Bring On The Dancing Horses // Echo & The Bunnymen

Pete

With my hand on the small of her back, I lead Kyra in gentle circles on the dance floor. The music has been subdued, romantic rather than fast paced and frantic, so I use it to my advantage. Halfway through the song, I tilt my head to look into her eyes. I'm surprised to find her face frozen with a look of confusion.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask.

"I'm trying to decide if you hit your head."

I rear back. "What do you mean?"

Kyra rolls her eyes. "I need an explanation for your personality makeover. Is it amnesia? Is it traumatic injury? Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?"

I laugh. "I didn't have a personality makeover."

"Whatever. Say what you've got to say. I want to go sit down."

Wow. She's still frosty after all these years. I take a deep breath and dive right in.

"We made a mistake years ago."

Kyra rolls her eyes. "Are you serious? That's not new information. You've just repackaged old garbage as if it were a shiny new toy to match your shiny new personality."

I take an exaggerated look around the room, hunting for my so-called new personality. "What are you talking about? I'm the same piece of shit I've always been."

That shuts her up. Jaw dropped, she stares back at me.

"What happened to arrogant, dude-gets-around, Pete? This is what I'm talking about. Four years ago, you never would have referred to yourself as a piece of shit."

"Newsflash, I did it all the time." Always in my head. A daily mantra. But never out loud.

"No, you didn't. You were all, 'I'm a player taking names. Women fall over themselves to get to me.' You bragged about how many you bagged."

Another deep breath has me dropping my forehead onto Kyra's shoulder. That was the mask I wore, apparently a little too well. She shrugs me off and shoves me back slightly, although there isn't much power behind it.

"Get a grip."

"I'm not the only one with a personality change. You've become a barracuda." I smirk, loving the tough side of her that's come out. "Razor sharp bites."

Kyra leans in closer as I continue turning us on the dancefloor. I wonder if anyone notices the lighting zapping between us. She grits her teeth and talks without moving her lips.

"It's called a survival skill. Self-preservation when faced with a deadly threat."

"I'm not a threat."

"Oh, aren't you?" She scoffs. "We shared a kiss four fucking years ago, a hot kiss if memory serves, and you proceeded to ignore me for a year. Then, when I finally forced a confrontation, you moved away, Pete." Her gaze narrows while her voice drops. "You.moved.away."

Her voice cracks like it did on the fateful day in question. It's barely discernible. I'm positive no one else would have noticed. But I've been hyper aware of everything 'Kyra' for years, so I do. I cringe when a single tear breaches the edge of her eyelid and begins its trek down her cheek.

"Ky," I breathe her name, not knowing what else to say when she clearly hasn't forgiven me. Not yet.

"Don't." She shakes her head and pulls away. "Don't act like now you care. Don't pretend you didn't shred what little self-respect I had that day. Don't say words you'll never truly mean. I'm strong. But I'm not that strong. Not up here. Not in Salt Creek."

"Then where? Tell me and I'll come find you. We'll talk."

"Where? Where?" Kyra throws her hands up. "The same place I've been for the four years you pretended I didn't exist. Living my life, Pete."

"I never pretended."

"Could have fooled me."

It's my turn to lean in closer. "You're not the only one who was in survival mode. 'Self-preservation when faced with a deadly threat,' was it?"

"As if."

"As if what?" I don't disguise my confusion.

"As if you need to survive anything. You're the top dog. The big man on campus. The guy every girl wants and every guy wants to be."

"No, that's Matt. I'm the guy everyone overlooks. I'm the guy everyone blames when shit doesn't go their way. I'm the guy held back by the expectations of the world."

Again, Kyra is struck silent by my rant. I can't take much more of this conversation. It's not going the way I expected, at all. But then again, what could I have expected after freezing her out for four years. She's right. I was pretending. Just not the way she thinks I was.

I was pretending I wasn't pining for the girl I left behind.

But those days ended ten minutes ago when I saw Kyra standing across a crowded room. I couldn't pretend anymore. I'm pining like a lovesick fool, and I'm about to blow up a friendship because of it.

With timing that can only be described as an act of God considering my current train of thoughts, Jeff approaches us before another word can be said, followed closely by Matt, Micah and Gio.

"Look at you two, getting along and everything," Jeff pats me on the shoulder before looking at his sister. "It's a wedding week miracle."

Kyra rolls her eyes and huffs. "Sure is. I'm going back to the cabin for the night. I'm beat."

Without another look in my direction, she turns and walks out of the lodge dining room.

"So much for miracles," Gio says while giving me a side-eye. Instead of responding, I shove my hands in my pockets, itching to go after her. But I don't. She's not ready to hear what I need to say. With all the back and forth, I never actually said it.

"Well, I've got something planned for us tonight," Matt says, rubbing his hands together.

My heart speeds up. In high school, Matt's plans were notorious. He was fucked up back then, but none of us realized how much. He was the one that took the makeshift parties in the back parking lot of the school, concealed under the cover of the surrounding woods, to an outrageous level.

I wonder if parties in the Lot, capital L since Matt had his way with them, are still over the top the way they were when we went to Jefferson High School. I hope not. Those parties were my downfall.

Gio pipes up before the rest of us. "You're the man, Matt. I can only imagine how off the hook tonight will be."

