She nodded and I went to collect the food. I ran into my mom in the kitchen and told her Kami was staying. She agreed that it was a good idea with questions or hesitation. She said she was making brownies and they would be ready soon.
I have to admit, I have the coolest mom ever. Not many moms would purposefully become a surrogate mother to their daughter’s best friend. My mom had treated Kami like a daughter even before she had found out what Kami’s mom was like.
“Tell your sister she can stay here for as long as she wants,” my mom said as I walked out of the room.
I smiled to myself and ran back upstairs. I told Kami what my mom had said and she smiled a little. I told her about the brownies and she full out grinned.
“I love Mom,” Kami said.
“Yeah, well Mom loves you too,” I said with a matching grin.
“See this is one reason I’ll be okay if my mom leaves. Even if I can’t have my mom, I have something better, I have your mom. She’s always been more of a mom then my own mom and on top of that I get you too! I get the best sister a girl could ever ask for. One who will call the guy that hurts me and threaten his life,” she said with a soft smile.
“Oh, you heard that did you,” I said nervously.
“Only the part where you told him he better learn to run and hide real fast,” she admitted.
“Yeah, well, he should. He breaks my best friend and I break him. That’s the rule in our sisterhood. I wonder if my old softball bat is still in my closet. It would make a satisfying sound when it connects with his knee caps,” I said with an evil glint in my eyes.
Kami dropped her food and lunged at me, tackling me in a huge hug. “I love you Alara,” she said before dropping a kiss on my cheek.
I dropped one on hers and smiled. “I love you too. Now get off me and help me pick what we are going to watch,” I said with a laugh.
We watched comedies, staying far away from romance movies. We kept watching until we both passed out, too exhausted to keep our eyes open for another second. When we woke up the next morning both us felt groggy and less than okay. We were suffering from what I called a heartache hangover: a sugar binge combined with the headache from too much crying.
We stumbled downstairs, straight into the best thing ever; my mom was making pancakes and I also smelled bacon! I licked my lips and headed straight for the coffee maker. I needed coffee, pancakes, and bacon.
“You made a miracle,” I said as I sipped my coffee.
My mom laughed and flipped some pancakes over. “Well if you’re making miracles, can you also make it so guys don’t suck,” Kami asked hopefully.
“Sorry baby doll, even I can’t work that miracle, and it’s not from lack of trying,” my mom said with a shake of her head.
I heard a knock at the door and my heart stopped. If it was Carson I was going to go hide upstairs. My mom shot a look at me and sighed. She handed me the spatula and I took over pancake duties while she went to get the door.
I heard a voice, but it wasn’t Carson’s so I let out a small sigh of relief. That relief didn’t last long when I saw the look on Kami’s face. I knew right away who it was, and I was angry as hell. I handed her the spatula and stomped to the front porch.
“Mom, let me handle this,” I said, down playing my anger with a quiet and calm voice.
My mom nodded and headed inside. In all seriousness, I wondered where my old softball bat was. Hitting him would make me feel a lot better right about now. As soon as the door behind me closed I glared at Reed and thought about slapping him. I looked down at my nails and decided against it. Kami had painted them a really pretty shade of blue and I didn’t want to risk messing up her work.
“Sweetheart, I can explain,” he said quickly.
“Don’t you dare sweetheart me,” I growled. “No, you can’t explain! Try saying you can explain to my broken hearted best friend! You know she really likes you! You went and used her just to get what you wanted! I believed in you and I was telling her that she shouldn’t count you out! I was rooting for you and you had the nerve to do this!” I decided I wasn’t going to give him a chance to respond so I opened the door and stepped inside the house “God, what the hell is wrong with you? I hope you’re happy because you ruined any chance you had with her,” I said before slamming the door in his face.
I turned around and Kami was looking at the door. “It was him, wasn’t it,” she said quietly.
“Yeah it was him. I took care of it,” I said gently.
There was another knock on the door and I cringed. It was either Reed being persistent or Carson. Kami looked out and said it was Carson, so I ran and hid out of sight while Kami answered the door. I knew it was cowardly, but I wasn’t ready to deal with him yet. I hid and listened, knowing my best friend would have my back by defending me and then getting rid of him.
“What do you want Carson,” she asked wearily.
“I need to talk to Alara. Somethings up and she’s mad at me. I need to know why,” he replied.
“Well I’m guessing that’s not going to happen, because as soon as I told her it was you she ran and hid.”
“Kami, please, you’ve got to get her to talk to me! I don’t know what I did,” he pleaded.
“Hey, I don’t even know why she’s mad at you, so I don’t know what to tell you. All I do know is that she doesn’t want you here right now, so whatever you did had to have been pretty bad. The girl is crazy about you, so wanting you gone means she’s in some serious pain.”
“Don’t you see? That’s why I can’t go Kami. She’s my girl and leaving her when she’s hurting isn’t something I can do. I need to fix this and get her back in my arms. I can’t lose her, not when I am so close to telling her everything.”
