Sunlight

Chapter Seven

Love Will Tear Us Apart // Joy Division

Kyra

It must have been a dream.

My eyes pop open as memories of Pete looking down at me from under the stars fill my waking brain. His piercing eyes pinning me to the ground. His warm breath as he leaned closer to kiss me. And the words he spoke. Determined, decisive words.

Words I'd dreamed of Pete saying to me for years.

So it must have been a dream.

There's no way he actually said what he said and meant it.

That he'd talk to Jeff. That he'd blow up his world.

I sit up, a snoring Alison in the bed across the room, and check the time. 7 am. We're set to have breakfast together in the cabin this morning. Alison wanted pajama time to lounge and sip coffee with all of the ladies before the events of the day begin at 10.

There are no plans to see the guys today unless our dinner plans align. And the off kilter way I woke up with memories of Pete saying things dreams are made of, I'm not sure I'm ready to see him again. What if he does talk to Jeff? What if it goes horribly? What if he's wrong and he isn't ready to blow up his world for me?

I'm not resilient enough to face the disappointment. Not again. Not this soon after making the trip back to Salt Creek. I haven't even been on the mountain for 24 hours and Pete's already creating drama with me.

I throw my covers off, determined to take back my day and enjoy the week celebrating Jeff and Alison. As I grab my toiletries and make my way to the bathroom, I wonder if I should tell the girls what transpired last night. Maybe that's why the memories feel like a fever dream. I kept it all to myself. Maybe talking about it will make it real.

On the other hand, if things go badly, I'm pretty sure I won't want to rehash it with everyone. Especially Misty. Alison's best friend is loyal to the bone, but that girl is seriously unhinged. She'd cut a man. I have no doubt she'd hunt Pete down and do some damage. It's a good thing her man, Frank, is basically a robot. That guy is unfazed by 99% of her shit. I don't think I could do it.

I return to the bedroom with my teeth brushed and a bit more conscious. Alison is awake and stretching as I walk in.

"Hey, you were asleep when I got in last night. Are you okay?"

Alison wasn't around when things with Pete started changing. The night he kissed me was before Jeff met her. But she was there when Pete left. She saw what was left in the wake, my bruised heart. She knew this would be hard for me but no one could have predicted what actually went down when Pete was back in the same room as me.

"I'm good." It's a lie. Although what I'm feeling is a far cry from good, it isn't the feeling of complete devastation that I've been expecting.

"Did he upset you?" Alison's eyes reflect her worry.

"No. He surprised me, but nothing he said was upsetting. And you should not be sitting here worrying about me. I'm fine. This is your wedding week, we should all be pampering you."

Alison smiles and stretches her arms over her head again. "I've been waiting forever to be Mrs. Miller."

"Exactly. Let's go get you a fancy cup of coffee and we'll sit out on the deck and listen to the creek rushing by." I grab my nature-loving, almost-sister-in-law by the hands and pull her out of bed.

"That sounds so perfect. I hope we see a deer walk by."

"Not uncommon up here," I say as I follow her out the door. I'm filled with a strange mix of anticipation and fear, as we head downstairs to the kitchen. I don't know when Pete's planning to talk to Jeff. It could be now. It could be tonight. Maybe he'll wait until after the wedding.