Page 45 of Could Have Been Us
“Don’t you deserve to be happy too?”
I look away, not wanting to think of all the ways I am definitely not happy. “I’m sure someday I’ll meet the right guy.”
We get to the end of the dresses, which prevents me from hiding. “Look, I know that you have Winnie and your brothers, but I’d like to sort of just say this and not overstep. I’m always here too. If you ever want to talk, your secrets will never be shared, not even with Grayson.”
I always wished I had a sister. Four brothers made for horrible playmates and even worse confidants. They were protective to an extreme and sucked at girl talk.
Winnie was the closest thing I had, but she had Jessica.
“As a kid, I always wished I had you as my big sister. Winnie would talk about how cool you were and how you always shared things.”
“Winnie hated me,” she says with a laugh. “I pulled her hair, told her to get lost, and tried to lock her in a closet once—okay, twice.”
I laugh softly. “She mentioned that one.”
“I know you’re best friends with Winnie, but you’re my friend too. You helped me so much with Grayson and coming back here—not to mention with your parents. And now, we’re all going into business together.”
“We are.”
“And we’ll be sisters.”
I smile. “I’m glad for that. There have been enough boys around to last me a lifetime.”
“Me too,” Jess says as her hand grips mine.
“Can I tell you something and you not tell Gray?”
“Of course.”
My heartbeat accelerates, and I know that this will be that moment for me. The one where I will open the box that can’t ever be closed again.
“I’m in love with Jack.”
Her lips form into a soft smile. “I think Jack is in love with you too.”
I nod. “I think you’re right on that as well.”
“And yet, you guys aren’t together. So, I’m guessing Grayson is part of it?”
A tear trickles down my cheek. “He’s part of it.”
“There’s another part?” she asks.
Here it is. The chance to tell someone about Kinsley. She’s not asking me to keep it. She’s offering me a gift that she’ll never fully understand the meaning of. It’s the gift of sisterhood and understanding. Well, at least I hope it is because it could go very wrong.
“Yes.”
She tilts her head just a little. “You can trust me.”
“It’s just that I’ve never told anyone.”
“Not even Winnie?”
I look around for my best friend, ensuring she’s not close. “No, not even Winnie. There are a total of seven—well, six now—who know.”
Jessica blinks a few times. “If you don’t want to tell me—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I do. It’s that I’m terrified to say it.”
