Page 35 of Beyond Reach

“First of all, I didn’t cheat. Second, I came here to apologize, but I find out you’ve been playing Garner all along.”

“Who’s playing him?” Lanae jumped in front of Marcella. “You’re going to stop talking to my friend like that before I make you.”

Chanda glared at her. “Get out of my face, Lanae. This conversation is between me and my cousin.”

“If it involves Marcella, it involved me.”

Chanda ground her teeth. She wasn’t getting in a physical fight in the middle of the hall like some high schooler. Lanae was already wound tight as if she wanted Chanda to give her an excuse to throw a punch.

“Back off.”

Lanae’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Make me.”

Marcella reached for her friend’s arm. “It’s alright, Lanae. She’s not going to do anything. She’s just mad I got her man, and soon he’ll be my husband.”

Struck dumb with the reality of this crazy situation, Chanda didn’t respond right away. Marcella took her silence as fear or maybe hurt. She grinned in satisfaction.

“That’s right, Chanda. I’ve always hated you. Even though our moms were sisters, you and your mom thought you were better than us.”

“In your mind, maybe, but that’s not reality.”

“Don’t try to deny it. Even my mom thought you were hot stuff, always talking about you. ‘Chanda’s smart and cute. She’ll grow up to be whatever she wants. Maybe our Marcella will do half as well. We can only hope so because she’s stupid.’”

“Hold up. There’s no way your parents called you stupid. I know for a fact your dad thinks you can do no wrong.”

“He’s the only one.” Marcella clenched her fists.

“Your mom loves you.”

Marcella gave a dismissive wave of her hand. Aunt Hope had asked Chanda not to take Garner from Marcella, but she wouldn’t admit as much to Marcella. While Chanda didn’t believe Aunt Hope had called Marcella stupid, the woman seemed to think Marcella didn’t have a whole lot going for her.

“Look, I don’t know what childhood issues you’re dealing with, but my life is far from the success you seem to think it is. I lost both my parents in case you’ve forgotten. You still have yours. Be grateful, and quit thinking about whether I’m fortunate or not.”

“Don’t tell me how to live my life.”

Chanda rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Goodbye, Marcella. Feel free not to contact me again.”

Chanda started back down the stairs, but Marcella called after her. “I’m going to marry Garner, and I know it’s going to break your heart. I’m looking forward to it.”

Chanda sprang back up the steps and smacked her cousin as hard as she could. Marcella fell backward into the arms of her friend. Lanae tossed Marcella aside and started to spring forward. Something in Chanda’s eyes stopped her cold. She sneered at Chanda, but Chanda ignored her to speak to Marcella.

“If you think I’m going to stand by while you use him after what I’ve heard today, you are stupid.”

Marcella paled behind her cinnamon complexion. “You won’t get him.”

“I didn’t say I was going after him for myself. I want to see him free of a manipulative piece of garbage like you.”

“You won’t get him,” Marcella repeated as if Chanda never spoke. “It’s already too late. I’ve already made sure of it.”

Lanae crowed and laughed her head off as she nodded. “Yup, yup. You’re too late. They’re as good as husband and wife.”

Chapter 14

Garner pushed both hands through his hair and shut his eyes. Water cascaded over his face and down his chest. Normally, the warm spray relaxed him and took some of the tension from his shoulders. Today, it did nothing. Worse, every time he closed his eyes, he saw Chanda’s face, and his heart threatened to burst from his chest.

God, he thought he was over her. He’d put her behind him, had even come to love Marcella in his own way. Yet, the very second Chanda came to town, she was all that filled his nights and days. The sound of her voice, her laugh, her smile—stop!

He lost his equilibrium and fell forward. Catching himself before he cracked his face on the shower wall, he panted. This couldn’t go on. He had crossed the line, holding Chanda’s hand the way he did, looking into her face, dreaming of kissing her. It wasn’t fair to Marcella. The only thing he could do now was to break it off with her.

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