chapter twelve

June 19, 2012 (off camera)

Summer lay in the middle of the living room floor in front of the big screen TV, sprawled on top of the Dance Dance Revolution mat that went with the game— a game which was currently paused. Her blue eyes were locked on the green ones of her cat, the poor black and white boy that she'd given the unfortunate name of Mickey Mouser. The two were nose-to-nose, locked in some sort of bizarre staring contest that ended when the cat abruptly nuzzled her face and then flopped down on the mat, purring loudly.

"Mickey, why are boys so complicated?" She frowned, studying the cat as he rolled over at the sound of her voice, clearly seeking more affection. She indulged the unspoken request, rubbing his belly while she continued to speak softly to him. "Just once, I'd like to be able to look at a guy and know exactly what's going on inside their head. You know?"

Her eyes closed as she continued to pet the cat. "I just wish I hadn't messed everything up by doubting him in the first place. If I had a time machine, Mickey, I'd totally go back and fix that." The cat made a little sound, opening his eyes to look at her as though responding, "don't worry. I still woulda gone to the shelter that day and rescued you. I know I woulda... you and me, this was like Kismet or something." She scooped the cat up and cuddled him to her chest, kissing him on the head. "You're my favorite kitty in the whole world!"

"I can think of one kitty I like better..." came the voice from the door as it opened, and in walked Kyle Kilmeade. Glancing down to the cat with a curious expression, he shut the door behind him and tossed his keys on the nearby table. "And here I thought I was the only one of the two of us that liked p...." He shook his head with a grin. "I'm not even going to say. Hey there, baby girl."

"Hey!" That familiar bright smile transformed her face as she set the cat aside on the couch and exploded to her feet. "You're back early... that's awesome!" She rushed at him and almost bowled him over with the force of her hug.

Kyle almost fell backwards into the door, catching himself with one hand before he actually did and returned her hug before setting her back on her feet. "Well I got my flight bumped up, not much going on in Buffalo. New York City is a few hundred times better, but I got about all I expected out of a town named after that animal."

"I almost wish I'd gone with you," she said with a bright smile, "I'm sure it was uber boring. Buffalo sucks. I spent a week there and it was enough for a lifetime for me."

"If we're lucky, we won't have to go back anytime soon." He countered, looking down at the cat on the sofa and back to her. "You bought a cat? Who's going to watch him when you travel? Or is he or she coming along too?" He plopped down on the cushion opposite the cat, giving it a curious look. "I'll be expecting your third of the rent soon," he said to the feline, leaning across and scratching the top of its head.

"When we have to fly somewhere, there's a kennel that will board him. It's not that expensive... and if we can drive, I'll probably just bring him along. I was just lonely after," she paused, not really wanting to bring up what had happened before Conviction. "Honestly, I wasn't really thinking of that stuff when I adopted him. I just went there to see the animals because that always cheered me up when I was little. It was kinda love at first sight."

Kyle nodded his head, pulling his hand back from the cat and letting both hands hang between his legs as he looked back up to her. "We should probably talk about that, don't you think? First of all, I apologize for storming off. But when I'm angry, I usually find it's better to leave till I've calmed down."

"Yeah, and I guess maybe I can respect that, even though it's kinda my instinct to do the total opposite. I wanted to chase after the car when you drove off even though I knew I'd never catch you. I just didn't like leaving things like that and I really suck for throwing all that on you. It's okay, though. I forgave you as soon as I knew you were okay." She leaned over the arm of the couch, petting the cat's head as she quickly changed the subject, "if you don't wanna keep him, I can take him back or find a good home for him."

"I don't mind him; I used to have a cat growing up. Her name was Molly, and I couldn't keep her off me." He turned his attention to the cat briefly before turning sideways on the sofa and looking over to Summer. "Let's get this all cleared up. I don't like leaving things unresolved. If you have questions, ask them."

