The Summer We Lied

Chapter Thirteen

"I'll buy you two strawberry smoothies," I say.

Kylie looks ups at me with interest, before looking back down at her Five Feet Apart book. "There is nothing in this world that you can offer me that I will accept as a token of your forgiveness."

I roll my eyes. "Okay, Khaleesi. How about I get two tickets for us to go and watch Aquaman tomorrow night?"

Kylie's eyes dart up and she grins widely, before squealing and pulling me into a tight bear hug. "Oh, I can't wait to see my Khal Drogo."

"I thought you said nothing in the world that I offer you will be accepted-"

Kylie narrows her eyes which kinda looks funny since her eyes are already naturally small. "Don't push it."

My phone pings and I immediately pick it up, hoping to see a text from Matt, but it's just a random i********: notification.

"Expecting something from someone in specific?" Kylie asks, as she picks up a long red strip of liquorice and bites a chunk of it off.

"He hasn't texted as yet. The only thing he texted me was his number. And that was hours ago," I say with dismay lacing my voice.

"He'll call or text you, trust me on

this," Kylie says.

I lay back against my pillows, hoping that she is right.

After Matt had left me at home three hours ago, I had managed to avoid Daniel. He was probably in his room. My mom and dad were in the living room, watching some show on Discovery Channel called 'Naked and Afraid'.

I was alone and bored, so I called Kylie up for our much-needed sleepover. We've been sitting and reading books ever since.

Señorita by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello plays softly in the background.

"Hey, you wanna do your nails?"  Kylie asks as she adjusts her glasses.

"Sure."

We spend the next half hour painting our fingernails a dusty peach colour. When they're dry, we add cute, tiny sunflower stickers to our nails.

"My parents are boring," Kylie confesses as we sit in bed, wrapped up in blankets, watching Euphoria on my laptop.

"So are mine," I tell her.

"But you have Matt."

I smile. "Not yet exactly. And I'm open to new relationships, you're not."

Kylie sighs. "I hate being disappointed and I know I'll end up getting bored if I ever decide to date, someone."

"You won't change until you meet someone that is going to really come and sweep you off your feet," I say.

She groans. "Now you're talking about a romance novel. That s**t doesn't seem to exist in real life."

"Shh. You're getting moody and I really want to see Jacob Elordi, so go to sleep or watch the show, " I say sternly.

Kylie keeps quiet and tries to stay up for another episode, but she sleeps away eventually and I'm up all alone.

It's 11:40 p.m. and when I decide to call it a night my phone pings. With my heart racing, I quickly unlock my phone screen and see one new text from Matt.

I do a stupid squeal that I feel stupid about after and go into the message.

Matt texts, 'Hey, bae.'

I tap the message box and type up a new message.

'Hey, stranger...'

Matt instantly replies a few seconds later and my heart skips a beat.

'Sorry...I never meant to keep u waiting. Did you miss me?'

I roll my eyes because it's such a typical thing for him to say.

'No,' I text back. My fingers appear to be glued to the keyboard.

I realise I'm smiling at my phone and sitting up. Thank God the room is dark and Kylie is asleep. I must look like the ultimate weirdo.

My phone pings again.

Liar. But don't worry, I missed u too.

I'm grinning. 'Oh...really?

Matt texts me immediately. 'Kelsey?'

'Matt...'

He sends another text. 'I love you...'

I almost swallow my heart. But obviously, Matt is just messing around with me. Like how he always does.

Before I can reply my phone pings again. 'Don't tell me you're dead...'

I feel a deep breath escape my lips as my fingers move across the keyboard to type up a new text.

'I almost did die.'

His next reply makes me smile.

'So dramatic. Can I call u?'

I sit up in the bed, completely I'm unbothered by Kylie heavily breathing beside me. What on earth would we talk about at this part of the night?

It takes a few seconds for Matt to reply. 'Nothing in particular. Now that I have your number, I want to utilize it...I wanna hear your voice.

I hesitantly type  'You can call...' and press send.

Matt replies shortly. 'Okay, wait a sec...'

I wait patiently and Matt's number pops up. I take a deep breath before answering.

"Kelsey," is the first that Matt says.

His voice is low, raspy and it awakens something in me. It's that part of me that comes out when Matt is around me.

"Matt," I whisper.

"I miss you. I wish you were right here next to me," he says.

I bite my bottom lip and chew nervously. Why I am nervous when Matt is not even in front of me?

"Where exactly?" I daringly ask.

"In my bed," he says huskily.

"What would we do?" I ask, and get up from the bed, to walk around the room.

Matt shuffles in the background. "A lot of things."

He shuffles again.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Are you in bed?" Matt asks.

"No," I say.

"Come to the window," he says.

I pull on my green uggs and go over to the bay window. I sit down on the comfy fleece comforter and cross my legs.

Matt appears suddenly at the window across from me.

His dark hair is messy as usual and he is completely sexy. He wears his grey sweatpants dangerously low and his rippled torso is bare.

"Now, first I'd get you in bed," he says.

I blush. "And then?"

"And then, I'd kiss you on your nose and tell you to put your dirty mind to sleep Kelsey," he says and starts laughing.

"You're such a dork," I tell him.

"You're right, Kelsey. Because while I'm going to tell you to go to sleep, I'd be thinking about pleasing you in so many wrong ways till dawn," he whispers.

I gasp and he laughs again. "Okay, I had my fun, now seriously go to sleep, Kelsey."

"I hate you," I say and walk back to the bed.

"I love you too. Night bae," he says and then yawns.

"Goodnight, Matt. I hope the bed bugs bite."

I quickly end the call before he can respond and tuck my phone under my pillow.

"s**t, I almost thought Matt was going to jump right through the phone and start doing you right here, the way you were squirming and gasping," Kylie said groggily.

My face heats up immediately. "You were listening?!"

She snorts. "It was hard not to."

"You're a p*****t," I whisper.

"That I am," she whispers back.

Silence galls over us and I realize my heart is still beating fast, as I fall asleep and little do I know that I'm also slowly falling in love with the boy next door. Who also happens to be my brothers best friend!