Page 53 of That Summer
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed again, I have no issue whatsoever in you calling me. Okay? I’m here to help you.”
She nodded, still thinking about Lucas.
Poor kid.
“Thank you.”
Chris stood and put her mug in the sink. “Are you feeling better or worse?”
A quick internal check of her emotions and physical sensations, nothing out of the ordinary. “I’m okay.”
“What do you need to get through the night?”
“A Xanax would be great.” She eyed Chris with hope and a weak smile. “But I don’t need it.”
“Kaitlyn’s coming back?”
“Yes, as soon as I text her. She’s probably in the parking lot, pacing or something.”
“Text her. I’ll stay until she arrives.” Chris placed her hand on her arm, totally catching her off guard. “But I won’t give you the Xanax. I think you’ll be okay.”
She sighed, but Chris was probably right. She’d get what she truly craved—physical contact—from her best friend.
Kaitlyn knocked on the door within seconds of being texted. Had she paced in the hallway? “Hey, you doing okay?”
Aurora closed the door after Chris said good night. “I’m better now, thanks.”
Kaitlyn threw her arms around her, giving her what she needed. Like an affectionate big sister, she smoothed her hair down in comforting passes.
“Anything I can do?”
“Nah.” She pulled out of the hug. “But I wanted to say sorry. For before.”
Kaitlyn stepped back and tugged on her sleeves. “For what?”
Her arms fell to the side. “For my behaviour. For not leaning on you the way a best friend should. For not being able to tell you what was going through my mind.”
“Well, I won’t lie. It stings a bit that you confide so much in Lucas and lean on him more, especially since I knew you first.”
Aurora opened her mouth. She wanted to tell Kaitlyn that there were reasons to depend on Lucas, so many reasons, and yet, none of them seemed important at the moment.
Kaitlyn raised a hand. “Before you speak and say something you may end up regretting…” A pained smile stretched her thin lips. “I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
She stepped forward a bit.
Kaitlyn waggled a finger between them. “You and I? We’re best friends, but we’re a different form of best friends than you and Lucas. Don’t get me wrong, we get along great and share lots, but you two? You’re on a whole other level. I don’t understand the connection you have and that’s what hurts.”
“Kait, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.” She wanted to reach out and hold her friend, but didn’t dare. Kaitlyn stood there tilting her head from side to side and rocking on her heels.
The seconds ticked by, and a gust of wind billowed the curtain beside the patio door. In the far off distance, a low rumble of thunder sounded. Aurora swallowed down a gulp of fear. She could handle it. She’d been through a storm or two or three over the summer.
Kaitlyn sighed and her body rolled forward. “I know you didn’t. I feel I missed so much while I was away.”
“Not so much. You did manage to find love with Tatiana.”
A weak smile appeared on Kaitlyn’s face. “I hope so. Skype isn’t enough though. I want her here. Ineedher here.”
She rubbed her friend’s arm. “I know you do. A few more weeks.”