Free Distraction by Angela McPherson

walked away. I had to.
    In the kitchen, I poured the too sweet coffee shit down the
sink and then gripped the counter. I didn ' t want Kellie feeling unwanted, but
I refused to let her run all over me.
    I heard Kellie ' s footsteps walking up behind me and tensed.
    "I am not insecure!" I could tell by the
high-pitched screech she was fuming, but I kept my back to her.
    "I ' m not ditching Elle as a friend, so deal with it." I
turned around. " I don' t tell you to give up your guy friends. Hell, I don ' t give a shit
who you ' re friends with and more importantly, I would never make you
do something like that. So, if you don ' t wanna fight, as you ' ve said, then
drop the subject."
    Her face contorted into a scowl, ready to say more, but I
wasn ' t in the mood. I had practice in an hour and needed a shower
first. I left her alone in the kitchen and headed to my room.
    In my bathroom, I turned the shower on as hot as I could
stand. My life was fine a week ago. Kellie and I were happy and I knew where I
stood with Elle. We were friends, and at the time, I could live with that.
Hell, it had been my motto for years–just be friends with Elle. I expected
feelings to resurface when I met her last weekend, but I hadn ' t anticipated
those feelings would snake around me as hard as they did.
    Kellie being in the middle of it all made me feel like a
dick. I didn ' t want to hurt her, but my protective feelings for Elle
overshadowed what Kellie wanted from me. Hopefully she ' d come around.
    The bathroom door opened and Kellie came in while I rinsed
shampoo from my hair. I refused to let her games change my mind, not when it
came to Elle.
    "I get that you ' re friends with her, but can ' t you understand
why I ' m upset?"
    "I get it, let ' s drop the subject. All right?"
I turned the shower off and pushed the curtain open. Kellie handed me a towel.
" Thanks. " She walked out and sat on my bed while I dried off.
    "So what ' s the plan now?"
    I worked my shirt over my head and glanced over at her.
Kellie ' s arms were crossed over her chest and she still looked
pissed.
    "I ' m going to practice." I jumped into my shorts.
    "That isn ' t what I meant, and you know it."
    Yeah, but I also said I was finished.
    " Just drop it. " Dammit. I didn ' t want to fight. Giving up, I
walked over to her.
    "Okay fine, but not until you promise me something."
Kellie wrapped her arms around my neck, stepped on her tiptoes, and brushed her
lips over mine. I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. I chose to be with
Kellie and knew I had to move away from the idea of being with anyone else. I took
a step back.
    "What ' s the promise?"
    "Promise me you ' ll make sure I ' m around when
you hang out with Elle."
    I pulled away from her, thinking she had to be joking. From
her stern expression, I could see she wasn ' t.
    "Kellie, that's ridiculous. You ' re acting like a
baby."
    "I ' m not acting like a baby." She stomped her foot on the
floor and I laughed, which pissed her off more.
    “All right then, you ' re acting like a jealous, crazy,
insecure little girl. And if you do not let up, I swear to God I ' m going to walk
away." My chest rose in slow measured breaths. Why couldn't she see I
chose her? Regardless, I refused to stand by while she manipulated me or gave
unrealistic ultimatums.
    Her eyes filled with tears and she turned away.
    Fuck.
    "I love you," I whispered, wrapping my arms around
her waist.
    "I love you, too." Her words sputtered out as she
cried. I turned her around to face me and lifted her chin.
    "Listen, Kellie, I love you, but trying to manipulate me
by setting ultimatums isn ' t the way to go." I stroked her face, and her expression
softened.
    "It was obvious how she felt. The way she looked at you,
like you walked on water. And I could see the way you looked at her, too."
Kellie took in a deep breath before going on. " Tristan, I don' t want to lose
you, but I think underneath," she placed her hand on my chest, over my
heart, "I think you