Page 60 of Never the Best

“How could you?” Her voice came out hoarse, barely audible.

I took her cold hands in mine and looked into her eyes. “I didn’t tell her. I’d never do that to you.”

“You did then.”

I knew she was talking about what I didfifteen years ago.

“Not this time. Please, believe me.”

She just stared at me with her lifeless eyes.

“Have you eaten anything?”

She shook her head.

“Since when?”

Luna told me the Peacock Lounge incident happened on Friday evening. It was now Monday morning.

“I didn’t eat,” she simply replied.

“Oh, baby.” I pulled her into my lap and held her close.

“I couldn’t,” she continued, her words spilling out in a rushed, broken whisper. “I tried. I cooked. I sat down. But it was too much.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. She needed me to be her rock now, not crumble. “Sweetheart, you need food. Your body needs nourishment.”

She looked up at me, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Josie,” she whispered. “She told everyone, Rhett. Now…now they’ll all look at me with pity. I can’t—I can’t do it. I can’t be that girl again.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she buried her face in my chest.

This wasn’t just hurt—this was devastation. This was Pearl unraveling right in front of me.

“Pearl,” I crooned. “Listen to me. I didn’t tell Josie. I swear to you, I didn’t.”

She didn’t respond, her shoulders trembling as she cried.

“Pearl,” I said again, more firmly this time. “Look at me. Please.”

After a long moment, she lifted her head, her eyes redand swollen. “If you didn’t tell her, then how does she know?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “But I’m going to find out. I swear to you, Pearl, I will find out. And whoever did this…they’ll answer for it.”

She let out a shaky breath, her eyes searching mine as if she wanted to believe me but didn’t know how.

“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered. “Everyone already knows. So how does it matter?”

“What do you think everyone knows?”

“That I’m pathetic.”

“Pearl, you’re not pathetic, not even remotely.” My voice cracked despite the control I was putting on myself. “You’re one of the strongest people I know.”

She shook her head and tried to pull away, but I didn’t let her.Hell to the no was she doing this alone ever again!

“Why are you here?” she demanded, her voice husky from disuse, from crying.

“Because I’m your person. I’m your friend.”

Her gaze flickered, and for a moment, I thought I saw a spark of hope, just a faint glimmer of relief that someone was with her, that she wasn’t alone.

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