Page 11 of Friends Don't Kiss

“’Bout what?”

She kicks up a foot. “The fishnet stockings. Am I rocking it or what?”

I risk a glance. “Can’t say it’s not sexy.”Eyes on the road, Colton. Eyes on the road.

She fist-pumps. “I’m sexy as hell, is what I am!”

Jesus! How does she manage to be sexyandhilarious at the same time? “Are you okay?” I chuckle, feeling better about her state of mind.

“Yeah, yeah. Just practicing affirmations. Oops—here we are.” She scratches her neck nervously and glances at the cakes as we dip down her grandmother’s steep driveway.

Several cars are lined up in the carefully plowed area in front of the entrance. I make a U-turn and park at the front of the line, ready to take off after I drop Kiara—and her cakes—off.

Kiara grabs the big box from the car, which she’s told me is the birthday cake. I follow with half the smaller boxes, set them on the covered porch that wraps the house, then jog back to the truck for her bag and the rest of the cakes.

She waits by the door, swapping her snow boots for high heels.

On an impulse, I grab the flower. I’m not giving it to my date (I really should check her name), and I don’t want her to see it in the car. As I join Kiara on the porch, she pushes the door open, light and warmth spilling out in the cold.

And voices deeper inside the house.

I sense them before I hear them, probably because I’m attuned to Kiara’s mood. I feel her tense. I see her brace herself. And when it comes, I feel the blow almost as deeply as she does.

“So who’s the boyfriend?” an elderly voice asks. You can tell there’s a smile in her voice. Kindness. Genuine interest.Her grams.

A huff. “She wouldn’t even say. That girl is a disaster.”A mature female voice—her mother?

“It’s no one! She has no one! Don’t you get it?” This comes from a younger voice. “She’s making stuff up, as usual. Just trying to get attention—oh hey, Kiara.”

“Well look what the cat dragged in.” The words slap like the gavel on a final judgment.

I stand back, trying to calm my growing anger as Kiara says, “Hey, guys.” It’s her voice that settles it. The defeat in her tone. The utter sadness. The feeling ofwhateverthat emanates from these two words.

She worked her ass off baking for them. She drove from an hour away, all dressed up, looking great. And no one even holds the door for her, offers to carry the cake, or asks how she’s doing.

And all that because—what? She doesn’t have a boyfriend? What kind of bullshit is that?

“Sweetness, where do you want this?” I ask Kiara loud enough for everyone to hear and with a big smile that’s only for her. Then I shove the bright pink boxes on the first free countertop I find without awaiting her answer, dash back to the porch, grab the rest of the boxes and the flower, and set the boxes next to the cake.

I tackle her mother first, taking her hand in mine as I say, “Colton Harper, ma’am. Kiara’s boyfriend. Such a pleasure to finally meet you.”

I give the sister a curt smile. She doesn’t deserve a second of my time. Grandma? I remember her. “Happy birthday, Eloise,” I say, taking her in a quick but warm hug, then give her the flower.

three

Kiara

HowdoesherememberGrams’ name?That’s what my brain is hung up on. Better that than thinking about what he’s doing right now. While Grams inhales the flower and grabs a vase, and Mom watches with pursed lips but curiosity, he wraps me under his arm and looks at me, then drops a kiss on my temple. “You okay, Sweetness?”

But my eyes are narrowing on the next person to enter the kitchen.David. My pulse quickens. Not from seeing him.

From the fact that no one thought to warn me he’d be here.

He was my boyfriend in high school. Or so I thought, until I caught him with his tongue down my twin’s throat. It’s been a long time, but the memory of the double betrayal took a while to wash away.

I’m surprised she’s still with him, though. I didn’t think they’d last.

“You remember David, right, Kai?” Maya asks, wrapping herself under David’s arm the way I’m under Colton’s. This is so childish. What, are we playing who’s got the best boyfriend? Mine is fake and hers is a cheat.

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