"I wouldn't even know where to begin," she said honestly, crawling over the arm of the sofa and then settling herself down on the other cushion. "There was a whole bunch of garbage I built up in my head, thinking that I wasn't good enough to be with a guy like you and that maybe it was true that you were just using me for that conspiracy Mr. Houser accused me of being a part of. But that's over now. I mean, you explained it to me, and I believe you, Kyle. I've had a ton of time to sit here and think over all the feelings and all the things you said to me and I never once got the impression that you were insincere. Lips don't lie... and that look in your eyes... you couldn't have faked that either."

"I didn't fake it. Yes, Anthony Gambini is my brother. Yes, he did try to use me to lure you to come to SVW. I hate him more than anything, and I don't even like talking with him. So when I first met you, that was the idea. But after five minutes of knowing you, that changed. He just assumed the reason I was still with you was because of him, when it was because of me. That's the reason he sent those text messages you saw. And if you noticed, I never responded to any of them." Bringing his feet up on the sofa under him, he leaned forward and rubbed his hands against his face. "The reason I didn't tell you was because I was afraid of something like that happening. I wasn't trying to hide it. In my mind....there wasn't anything to hide. I wasn't helping him, he just assumed I was."

"I know," she whispered the words, leaning forward and resting her hand on his knee, "I just was totally stupid in assuming that you didn't tell me because you were lying... and I read somewhere that an omission is still a lie but this was my fault. I shouldn't have snooped. I was just so worried that you were sexting with Aly that I kinda got jealous."

That brought a bit of a grin to Kyle's face as he heard it. "Sexting with Aly, huh? Well I'm pretty sure you didn't find anything like that in there either." Shaking his head, he fished his phone out and dropped it on the cushion between them. "You have to learn to trust me a little more. If you want to go through that and see anything, go ahead. There's nothing in there that I'm ashamed for anyone to see, least of all you."

She shook her head, "nope. Not falling for that." She nudged the phone as though it was a bomb ready to explode. "I believe you. I trust you with everything I have... I just... there is one thing I kinda want to ask you about." She bit her lip, weighing the words before she said them, "it's pretty obvious that she still wants you, Kyle. I watched the things on the SVW website and I saw her kissing you and rubbing all up on you." She looked at him, total love and adoration in her gaze despite the words that almost bordered on a jealous accusation, "does she know you're with me?"

He nodded his head as he listened to her questions. "Yeah, she knows. I'm not sure how much she wants me. She has some other guy on the side named Colby she apparently has been getting intimate with. But yes, as I said, she does know about you and knows you are my girlfriend. Which is probably the reason she has other guys." He gives a bit of a shrug at the mention of the others for a moment. "I think what matters is....I come home to you, right?"

She nodded, "yes, that's all I care about and besides, I could tell you weren't interested in her. I just figured since we were clearing the air, I might as well get that out there. I just don't like her much… you know that and it's not because I'm jealous because she won Future Shock or anything like that. It's just because of how she acts around you. I don't trust her one bit." She shook her head and sighed, "but what you do as part of SVW is really none of my business." Scooting closer, she leaned against him. "I love you, Kyle... so, so much." She stared up at him with a cheeky grin on her lips, "I honestly wouldn't care if you wanted to make out with her on the side... as long as I don't have to watch it on TV."

That statement rather took him by surprise as he grinned from ear to ear. "Well to be fair, I doubt I'd make out with much anyone on television. Seems like something better enjoyed in private." The look of amusement on his face was still there. "I'm a flirt, I always have been. But that's where it ends. Everyone loves to get attention. But like I said, I come home to you at night and I pretty much always have. So unless you see fit to change that..." The smile still there, he extended both arms for her. "Come here..."

She didn't have to hear that invitation twice. Quickly she climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, immediately kissing him on the cheek several times before reaching his lips. "Missed you," she whispered against his mouth.

Kyle's eyes closed for a moment as he wrapped his arms around her body and embraced her tightly against him. "I missed you too..." he whispered in return before the pair engaged in a kiss.