Page 60 of The Wrong Side of Kai
“What?” I don’t believe what I’m hearing.
Harrison sighs and scratches at his hairline, looking more awkward than ever, and my heart constricts in my chest. “I only sent it to the guys. And I know that’s still a totally shitty thing for me to do, but I didn’t realize that it would be out of my control after that. I honestly didn’tthink.”
I stare at him, my body rigid. “So, whodidsend the video to everyone?”
He looks me in the eye now, imploring but silent.
“You need to tell me,” I prompt. “I’m not going anywhere until you do.”
“Noah,” he mumbles at last.
I don’t say anything. Who else butNoah? I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d held a deep-rooted grudge against me ever since I ended our fling. That would explain why he’d do something so drastic to hurt me. Sharing that video must have been all too easy for him; he’d have got off on the power that making me so miserable gave him.
Harrison is still a jerk for sending the video to his friends, but at least I know now he didn’tchooseto share it with the entire school – and the rest of the world. In a way, Noah betrayed us both. He shared that private video of Harrison and me with everyone without either of us consenting to it. He took that video out of our control.
And I’ve spent the entire week unleashing hell on Harrison, when in fact, Noah Diaz is the enemy. He’s the one I should have targeted.
But I’ve learned my lesson. Revenge wins you nothing, and it’s often hard to weigh the consequences of your actions until it is too late. I’m not going to take the fight to Noah. This mess isover.
“I’m really sorry, Vanessa,” Harrison says, and this time he looks me in the eye.
“So am I,” I tell him. And I mean it.
Together, we head back to the living room where Dad is warning the Boyds that he’s not afraid to press charges if Harrison doesn’t leave me alone, and the Boyds are telling Dad thatthey’lldo the same if I keep on committing misdemeanor crimes. I clear my throat to make them aware of our presence.
“Vanessa,” Dad says, jumping to his feet. There’s a giant question mark written on his face.
“Harrison and I have resolved our issue,” I state, and Harrison nods in agreement to back me up.
“Great! Now he can go to his room and unplug his Xbox,” Mr. Boyd deadpans, and he gives Harrison a stern look that I can’t quite read. Harrison must know that look though, because he mutters something under his breath before stalking his way upstairs.
“We’ll get going,” Dad says, joining me by my side. “I’m glad this mess is sorted.”
Mr. and Mrs. Boyd apologize for their son’s actions, wish us a pleasant Sunday, and then walk us to the front door before slamming it behind us. Dad and I climb back into the Green McRusty and as he starts up the engine, he looks at me funny.
“Now see?” he says, with more than a hint of smugness. “When you behave like adults, problems get resolved much quicker.”
I roll my eyes and prop my elbow up on the window, weaving my fingers into my hair and massaging my scalp. The weight of the burden that I’ve been carrying around has lifted and I feel so much lighter, like there’s a new spring in my step and even the colors outside look brighter.
“Can I see Kai tonight?” I blurt. “You might have realized we’re not really just partners on a school assignment.”
Dad turns to face me. “Absolutely not,” he says, indignant. As he starts to drive, he tells me, “You’re so grounded.”
And it’s like fireworks explode in my chest, because I have never, ever been grounded before. Dad has never cared enough to punish me, but I have waited for this moment so long. I’ve waited for Dad to save me from the holes I’ve dug myself into, and I’ve waited for Dad to feel let down and disappointed by my actions, and I’ve waited – oh, how I’ve waited – for him to ground me like any other normal parent would.
My expression lights up with relief as my mouth transforms into a huge grin. I lean over and wrap my arms around Dad, burying my face into his thick coat and hugging him so tightly that he almost crashes the Green McRusty once and for all.
25
Being grounded was almost fun at first.
I took a long bath, complete with a rainbow bath bomb and raspberry-scented bubbles, and I padded around in my fluffy bathrobe and slippers. I styled my hair, taking the time to practice a new curling technique, and I even painted my nails a deep red for the approaching festive season. I watchedACinderella Storytwice, once with Kennedy and once on my own. I even tidied up my room, packing away clothes and decluttering all the trash I’ve let accumulate. It’s all so therapeutic, the perfect chilled-out Sunday, but when it grows late, the boredom sets in.
I’m grounded for a month.A month.
I don’t know if I can do this every day up until Christmas.
My phone buzzes and I roll over on my bed to grab it from my bedside table. There’re only two people I’m currently messaging back and forth with, and that’s Chyna Tate and Kai Washington. The only two people I need in my life right now.