Jeff and Matt look at Gio like he's lost his mind.

"How old are you?" Matt asks. "I've got a kid. Jeff's about to get hitched. We aren't hosting a rave."

"I thought this was a bachelor party?" Gio shakes his head. "If this is what happens to a guy when he gets married, I'm out."

Micah smacks his shoulder. "Since when were you in? You're worse than this guy." He points at me.

My mouth goes dry as I catch the look Jeff gives me. And the worst thing is...

I can't argue with him. I've been different over the last three years. But I've also been gone. They haven't witnessed the fact that most of my time is spent working out or at practice, or a game. And the rest of the time I hung out with the team.

I stopped going to parties.

I stopped hooking up.

I stopped drinking.

Because I had to clean up my act if I was ever going to be good enough for the one girl who I'd never deserve.

I didn't plan to come back into town and try winning her back. But one look at her and I can't deny it anymore.

"I'm actually worn out from my day spent on the road here. I think I'll head back for the night."

"You sure?" Jeff asks, concern written plain on his face. "I'm pretty sure we're just roasting marshmallows over a campfire."

"Damn, you cracked my code." Matt winks. I have to admit, dad mode looks good on him.

"I'm sure. I'll rest up and be good to go tomorrow."

Gio levels a look at me that speaks volumes. He's too smart for his own good. I narrow my gaze at him, daring him to say something. I only spent a year with him and Micah at Fallbrook University before I transferred out, but it took no time at all for the guy to get under my skin. We understand each other because we were cut from the same cloth. He knows too much about me for my own good.

But I have to remember, I know just as much about him. I wonder who the girl is that he's burning himself up over.

I cock my head to the side, reading Gio like a book. To my shock, he backs down first, dropping his gaze while lifting a fist to his mouth and releasing a nervous cough.

"Yeah, get some rest," he mumbles.

I bid farewell to the group then make my way out the door and down the lodge steps. I take the trail leading towards the cabins where we're staying, knowing I'll pass by the girl's lodging before reaching my own.

When I get there, all I see is a dark house. It doesn't look like anyone is here and I wonder if Kyra lied to get away from me so we wouldn't be able to talk. I lied to escape guy time for the same reason, so it isn't out of the realm of possibilities. I tell myself to give her the space she needs, to wait for her to come to me. I should keep walking and spend the night by myself, deservedly.

But I don't listen to the advice from the rational side of my brain. Instead, I walk around to the back of the cabin. The deck overlooking Salt Creek, a twin to the deck at our cabin, comes into view.

And standing on the deck, looking down at the rushing water is none other than the girl of my dreams. Alone.

Crying.

Shit. I feel like a dick intruding on her personal space. I hold an internal argument, tempted to pull her into my arms but knowing she's not ready.

Again, I ignore my own good advice and take the stairs leading up to the deck. My footsteps echo into the quiet night, announcing my arrival like the lowering of a boom. When I watch Kyra close her eyes and suck in a breath without even a glance in my direction, I know she knows it's me.

I approach gently, like coming upon a wounded animal. After all, Kyra has been wounded. By me. But that's besides the point.

"I'm so, absolutely, fucking sorry, Ky."

"Why can't you leave me alone?" she whispers.

"I will. I promise. But I asked you to dance because there's one thing I wanted to tell you and I never got the chance. I got distracted."

She nods. "You were being watched by your boys. That'll do it every time."

"You're half right. I used to worry about what they thought. What they'd say. But that's not what distracted me."

"What then?" She glances at me, although it seems reluctant on her part.

"You." I step in closer. "One look at you and I'm brought to my knees. The power you have over me, Ky..." I shake my head. "It's disarming."

She scoffs. "You talk a good talk, Pete. But you always did."

"Ouch." I grab my chest. "That's what I'm talking about. Barracuda."

"Is this what you came to say? That now I'm some kind of shark and you're the one in danger?" She shakes her head, crossing her arms at the same time.

"In a way, yeah. You are the most dangerous person on the planet to me."

"Duh. If I ever said anything to Jeff about the fated kiss, you'd be a dead man walking."

"Again, in a way. But I'm not afraid of Jeff's reaction. Not anymore."

Kyra dares to look me in the eye, something she's evaded for the last few minutes.

"Then how am I dangerous?" she asks.

I take a deep breath, knowing what I say next could change everything. But it's time. It's a chance I'm willing to take.

"I'm ready to blow up my world for you."

Finally, an update! I think I'll call this Sunlight Sunday...what do you think? The next update will be Kyra's POV but I have to say it might be a few weeks rather than one. I'm in the THICK of finalizing edits and bonus content for Not Another Diva's October 28 release. It's been rough dividing my focus between these two stories so until I get a handle on the bulk of the work with Diva, I'll have to put Sunlight on the shelf.

Thank you so much for your understanding!! It will be SO worth the wait for both of these stories. If you've read Diva on Wattpad, there is so much more to discover with the Kindle version!

Since Pete took Kyra for a spin on the dance floor, I thought some dancing horses would be a good serenade.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

ALSO! If you read Inevitable, there is a new and better link to the bonus epilogue for my newsletter subscribers in my bio (live links are only available in the browser version of WP, not in the app) but it's also in my linktree which you can access from my bio as well. Hope you love it!