My ears perked up and all I could focus on was his very last sentence. What is he keeping from me, besides the fact that he doesn’t want to hear how I feel? I dug my nails into my palm to keep from going out there. Talking to him now won’t fix things, not until I get my head on straight.
“Go for now. I’ll see what I can find out later,” Kami said with a sigh.
I crept quietly into the kitchen, my mom standing with her arms out for me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and laid my head on her shoulder. She kissed my forehead and held me, rocking gently back and forth. I felt tears behind my closed eyelids, but I held them back.
Today wasn’t about me. Today was about Kami. Tomorrow was my birthday, so tomorrow everything would get to be about me. Today all I wanted to do was focus on my best friend and find a way to help her through her Reed situation. If only I could shut my thoughts of Carson off as easily as I can shut down any selfish impulses.
A few minutes later Kami walked in, her eyes zeroing in on me. She came up to me and put her hands to my cheeks. She looked into my eyes and sighed. She wanted to know what happened to make me avoid Carson. She knew I was hurting bad, and as an amazing best friend she knew it was her job to make that hurt stop if she can, and she can’t do that if she didn’t know what was happening.
“Talk to me sweetheart. What happened with Carson? You could never be mad at him for anything, it was next to impossible for you guys to stay mad at each other, always has been.”
“Not today Kami. Today is about you. Tomorrow is my day, so we’ll deal with it then,” I said with a smile.
“Alright, but tell me something. Why would you say what you said to him?”
“Ah, but that would require getting into the main story, which as we just discussed isn’t happening until tomorrow,” I said with a laugh.
“Fine! You’re lucky I love you enough not to push. Get dressed, we’re going shopping for our dresses for tomorrow, because come hell or high water we are celebrating, even if it’s just me and you. We are gonna go out and we are gonna have a drink and not worry about our guy troubles,” she said as she turned to go upstairs.
I sighed and prepared myself for shopping for yet another dress. I moved towards the steps and then stopped. I
t hit me that this shopping trip would turn out different than the last one. This trip wouldn’t end with a kiss and a date. I knew that I’m going to have moments like this a lot because almost all the parts of my life relate back to Carson somehow.
I felt a sob building up in my chest, so I forced myself into action. I ran up the stairs and grabbed some clothes, after which, I ran straight for the bathroom and indulged myself with a thirty-minute shower. After I had cried and cleaned myself I walked out feeling a bit better. I was in a pair of tight jeans and a black peasant top. Even with the jeans being tight I felt a lot more comfortable than I had a few minutes ago, though that wouldn’t have taken a lot to do.
Kami was sitting on my bed, freshly showered and in some of my clothes. She must have used my parent’s bathroom while I was in the shower. She looked at me and I could tell that she was worried but that she was masking it for me. I have never shut her or Carson out the way that I was doing right now, so she’s right to be a bit worried. I smiled for her and some of her worry faded. I held out my hand for her and she took it. I pulled her up and into a hug.
“So, are you ready to go shopping,” I asked when I let her go and slipped into a pair of red flats.
She nodded, so I grabbed my bag and my phone. I told her we’d take my car because I was going to have to get gas anyway. We headed downstairs and said goodbye to my mom who, of course, told us to be careful. When we got to the front door I stopped Kami, putting my hand on her arm. I knew the guys would probably be out there, because they knew one of us would have to come out eventually. I didn’t know if I was ready for this at all and I needed some kind of support to get me through this. I knew that she would need it too if they really were, because Reed had destroyed her heart.
“If they’re out there we don’t say a word, we just keep walking,” she said seriously.
I let out a breath and smiled. That was just so like her. She always seemed to know what I was thinking without me having to say a word. I grabbed her hand, determined not to let the guys ruin this trip for us. We were going to present a united front and show them that we were okay without them, even if that isn’t true.
“Alright, let’s do it,” I said as I opened the door.
The guys were both there, sitting on the tailgate of Carson’s truck, both looking forlorn. I looked at Kami and she looked angry. I was too. What right did Reed have to look lonely and sad? This was his own fault, and Carson? Well, it’s not his fault that he can’t feel the same way, but still. It is his fault that he won’t straight up tell me. For that, I can’t forgive him. He’s always been straight with me before, so why stop now?
Kami squeezed my hand and we walked towards my car. As soon as the guys saw us they jumped up. I shot Kami a look that screamed “run”. I hit the button on the car remote and we ran to the car, hopping in with seconds to spare. I quickly started the car and tore out of there, not sparing either of the guys another glance.
When we were far enough away Kami and I looked at each other. We stared for a second before we busted out laughing. We had made it through, and it felt ridiculous but right all at the same time. We fought over the radio station before she finally popped in the one artist we agree on, Avril Lavigne. We made it to the mall and walked arm in arm through a couple of stores. We didn’t find anything in the first couple stores that was interesting and I was just ready to be done because dress shopping just wasn’t any fun for me, especially not with the bad mood I was in.
