Page 31 of Southern Storms

My husband had made sure to put that fear into me—that I was unlovable. All I wanted to do was be loved, even if it meant breaking my own heart in order to get people to like me. That was a very depressing fact.

“A word of advice from the town asshole?” he offered.

“By all means, enlighten me.”

“Get a solid backbone. Stand up for yourself. Push back when they push up against you.”

“I don’t know if taking advice from the town asshole is such a solid idea. I don’t want to be a loner like you. I want to have friends.”

His eyes shifted away from me for a split second. When he looked back, I swore I saw…hurt? Had I hurt him with my words?

“I have friends,” he said, sure as ever. “People who mean the goddamn world to me. People who get me when the rest of the world tries to break me.”

My stomach knotted up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that…”

“You did, and that’s fine, but before you sit here judging me, focus on yourself right now. Decide if you truly want these people as friends. People aren’t careful about who they give themselves to nowadays because they think being liked is more important than being respected. These people will kill you.”

I laughed. “I doubt Louise and Kate are going to take my life.”

“I’m not talking about taking your life. I’m talking about them taking something more important.”

“And what’s that?”

“Your soul.”

I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. I just stood still as day as he moved in closer to me and spoke so softly. “Bark at them, Kennedy. Bark.”

He took a step backward, taking my breath along with him. My chest was so tight as he walked away. His words were sending chills down my spine as they played on repeat in my head, as if they were trying to unlock something within my memories.

Bark at them, Kennedy. Bark.

10

Kennedy

“Oh my gosh,I’m so sorry he treated you like that, Kennedy. What a freaking dick,” Yoana said through the phone as I yawned and stretched in bed. My back was extremely sick and tired of me being an idiot and sleeping in a car for the past few nights, so I’d moved myself inside to an actual bed like a real grown-up. I was so happy when the furniture finally arrived and the house began feeling more like a home.

“Yes,” I agreed, referring to Lars and the way he’d treated me the previous day. “I’m just sorry I lost your landscaper.”

“Whatever. It’s not a big deal. I’m sure someone else will come along. What matters most is that you’re okay. Do you need me to come home? I can come home. I can come home if you need me.”

“I am one hundred percent sure you’re not needed back in town.” I laughed.

“Really? Because Bora Bora is a complete bore. All we do is sunbathe and drink fruity drinks.”

“Gosh, what a hard, hard life.”

“You’re telling me. Plus there’s this guy who’s been following me around telling me he loves me nonstop and catering to my every want and need.”

I cocked an eyebrow as if she could see me. “You mean…your husband?”

“Husband.” She sighed, shaking her head back and forth. “What a freaking weird word. I have a husband.” She giggled, sounding smitten as ever.

“You sure do. You got a good one. Be thankful for that…there’s a lot of terrible fish in the sea.”

“Speaking of terrible fish…have you heard from your squid?”

My chest tightened, and I pulled my hair into a messy bun. “I haven’t.”

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