“Cancer. Evan’s fiancée died of cancer. He went through something horrible.”
“And he stayed with her until the end,” Lila stated, having heard the story. “So your pathetic I-feel-sorry-for-my-broken-heart shit is nothing compared to that.”
Kenzie’s nausea rose again, but Lila must have seen it because she covered her face with the bottom of her shirt.
Rachel’s eyes narrowed. “Nice, Lila.”
“Yeah? Well, I don’t see you sitting next to the Black Death here.”
Kenzie darted for the bathroom and returned moments later. “Sorry. Just dry heaves.”
Lila shrugged and through her shirt said, “Hey, I’ve been there. Felt like my life was ending. Then I watched the news and realized I can handle my shit because it’s not nearly as bad as half of what the world suffers.”
Rachel shook her head. “You’re so worldly yet such a moron.” She lowered the sweatshirt from her face slowly. “Kenzie, you’ve been dealing with a ton of stress from your new boyfriend and work. You needed the stress relief. Now you’ve got it. And you’re bothered because Evan hasn’t texted or called.”
“Yeah.” She sighed.
“So imagine him never coming back. Imagine he went away. Or he died. Or he’s just gone. Now how do you feel? Not relieved, because you’re crying.”
“I love him.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve.
Lila cringed. “You are so gross.”
“Watch it or I’ll vomit all over you.”
“Yeah, Daniel tried that two days ago. Good luck with that.”
Kenzie gave her friends a weak grin. “I just said I love him, and nothing in me wanted to puke.”
“Well, you’re cured.”
“No, I mean, the stress isn’t there. I’ve been thinking about Evan a lot. All the time before and since the Incident.”
“Your spaz attack?” Rachel asked.
“Psychotic break?” Lila offered.
“Oh, I like that better.” Rachel nodded.
Kenzie glared. “I’m calling itthe Incident. Anyway, I think at that moment I allowed myself to just be angry with Bryce.”
Lila hit her.
“Stop it!”
“Sorry, habit.”
“And to be angry at Evan for making me move past He Who Shall Not Be Named.” Kenzie kept an eye on her slap-happy friend. “Evan woke me up again. He forced me to deal with my feelings, and that made me mad, deep down. I resented him.” She mentally pored through her feelings. “But it also made me realize he’s not the type to cut and run. He won’t just quit on me. He’s been there, being my rock even though I didn’t lean on him. He was there.”
“This is such a moment.” Lila gazed, wide-eyed. “I wish I had popcorn.”
Rachel snickered then laughed louder when Kenzie glared at them both.
Lila chuckled. “Well, it is, dipshit. We’ve been telling you this since ‘the Incident,’” she emphasized, using finger quotes. “And now he’s all alone and feeling unloved. But he’s Evan, so instead of tying one on and getting a BJ from some hottie downtown at a singles bar, he’s probably moping at home and listening to emo music, missing you.”
Rachel kicked at Kenzie with her funky toe socks. “So what are you waiting for? Go get your man.”
“What if he’s mad at me or won’t talk to me?”
