My dad hadn’t seen it either, he wasn’t very happy about it. When I told them what happened, Ryan, my agent, told me not to let bitches ruin my dream. That’s when I told him to fuck off, in a nicer way, before I left and came upstairs to check on Mikayla. The whole time I sat there, all I could think about was her.

When I went upstairs I didn’t expect to walk in on her conversation with her aunt about having no underwear. Like, none at all. I couldn’t help but look up at her when she said it, her nipples were poking through my shirt.

I know, I’m a dick. The girl’s so fucking fragile right now, she’s just lost everything, and I’m the creepy perv, staring at her tits. I’d punch myself in the face if my hand wasn’t so fucking sore.

***

The doorbell rings and I open the door to a tiny pixie haired lady about my mom’s age. She smiles warily at me.

“I assume your Jake?”

“You must be Lisa, come in. Have a seat,” I gesture to the sofa in the family room. “I’ll just go get Kayla, she’s upstairs.”

“Thanks, hun. Oh, and give her this.” She hands me a bag. Bras and panties.

I run into my mom on the staircase and tell her that Lisa is downstairs waiting, she leaves to introduce herself.

I knock on my bedroom door and open it slightly, peeking in. She’s in the middle of my bed in the fetal position, quietly crying. My heart breaks.

I clear my throat and she looks up at me.

She sits up and wipes frantically at her tears.

I sit on the bed next to her. She’s showered and wearing my mom’s sweats which are a little small for her, they hug her curves, but I don’t look too long.

I grab her face in my hands and start wiping the tears away with my thumbs. I don’t know if she means to, but she leans into my hand a little and it takes everything in me not to kiss her.

“Your Aunt Lisa’s here,” I tell her. “And she wanted me to give you this.” I hand her the bag.

She blushes. “Thank you, uh, I’ll just go to the bathroom and… dress… just wait here, okay?”

I nod, because being in the next room while she tries on underwear is going to be fine.

She’s out within minutes and a shy smile creeps on her face. She sits down next to me on the bed.

“I know that I’ve already said this but I don’t think I can say it enough, Jake. Thank you, for being here, and for helping… and your mom… I need to thank her too. And your dad, I haven’t even met him yet… god, I’m so rude. I just-"

“Kayla, stop. It’s fine. We honestly don’t mind. And you’ll meet my dad soon, he should be home with Julie any minute now.”

“Julie?”

“My little sister, she’s eight.”

Sadness shadows her face, she must be thinking about her sister. “How old is, I mean was, Emily?”

“She was nine.” She stops breathing for a second and closes her eyes. When she opens them, there’s a resolution there, like she’s made a decision, or accepted this horrible fate.

She grabs my hand in hers. “Come with me, please? Just be there… with me.”

I lead her down the stairs and into the family room where Lisa is waiting for us. Mom’s there too and there’s tea set out on the table. Lisa stands when we walk in and they hug for a long time. I take a seat on the two seater opposite and assume Kayla will sit next to Lisa on the sofa, but she surprises us by sitting next to me, and continues holding my hand. She sits so close to me, like she’s trying to climb me.

She’s afraid.

I adjust our positions so I can throw my arms around her waist and hold her hand, she burrows even closer to me.

I’m not blind to the confused stares we’re getting from the grown ups, I just don’t care. If she needs me, I’ll be there.

It’s then I realize that this might be the last time I see her. I don’t know what her plans are or where she’ll live after this. Is she still going to UNC? She might not even want to see me again. Surely, in her mind, I’m linked to the worst night of her life. I didn’t even think of that. My stomach drops at the thought of never seeing her again.

Lisa clears her throat, glancing between the two of us. “I’m sorry.” Her eyebrows are drawn together in confusion. “I know there are more pressing things we need to discuss, but what’s going on here?” She looks at kayla now. “Kayla, your mom sent me a picture of you last night. You were cozied up next to James, and Megan was there. She said in the message that you had just left for prom. Am I missing something?”

I look to Mom and she’s just as confused. She leans forward in the recliner waiting for an answer. She won’t get one from me.

Mikayla's voice is so quiet you can barely hear her words. “I walked in on James last night.” Lisa gasps, knowing where this is heading. “With Megan.” Lisa’s face falls. Kayla continues, “They were seeing each other behind my back for two years.” It’s Moms turn to gasp.

I hold her tighter.

“That’s when I met Jake, he was there… he was there to help me. He-"

“Wait,” Lisa interrupts. “you guys have only known each other for one night?”

Kayla’s quiet for a long moment before she answers, “I don’t think that really matters, Lisa. I knew James for four years.”

Lisa nods in understanding.

“I know it’s strange, and I know it might be circumstantial. Like, we shared an experience and that somehow makes us closer, but, Lisa,” Kayla looks up at us now, “Jake, he makes things hurt a little less. He… he’s home for me right now. If being around him takes the pain away just a tiny bit, then it doesn’t matter how or why he’s here with me. I just…you can’t understand…” her voice trails off.