“Well, that sounds dumb,” Chris said, looking first at Kiersten, and then at Garrett. “Why can’t you just be a couple like normal people? Or he can live somewhere else, if you can’t do that.”
Kiersten paled, her heart wrenching at his oh-so-simple, yet painful, request. Lately, she’d been wondering the same thing. Why couldn’t she let him into her life as more than a friend? “I—we…you see, we’re just not there.”
And probably never would be because of her.
Garrett looked away from her, his jaw tight. “Sometimes, no matter how much you care about someone, it just doesn’t work.”
“If you say so.” Chris nodded, but looked at them both with doubt clear in his eyes. “So are you two going to date other people, or what?”
Man, the kid was full of questions tonight. Questions she had been doing her best to avoid. “Maybe,” Kiersten said.
“No,” Garrett replied at the same time.
Chris shook his head. “You two are confusing. I’m gonna go watch How I Met Your Mother, and then take a shower.” He motioned between them with his finger. “You two need to get your act together.”
Kiersten choked on a laugh. “I feel like I’m the kid here.”
“You’re acting like it,” Chris said, sounding way too old for his years. “But anyway, are you coming?”
She swallowed hard. “Yeah. Pause it for me so I don’t miss it, okay?”
“Sure,” Chris agreed. Turning to Garrett, he hesitated. “Do you like that show?”
“Yeah, I love it. Barney reminds me of your Uncle Mike.”
Chris gave a small laugh. “Yeah, I can see that. If he’s Barney, then you’re Ted.”
Kiersten tried not to crack up—but failed. Yeah, if Garrett matched anyone’s personality on that show…it would definitely be Ted. Always the optimistic man, looking for love and happiness.
Garrett arched a brow. “And what would that make your mom? Lilly?”
“No,” Chris said. “Definitely Robin. She doesn’t like love and relationships any more than Robin does.”
Kiersten looked away. She had known she wasn’t the easiest person to get close to but she never thought how that might make her appear to Chris. He headed into the living room and Kiersten stood with her back to Garrett.
He came up behind her, close enough she could feel him but not touching. “What’s wrong?”
“My nephew thinks I’m an emotionally scarred failure,” she said. She turned around and came face to face with his chest. He was that close. She fought the urge to back away from him again. “And he’s right. I’m Robin.”
Garrett grunted. “Oh, honey, you can’t get upset over him calling you Robin. You’re a loving, smart, magnificent woman who I…” He broke off, clamping his jaw. “…I admire. And when we—”
Kiersten pressed a finger to his mouth. “Don’t say anything else. Just meet me in my room later tonight, after he goes to bed. We need to talk about some stuff in private.”
Chris was right. She needed to step up and stop being so damn scared. She needed to put herself out there again, and trust in Garrett enough to believe he wouldn’t hurt her like Pete had. It couldn’t be that hard…could it?
“Okay.” Garrett pressed his lips together, stepping away from her. She immediately missed his warmth. She could tell he was nervous about what she had to say to him. With reason, since she usually pushed him away. For once, she was determined to pull him closer. Chris deserved better from her—and so did Garrett. “Ready to go watch the show?”
“Sure,” Kie
rsten agreed, following him into the living room.
All throughout the show, she plastered a smile on and laughed at the appropriate moments, but didn’t hear a single joke. Instead, she couldn’t shake the feeling that, not too far from now, she might push Garrett away so far that he would never come back. That idea terrified her more than she cared to admit.
By the time the show was finished, she was a ball of nerves. Garrett kept stealing little glances at her, his brow creased. Once Chris went up to shower, he turned to her. “Let’s talk now. The waiting is killing me. What’s wrong? Is this about what Chris said earlier?”
She flinched at his hard tone. He was expecting the worst out of her and she didn’t blame him one bit. Even after deciding to let him closer no more than a few minutes ago, she already doubted that choice. Doubted herself and her stupid feelings. “Yes.”
“Okay. What is it?” He rose to his feet and paced in front of her. “You know what, don’t even tell me. I already know what you’re going to say. You’re going to ask me to leave, like he said. If we can’t be together, than I shouldn’t be here at all. That’s it, right?”