Page 25 of Unmask
It took less than a minute for both of them to reply.
Kenny:On my way. Wine or ice cream?
Carson:I’ll grab snacks.
An hour later, the three of us were sprawled across the couch in a fortress of blankets and throw pillows. The TV was on, playing some random rom-com none of us were really watching. I was sandwiched between them, safe in the warm bubble of friendship, even if the air was laced with all the things we didn’t say.
“Okay,” Kenny said, eyeing me over her bowl of popcorn. Strands of honey hair spilled out of her messy bun. “I knowheis a touchy subject, but we’ve got to just get the elephant out of the room. Rip it off like a Band-Aid. Let’s talk about Kreed.”
I groaned and buried my face in the blanket. “No.”
“Yes.” She nudged me with her foot. “You’ve been so MIA since transferring to Public, and now you’re texting us in the middle of the night like a horror movie finale girl. It’s so obvious you’re not okay. Spill.”
I peeked at Carson, who looked suddenly interested in the popcorn bowl in his lap. His jaw was tight, his shoulders even tighter. I missed it at first, but Kenny didn’t as my gaze slid to her.
She saw it. She always noticed Carson’s mood because Kenny was in love with him. And Carson… Well, I didn’t know who he was interested in. He never had a serious relationship or dated. Sometimes I wondered if Kenny and I were the problem. We were always around, which could be intimidating to potential partners.
“I don’t even know where to start,” I said, scooping a handful of popcorn.
“Try,” Kenny said softly, her bravado slipping. “It’s me. Us. We’ve always talked about everything. There’s nothing you can’t tell us. This is and has always been a judgment-free zone. We love you.”
So I did.
I told them everything. The lies. The setup. The betrayal. The way Kreed looked at me like I was his beginning and end, and how that look infuriated me. What I didn’t say was how it felt when his hands found my hips again, firm and certain. Or how part of me wanted to fall into him, to forget everything just for the heat of his skin against mine. Even when I hated him most, my body betrayed me.
Kenny sat cross-legged at the edge of the couch, her fingers tapping a restless rhythm against her thigh. Shock and disbelief glinted in her big brown eyes.
Carson leaned forward, forearms braced on his knees, his gaze unfocused—haunted. He hadn’t spoken since I’d started. He didn’t need to. His silence said enough.
When I finally finished, the room held its breath. Just the low hum of the TV playing some sitcom neither of us cared about filled the dead space.
Kenny blinked. “What the fuck, Kay. That is some seriously messed-up shit. It doesn’t seem real.”
“Tell me about it,” I mumbled.
“He hurt you,” Carson muttered.
I looked over.
His gaze was fixed on the screen. “You don’t need someone like him.”
“I know,” I whispered.
Kenny’s fingers brushed mine. “But you still want him.”
My heart ached. “I don’t want to. I’m working on it. The anger helps. As long as I stay mad at him, it’s easier.”
Carson finally looked at me. “I should never have let you leave the hospital with him.”
The guilt on his face broke my heart. “This isn’t your fault. We can’t begin to understand the mind of a madman.”
“But you’re willing to go back to that school.”
I understood Carson’s hesitancy. “I have little choice if I want to graduate.” I sank deeper into the cushions, exhaustion lacing my words. “It’s only a few months. Despite knowing the truth, on paper, Donovan is my godfather. I don’t have the energy or resources to fight him on this.”
Kenny shifted beside me. “You know Brock and his family would fight it for you.”
“They would, but by the time the courts got involved and overturned the guardianship, I’ll be an adult. I’m not giving up, not on my inheritance. I’m just conceding to the guardianship until my birthday.”
