The driver did his headcount—asking with annoyance on his face who was gettin’ busy in the back—and then we were off. I kept my head down as the bus started moving and tried really hard not to listen to Anna and Griffin, but damn…those two were not quiet. The sounds coming from their room reminded me of listening to their first night together. That hadn’t been a good night for me—at all—but the look on Griffin’s face the next morning…God. Now that I wasn’t upset over the memory, I could be entertained by it. Anna had nearly destroyed him. In a good way.

I was roused from my thoughts by Kiera asking me a serious question. “Are you mad at me?”

The smile on my face fell as I looked over at her. Shaking my head, I pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “No, I’m not.” I sighed as I studied her, feeling weary again. “I get it, Kiera. I get why you’d have doubts, I get why you’d question…” My gaze fell to our laced fingers. “I wish…” I wish things were different. I wish our story was different. I wish we’d met while you were single, fell in love cleanly, and never hurt each other. I wish we trusted each other. But there’s no point in wishing. We are what we are.

Looking back up at her, I said, “It’s okay, I get it, and I’m not mad.” I have no right to be. Because this is all my fault.

She let out a slow exhale as she nodded. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her tight. It was all I could do.

Eventually Anna and Griffin finished for the night and emerged from the back. I rolled my eyes as most of the guys on the bus cheered and whistled in approval. Don’t encourage him, please. I watched Kiera as she watched her sister, wondering what she was thinking. Was she embarrassed for her? Or was she wishing she could be like her? She shouldn’t wish that…she was perfect just the way she was.

Anna and Griffin stopped at our table, plopping down after Griffin tossed aside Kiera’s bag. Griffin looked…stoned. His satisfied grin took in Kiera and me, then he tilted his head toward the back. “Bedroom’s free, if you want it?”

I knew Kiera wouldn’t want that. Even I didn’t want that. Not there. Kiera was shaking her head as I answered him. “We’re good, thanks.” Griffin smirked at me, like he thought I was stupid for passing up sex.

People were starting to head to their cubbies now that the entertainment was over with. I knew Kiera was getting sleepy, she’d been resting with her eyes closed on my shoulder. Looking over at her, I asked, “You want to get some sleep? You look tired.”