More Than This (More Than, #1)

by Jay McLean

“Why does he get to call you Kayla, and everyone else calls you Micky?” I shrug. “Because my family called me Kayla.”

Then she asks, “Have you ever been in love?” “I don’t know . . . Maybe.” Yes, with you.

“Hey, Jake?” “Yeah, Kayla?” He’s drifting off. “I more-than-a-lot like you.” He’s quiet for so long again that I don’t know if he heard me. Then he says, “I more-than-a-lot like you, too—so much more-than-a-lot.”

“Because I’m your Jake,” he says, “and you’re my Kayla.”

“Jake?” “Yeah?” “It’s just you. It’s only ever been just you. It will always only ever be just you.”

I’m so fucking close to throwing in the towel and going pro. But I don’t, because I know she won’t follow me. And none of this shit makes sense without her.