The Realest Ever - By Keith Thomas Walker Page 0,27
nice car. It didn’t have to be anything flashy, so long as the seats were cozy and he had a loud sound system like Donovan did. Better yet, Kyra dreamed of the day she would have her own ride.
“So, what are your plans?” Donovan asked as he exited the restaurant’s parking lot. “You got some short term goals?”
Kyra grinned. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
“About your goals?”
She nodded. “Yeah. The first thing I need is to get me a car. Wait, the first thing I need is to find a job. And then a car and my own place.”
“Do you have anything lined up?” Donovan asked.
She shook her head. “I’ll take whatever job I can find at this point.”
“What kind of work have you done,” Donovan asked, “in Arkansas?”
Kyra frowned. She knew he was going to ask about that. “I never had a real good job. I’ve been a waitress. I worked at some other restaurants, as a cashier and stuff. I had a job as a customer service rep. That one was cool.”
“Have you ever worked as a receptionist?” Donovan asked.
“No,” Kyra said. “But I know I can do it. The customer service job was kinda like a secretary.”
Donovan didn’t say anything, but he was watching her carefully.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Kyra said.
“Like what.”
“I know that look.”
Donovan’s eyes narrowed. “What look?”
“That I wanna help you look,” Kyra said. “That’s the way you used to look at me when I was little; when you thought you could fix all my problems.”
Donovan smiled. “I do want to help you, Kyra. I didn’t know you could read my mind, though.”
“I know you, Donovan.”
“Yes, you do.”
“And you think you know me, too. But a lot has changed since I been gone.”
“I know,” Donovan said. “I want you to tell me everything. I don’t care how long it takes.”
“Okay, but not today.”
“Okay.” Donovan smiled. “You know, I think you just need somebody in your life to encourage you and look out for you.”
“That doesn’t have to be you,” Kyra said. She regretted her comment when she saw a flash of pain in Donovan’s eyes. “I mean, you don’t feel like you have to keep saving me, do you?”
“I don’t know what I feel,” Donovan said honestly.
“I know that’s how it always was with us,” Kyra said. “But that’s not why I came back to Overbrook Meadows. I don’t want to depend on people anymore.”
“You didn’t come back for me?” Donovan was glad he was driving. He kept his eyes on the road rather than look at Kyra. This was the question Brianna and Beverly were most concerned about. Donovan wanted to know as well, but he was afraid of her answer.
Kyra swallowed and held her breath when she said, “No.”
Donovan’s heart stopped beating completely as he processed the rejection. But he didn’t know why that should upset him. He was in a relationship, and he hadn’t spoken to Kyra in fifteen years. Of course she didn’t come back for him. She didn’t even know that he still lived in the city until she contacted him on Facebook.
“Okay,” Donovan said. “I’m not asking you to depend on me, but will you at least let me assist you?”
“Assist me how?”
“I might be able to help you find a job,” Donovan offered. “And if I’m not working, I can give you rides to the library – or if you just wanna hang out and talk. I know things have changed, but I still consider you my best friend, Kyra. We’re still BFF’s, right?”
BFF’s. That put a genuine smile on Kyra’s face. How many people pledged to be Best Friends Forever only to lose touch after graduation?
“I don’t deserve you,” she said. “I don’t deserve to have someone like you caring for me. I told you that before, haven’t I?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“But you never listen.”
“You shouldn’t have come back to my city if you didn’t want my help,” Donovan said.
It was a joke, but Kyra knew he was serious. And she took comfort in his words, despite the fact that she really did want to be independent.
Ten minutes later Donovan pulled into the driveway at Aunt Ruth’s house. It was late afternoon, still warm and sunny.
“Your girlfriend didn’t have a problem with you seeing me?” Kyra asked before she got out of the truck.
“Like I told my mom, Brianna ain’t great, but she’s okay with it,” Donovan replied.
“Your mom. Wow.” Kyra brought a hand to her face. “You already talked to her about me?”