The Boy I Love (Falling for You #2) Read Online Free Page B

to tell my grandkids one day. And, I was worried about my mom.
    “You keep saying that, but I don’t quite believe you,” Payton admitted. “I know there’s something wrong.”
    “Oh, and where did you get that idea?” I asked, my tone saying that I was a little miffed.
    “It’s in everything you do. When we were back at the treehouse—”
    “Back to that,” I interrupted, “again?”
    Payton sighed. “You knew what I meant when I said what I did, and you got all bent out of shape. You were ready to just be done with me.”
    “Well, it was an asshole thing to say, Payton.”
    “I don’t want to fight,” Payton finally said, and I stewed.
    “Oh really? So that’s why you texted me ‘fine’?”
    “I know. I shouldn’t have said—”
    “No you shouldn’t have. You don’t trust me at all, do you?”
    Payton sighed once again. “It’s not that, Keri. I just…you’re a long way away from me, and we’re not going to see each other until Christmas, and you make these decisions without me.”
    “What decisions?” I asked, fuming.
    “The part about you not coming for Christmas.”
    “I told you I was coming for Christmas!” I yelled, and the door to my dorm opened. Alexis looked worried.
    “You okay?” she asked.
    I nodded. She closed the door.
    “I know, you did today, but…you weren’t going to and you didn’t even ask how I’d feel about that,” Payton said quietly.
    “I guess I didn’t think it was your decision, Payton. I’m not rich, and neither is my mom. I won’t always be able to come home for every little thing.”
    “So I’m just a ‘little thing’ now?” Payton fumed.
    “You’re ridiculous is what you are. You’re petty, and controlling, and…and…”
    “Do you love me, Keri?”
    My heart was beating fast now, and by the sound of Payton’s last question, and the way he said it, I felt sad. I wasn’t sure what I loved. Payton was my best friend. Sure I loved him. But…
    “I guess that answers my question,” Payton said. I heard him sniff, which meant he was either crying or he was ready to. I started to panic.
    “Don’t…”
    “It’s fine, you know? Let’s just…I don’t know, slow down things. You’re over there and I’m here. You have a long time until you’re done with school.”
    Payton sounded completely defeated. I felt a weight off my chest, and a sadness from breaking his heart. “I’m sorry, Pay. I think that’s a good idea.” I wrapped my arms around my body and held the cell up to my ear with my shoulder. “This has been way too complicated. Life should never be this complicated.”
    Payton cleared his throat. “Yeah. It’s…we’re still friends, right?”
    I nodded, and a few tears escaped my eyes. “Ye…yeah, best friends.”
    Payton laughed gruffly. “This is going to suck for me.”
    I blew out a breath and leaned my head against the wall and slumped down to the floor. “Yeah.” It was going to suck for me, too.
    “I’ll see you at Christmas still, right?” Payton asked softly.
    “Yeah, I’ll be there.”
    “Okay. Well, I lo…I’ll see you then. Take care.”
    I swallowed, feeling my throat clog. He was going to tell me he loved me, and then backed off. “We’ll email, right?”
    “Yeah, that’s…that’s fine. Yeah.”
    I didn’t want to lose the friendship that we built, but I also knew it wasn’t fair to him. “Good. Have a good night.”
    I heard the dial tone and realized that Payton didn’t wish me a good night, he didn’t even say goodbye; he must have hated me. I hated myself. I got up from the floor, and put my hand on the doorknob and opened it up to Alexis, who wrapped her arms around me and squeezed.
    “You okay?”
    I nodded. “Yeah, we just broke up.”
    “I know, I was listening,” she said, not caring that she had listened in on a rather personal conversation.
    I laughed softly and started to cry. “I broke his heart today.”
    “You’ll see him at Christmas. Maybe by then,