his mouth. "You're not just some person...and with Lilo." I had never seen him so serious before.
"I know," I whispered. "I know."
So much would happen if I ever did anything about it.
"If and when y'a tell her," his brown eyes held mine. "Ya betta mean it."
