Chapter 50 – Play hard or go home
Chapter 50 – Play hard or go home
KYLIE’s POV
I don’t know what made me take the route home. It was the longer route and I usually didn’t take it. I suppose I simply had a lot in my head and needed to think it all through while I walked underneath the cool night air.
The last thing I expected was to find Elijah outside an infirmary, surrounded by females who seemed to want his attention. “Elijah?” I questioned out loud when I saw him.
I don’t know if he heard me, but he turned to look at me and I could tell that he was surprised to see me. If anybody needed to be more surprised it was me. Because, at least I was taking the longer route home. But him, why was he there? Why was he at that infirmary? And who were those women he was with.
I could tell he had a couple of things to say to me, but the women around him didn’t seem to be willing to let him out of their sight.
I watched as the women around him vied for his attention, seeking some kind of conversation.
My problem was not that the women wanted his attention. He was handsome, and even at school, every girl wanted him for themselves. It’s just he was so dark and hard to get close to sometimes,
These women with him right now didn’t consider him hard to get close to. And that was my problem. That he had put himself in a situation where women could feel at ease around him.
But hey, we were just friends, so what did even owe me in the first place, right?
I grind my teeth without another word and turn away from him. If Elijah wanted to push me to the side, just so that he could get a chance with other women, then he could go right ahead. I did not have to stay and watch.
I just kept going. I wasn’t delusional to think he would race after me just then. No, whatever conversation those women seemed to want to have, the look I had seen on his face told me that he wanted to have it too.
But a part of me wished that he could have chased after me. That he could have at least tried to be the Elijah I had come to like and grow comfortable with.
But he didn’t, and instead walked back to my apartment feeling very upset.
Upset with him for being so dark and mysterious and hard to trust. Upset with myself for knowing all this and still expecting more from him.
Somehow I always seemed to hold him in high regard, and somehow he always seemed to let me down.
“Why am I even surprised?” I questioned and stretched out on my couch. Why did I let his behavior even bother me till this point?
“So be it then,” I said and sat up, before reaching into my back for my phone. If this was how Elijah wanted to do things, then he could have it his way.
I refused to sit around and mope or cry. Not when I could be happy.
My thumb hovered over Matthew’s name and I blew out a breath.
He had asked to go out on a date, had he not?
He had asked when my schedule was free. I was Free tomorrow. If not, I could make time. Anything to get Elijah out of my head.
Anything so that Elijah did not have a choke hold on my happiness.
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered and clicked on Elijah’s number.
It rang for a couple of seconds before Matthew’s voice came through.
“Kylie?” He questioned and he sounded pleased to hear from me. Remind me again why I had been so hesitant about calling him up until now.
“Hi, Matthew. How is it going?” I said in a m easy voice. I didn’t want to sound needy.
“All good. And you?”
“I’m alright. I’m alright.” I said and chewed on my bottom lip. How was I supposed to say I was down for a date?
“I have to say, I’m a bit surprised by your call.”
“You are? Why is that?”
“I don’t know. You seemed like you only told me yes to be nice the day I asked you out at the cafe. And then when I texted you with a reminder, you hit me with ‘Oh, it’s a busy week. Can I check in with you when I’m a bit free?‘ You had me feeling
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Chapter 50–Play hard or go home
like it was not what you wanted. And I didn’t want to push, you know?”
I pressed my hand to my forehead and let out a sigh.
It was Elijah. It was all Elijah’s fault. I was so stuck on him that I couldn’t even bring myself to yes say Matthew to easily
And even now, look how I had struggled before making this damned call. I wasn’t even excited at the prospect of dating Matthew. I just felt safe.
But feeling safe did not have to be a bad thing, did it?
“Gosh, Matthew. I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” I said sincerely, “it’s just… I’m having a hard time just letting myself relax and be with a nice guy. That’s all.” It wasn’t the entire truth, but it was the truth.
“So you think I’m a nice guy then?” Henry asked in a warm tone and I smiled a bit.
“Yes, I think you are a nice guy. And nice guys shouldn’t be treated with such confusion. Please forgive me, and if you aren’t tired of me yet, how about that date?”
He chuckled a bit and the sound made my smile deepen. No, I wasn’t excited, but I liked how he made me feel. Safe
Because after all of the highs and lows I had experienced with Elijah. After all the confusion his endless secrets brought, deserved to feel safe.
“How about the park that just opened? There are a lot of fun rides, stuffed animals to be won…”
“You sound like their marketing director,” I said and he let out a boisterous laugh.
“I don’t doubt I would make a good one.”
“I don’t doubt it either.” I said and I shrugged, “But it sounds like fun. I’m in. Does tomorrow sound good to you?”
“Tomorrow sounds just fine.”
“Good.”
“I’ll be the one with the good–looking hair.” He said cheekily and I smiled.
“I’ll keep an eye out for that. Good night, Matthew.”
“Good night, Ky,” he said, and when he ended the call I let out a deep breath.
There. That wasn’t so bad.
And jokes on Elijah, if for a moment he thought would cry for him.
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