Him calling me that made me smile. Despite it all, he was still talking to me, still calling me a friend. Maybe there was still hope for us. Awkward, tension-filled hope…but still hope.

Disconnecting the call, I put my phone back in my pocket and grinned. Kiera was momentarily occupied, and now it was time for me to get to work. I had a lot to do during the brief time she was at school. I still needed to talk to Anna about entertaining Kiera while I was gone, and I was seriously considering paying off Matt’s neighbors, so they didn’t break up our afterhours party Friday night. I also had a ton of notes to begin planting. Thank God I had a key to Kiera’s apartment—that was going to make this so much simpler. I wasn’t going to decorate that one until right before we left though. I didn’t want Kiera to find the notes too early…and I really didn’t want to do it while Griffin was…visiting.

The Hulk. Jackass.

Chapter 11

KIERA’S SHADOW

Time began blurring, everything went by so fast. My preparations kept most of the gnawing dread at bay, as did my recommitment to the band. Matt had chided me pretty good once I’d shown up to rehearsal, and after making me look like an idiot for not knowing all the random little changes they’d made to our newest song in my absence, I hadn’t missed another practice. Matt was very proud of me.

But even with all my obligations, I still managed to squeeze in plenty of time for Kiera. I savored every second we had together, wishing I could stretch every moment into its own separate eternity. If I ever developed a superpower, that was what I’d want it to be—the ability to hold onto fragments of time and live them over and over again. But only fragments of my choosing, of course. I’d really love to be able to forever block the bad memories. In fact, maybe I’d chose that to be my superpower instead.

Before I knew it, it was Friday…a day full of farewells. The last time I’d be able to take Kiera to school. The last show at the bar. The last night I’d get to spend with Kiera… At least it was going to be a fun one. I couldn’t wait for the party at Matt’s. Something positive before the potential soul-crushing pain of saying goodbye.

Temporarily. I was coming back, and she would be here waiting for me. She would be…