Page 106 of Beach Vibes

“I’m the lucky one.” She glanced at the store. “I should let you get back to work, but I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.”

“I’m glad you stopped by.”

Galaxy rose, waved and then walked away. Beth stared after her, wondering how it was possible for her world to shatter socompletely and yet leave no physical evidence. Cars still drove by on the road. Families played on the beach. The sun still shone down—all as if nothing had happened. But she knew differently. She knew from this moment going forward, nothing would ever be the same.

21

“B, you okay?”

Beth looked up and saw Kai standing by the table. Because he worked for a few hours on Saturday afternoons and it must be time for his shift to start.

She tried to form words, but there weren’t any. Her brain couldn’t seem to keep processing what she’d just learned and still do the human things required for everyday life.

Rick had lied. Worse, he’d played her and made her a part of his deception. She didn’t understand what sick game he was playing, but the end result would be the loss of a wonderful friendship. She’d hurt Jana. Someone she liked and respected and admired. She’d knowingly let Jana continue to date a cheater. In part to save herself and in part because she’d trusted her brother. She’d taken a significant friendship and tossed it aside as if itmeant nothing. And it wasn’t just Jana she’d betrayed. There was also Teddy. Because of what had happened, she was going to lose the man she was falling in love with. No matter how she explained, she’d known her brother was cheating on Jana and she hadn’t said anything. She’d been an accomplice. She understood how Teddy was going to feel, because that was what she would feel if their situations were reversed.

“B?” Kai sat across from her. “You’re scaring me.”

“What? Oh, sorry. No, I’m fine. It’s not anything…” She was about to say it wasn’t anything bad, but of course it was. It was horrible and awful and nothing she had ever been able to imagine.

“Tell me,” he said quietly. “I won’t say anything. I give you my word.”

That nearly made her smile. Funny how she could trust the twenty-two-year-old sitting across from her. Of course she’d thought she could trust Rick. But Kai was different. She couldn’t explain how, but she knew he was.

“It’s Rick.”

“Was he in a car accident?”

She shook her head. “He lied to me.”

“People lie, B. It’s kind of a thing.”

“Not like this. Not over and over.” She stared into Kai’s kind eyes and told him about catching her brother with Galaxy.

“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think he was that kind of person.” She tried to remember all he’d said. “He acted sorry and kept saying all the things you’d expect. He told me Jana was the woman he wanted to keep seeing, and he swore he would end things with Galaxy.”

More memories came to her. “He was so angry when he found out I was dating Teddy. He talked about how it wasn’t good for him, that if he broke up with Jana, I’d still be with Teddy, and that wasn’t going to work for him.”

She shook her head. “I don’t remember it all, and it doesn’t matter now, because everything’s over.”

“He’s still dating Galaxy.”

Kai wasn’t asking a question.

“He is. They’ve been going out for nine months. He’s not cheating on Jana, he’s cheatingwithher. Galaxy’s the real girlfriend. When I found out what he was doing, I kept quiet. I didn’t tell Jana and I didn’t tell Teddy. Rick said it was over and I believed him, so I took the easy way out.”

“It doesn’t sound like it’s been very easy,” he told her. “This isn’t your fault. You’re not the one who messed up.”

“You sure about that?” She felt her lower lip tremble as she fought tears. “I’ve hurt a friend I care about very much. I’ve lied to Teddy—oh, not directly, but I still lied. I thought I knew my brother and I don’t at all. What else is a lie? All those horrible women he told me about. I never met any of them. Were they real? Now I’ve created a situation that is going to damage so many people, and that’s on me.”

The threat of tears continued, and now she fought against nausea. “I thought I knew him. I would swear I understood his character, but I don’t. He’s my brother. We’ve been there for each other all our lives. I’ve always taken care of him. How didn’t I know he was capable of this?” She looked at Kai. “He lied to me again and again and I had no idea.”

Tears spilled over, running down her cheeks. Her breath caught in a sob. Kai shifted close and wrapped his arms around her.

“It’s okay,” he told her.

She appreciated the words but knew they weren’t true. Nothing was okay. Worse, whatever she was feeling now was nothing compared with the emotions she would experience once the shock wore off.

“It’s all gone,” she whispered. “Teddy and Jana. They’re never going to forgive me.” She looked at him. “I wouldn’t if I werethem. Plus I was just getting to know Teddy’s kids. Magnolia wants to be my friend. She takes care of the family, and she was willing to trust me, and I betrayed her, too.”

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