Engaged

Chapter 11: Bad News

"I know you just got left for a pair and now you've just got paired with the one you've secretly loved since forever. It's a lot. I know." I said to Nailah's overwhelmed figure. "I know Kellan isn't the most patient of men, but he's always been patient and gentle with you. He'll wait for you. You don't have to get married today or tomorrow. Just know that when you're ready, he'll be there waiting." She started wiping her face. That's a good sign. 

"But promise me before you two do anything, you make sure he gets tested," I joked, bringing the desired effect. Her giggling. Even if it is forced.

Kellan's been screwing around with girls his entire life, even with growing affection for Nailah, he wasn't able to see their bond for what it was. Same for Nailah. She was so wrapped up in Donte, she didn't understand how Kellan stressed when he knew they had a bad argument. Kellan was always her knight in shining armor, and both idiots failed to realize it.

He pledged to have fun until he got paired. The idiot. He never even considered her as a lover. I can only imagine the stuff going through her head.

Knowing my brother though, he'll chase her relentlessly. Not because he's ever done that with his girlfriends (because he hasn't), but he always was like a lost puppy when it came to Nailah. He smiled his biggest when he was able to make Nailah even crack a smile. Even bigger than the pictures  showing when he got his many awards. Neither realized it either.

Their connection was so strong, we still are baffled to this day how they never felt it. 

"But, last night Tayla," she says. "With Habib. You must hate me."

I started parking the car, and snorted. "Not at all," I told her. "Neither one of us are holding it against you. You were stressing and given all you've gone through, I doubt you would have even gone through with it. You were drunk. And based off of the things I've heard, Habib's aggressive in bed." The thought disgusted me, but I still told her. She gasped as I put the car in park.

I turned to look at her. "He's also paired." I informed her. "He's been celibate for a couple of months now, when he found out."

"Is he looking for her?" she asked. I shook my head. She looked relieved. 

"Ready?" She nodded and we both got out. 

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We'd been eating for about five minutes and all Nailah's managed to do was pick at her food. This has obviously been bothering her more than she'd let on. 

"What's wrong Nai? We talk about everything else. Talk to me," I gently pleaded. 

I waited. And waited. 

"What if he doesn't want me?" she asked. That statement was wayyyy off. He wants her more than anything. "I mean, he plays a lot, but he'd never led me to believe he wanted me."

Nothing I can't handle.

"Sweets, Kellan has never led a damn person on. He thinks it's unfair," I told her. At the same time, the whole pairing thing's been scary to him too. So I don't think he would've told you if he was attracted to you simply out of principle."

"That makes it all worse," she whines. "What if he wants me now, because he thinks we have to be together?"

It's sad she's never realized he's been crushing on her as hard as she's been crushing on him. 

"Really?" she says, obviously perking up. I may have said that aloud.

"Yeah, we all knew. Just not you two." I told her. 

"But what if things go bad?" she asked. "What if he hurts me?" she hesitantly said. I gasped in shock. 

"Tay," she called. "I know you've seen what I went through with Donte. I just didn't want to bring up you invading my privacy. I didn't want to talk about it."