Page 94 of Promises We Meant to Keep

“Why?” Kamryn asked. She was trying to hold back her tears first and foremost. This was such a betrayal of everything she’d been trying to do behind the scenes, of everything she was trying to fix.

“It’s the only way this is going to work.”

“I don’t believe you.” Kamryn tightened her grip on her crossed arms and shook her head. “And it’s unacceptable.”

“You can’t reject my resignation.” Elia dropped her hand to her side, her eyes wide in surprise.

“I know I can’t.” Kamryn clenched her jaw, her brain spinning with all the possibilities of how she could get out of this. “That doesn’t mean you resigning is the answer to a problem you didn’t create.”

“I did create part of it,” Elia answered.

“Stop blaming yourself!” Kamryn’s voice came out far louder than she expected it to, and that ticked her off even more. Standing up from the edge of the desk, she paced to Elia and then back again when she caught sight of her flinching.

Kamryn glanced out toward the main office where Mrs. Caldera sat at her desk, no doubt hearing absolutely everything that was going on in there. Because why wouldn’t she? It was her job to run interference for Kamryn when she needed, and it was her job to know things so that she could help the school run more smoothly.

“This isn’t your fault,” Kamryn said, lowering her voice so that hopefully only Elia could hear her. “I told you that I was working on a solution, and that I was looking for the evidence that we’re missing. There’s no reason that eighteen years ago should come back to haunt you again.”

“It’s not eighteen years ago that’s going to ruin my career now.” Elia’s lips thinned, and she barely moved.

How the hell did she manage that?

She was so calm while Kamryn could barely contain the fire that was raging inside her. “Then what is it?”

“You.”

That one word took all the air out of Kamryn’s lungs. She halted her pacing, staring at Elia with wide eyes and parted lips. Once again, Elia glanced toward the open door and shook her head slowly.

“Please accept my resignation.”

“Elia…” Kamryn didn’t want to do it. She didn’t want to take that letter and read the words, she didn’t want to file it away and start the paperwork. She wanted to fight for what was right. She wanted to stand up for the victim and stop the blaming that was never-ending. It wasn’t right. This wasn’t justice.

“Please, Kam.” Elia sounded so pained, her voice breaking on the words. She held her hand out again, the letter loose between her fingers.

Kamryn stared at it. That piece of paper folded inside was the enemy that she had in no way been prepared to face. “I want you to be honest with me.”

“I’ve always been honest.”

“Then I don’t want you to keep any more secrets.” Kamryn took the envelope and tossed it onto her desk without opening it. She couldn’t face that right now.

Elia swallowed, the line of her throat moving as the tension increased in her cheeks and neck and shoulders. Would anyone else even be able to notice how hard this was for her?

“What happened at the wedding?” Kamryn stood right in front of Elia. She wanted the full story of everything that she hadn’t gotten. She wanted that promised phone call with the explanation of a lifetime. Because it wasn’t just about Simone or Susy being there. This was about something else, and Kamryn was once again left out of the loop.

“Nothing happened,” Elia whispered.

“Stop keeping secrets. They’re never good for anyone, and you’ve been carrying enough of them around for years to know that.” Kamryn stared her down. “Trust me. That’s all I’ve ever asked from you.”

Elia let out a shuddering breath, tears welling up in her eyes and threatening to spill over the brim. In any other circumstance between them, Kamryn would have walked up to her and comforted her. But she was too hurt to even contemplate that. She was still reeling from that damn piece of paper with Elia’s resignation.

“What happened at the wedding?”

A few of those tears spilled down her cheeks. “Please don’t make me say it.”

“I want to hear it.” Kamryn’s heart was breaking in two. “I want to hearyousay it.”

“It wasn’t fake.” The words slipped from Elia’s lips. “It never was.”

Kamryn sucked in a sharp breath, the truth flooding into her. That was exactly what she’d needed to hear, and it was exactlywhat she was feeling. “It wasn’t,” Kamryn agreed. “And I don’t want it to end.”

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