We were going through another store when I saw that girl Allie. You know, the one who had been with Carson before we got together. She was looking right at me so I looked away and turned to Kami. I didn’t want to deal with Allie, especially not now when things with Carson weren’t good at all.
“Hey look, it’s that girl Allie. Maybe we should go,” I said quietly.
“Nah. We came here to shop, so that’s what we’re going to do,” Kami said with a smile.
Her eyes screamed determination, so I knew there was no getting out of this. She was going to do something rash in the name of defending me, I could just tell. The minute Allie said a word, which she undoubtedly would, Kami was going to strike. She knew how much I hated this girl and she also knew that I tried not to hate on other girls because we should raise each other up, so hating her really means something.
“Fine, but know if I hurt her it isn’t my fault,” I said with a laugh.
While we had been talking about her, Allie had started making her way toward us, I noticed when she was only a few feet away. She stopped in front of us and put her hands on her hips. Oh great, this was going to be utterly delightful. I glanced at Kami and saw the evil gleam in her eyes. She was thinking evil thoughts, and I was curious to see what she would do.
“So, I heard from my friend that you are avoiding Carson,” Allie said with a smirk. “That’s great, because now I’m going to make my play for him. Let’s face it, you weren’t ever going to be good enough for him anyway,” she said putting her hands on her hips.
Before I could say a word a loud smack resounded through the store. I looked at Kami who looked a whole new level of angry. She got in Allie’s face and smiled evilly. Allie had just made a very huge mistake by insulting me in front of my best friend.
Kami had a problem with people insulting me, like any respectable best friend would. She knew that I was pretty much too nice to ever say anything mean to anyone, so I usually didn’t say anything when someone insulted me. It had always been that way. I had always had a problem standing up for myself. Right from the start of our friendship she had taken up defending me. Allie saying that I wasn’t good enough pushed all types of buttons for her and I knew that, not to mention she most likely had some pent-up anger of her own to let out. She had never felt good enough in her own life because of her mom, so she wouldn’t tolerate anyone making me feel the same way.
“Listen close witch. This is my best friend and Carson is her boy. You need to step off before I show you how we do it back in the Bronx where I was born. I don’t play when it comes to other girls trying to take away the guy my best friend loves. Alara is ten times the person you are, or will ever be. She is far too good for almost everyone. Carson is lucky to have her and he knows it,” Kami said calmly.
Kami pushed Allie away and she looked shocked. Allie moved back towards Kami, but when Kami cracked her knuckles she scurried back again. Seemed like the little witch does have a sense of self-preservation after all.
“Oh, and Allie, leave Alara alone, or so help me I will take care of this problem the Bronx way,” she called after Allie who was making her retreat back to her friends.
As soon as Allie was gone I blinked twice before looking at Kami. She had just gone full on protector and it was one of the coolest things I had ever seen! She was the best actress I knew. Allie had actually believed that she was from the Bronx.
“Nice touch using the Bronx,” I said with a smile.
“I know right! That was like so totally awesome,” she said before laughing maniacally.
I had to hand it to her, she would go to any lengths to make sure I’m safe and happy. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her cheek. I love my little evil genius. She was honestly the one person I knew that I could count on 100% right now.
“Thanks sis,” I whispered.
“Of course! This is what sisters are really for.”
We left the store when we started getting weird looks from some of the older patrons and employees. They were all side eyeing us and while it was funny, it was also disconcerting. We went through a couple more stores before we finally found a couple of dresses that Kami deemed worthy. Mine was a short, strapless emerald green dress. It had a sweetheart neckline and flowed down to just above my knees.
Kami’s dress was the same as mine except it was light shade of purple. I grinned at her when we stepped out of our dressing rooms at the same time. We were rocking the matching look. We looked each other up and down before nodding.
�
��These are the ones,” I said doubtlessly.
She agreed and we quickly changed and went to pay. We debated going home, but figured the guys would be waiting, so we headed to the food court. We knew we would have to deal with them eventually, but might as well enjoy our day together and let them suffer a little bit longer. We gorged ourselves on Chinese food and Dr. Pepper before we resigned ourselves to finally returning home. We couldn’t avoid it forever, so it was best to just bite the bullet.
When we pulled up to my place the guys were still there, so we grabbed our bags and prepared to run inside. Our plans were thwarted when Carson and Reed opened our doors, apparently not giving us the chance to avoid them any longer. Kami and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. We both knew we would have to face this head on at some point, but we didn’t expect it to be now or that we would be forced into it.
Kami stepped out first and Reed wrapped his arms around her. The expression that appeared on her face looked as if she really could show him how it’s done in the Bronx. He was signing his own death certificate by touching her when she was this angry with him. I reached out to take her, but Carson wrapped his arms around me and pulled me out of the car. Kami and I kept our eyes locked on each other, not saying a word.
Catching His Heart (Love And Baseball Book 1) Page 13
