“You remember the cemetery,” she murmurs.
“Years ago.”I do.Too well.
“The first time of so many.You never kissed me,” she says.“Not back then.”
“You never asked.”
“You fucked me but never kissed me.”Her lip trembles.
“I was a nearly a kid.I was terrified.”
“Of me?”
“Of how much I wanted you.”
“You knew you weren’t my first.You didn’t make it special.”
Becki claimed men in the church raped her.I never believed her until seeing that basement.“And your daddy found out.Remember that?”
“Yeah, I do.Because that mare ain’t the only thing buried behind the church.”
Her speaking it makes it real.
The secret we share.The baby we lost.My lie to Sophie.My heart punches my ribs.I kneel in front of her without thinking.
“Our baby is the only reason Daddy didn’t sell me to the highest bidder.”
“You’ve known about this stuff.”
“Folks say I’m crazy.You’ve always said it.”Her knee brushes me.Her breath warms my mouth.“You promised me we’d have another.”
“Don’t,” I whisper.“Don’t even try to manipulate me anymore.”
“Why not?”she breathes.
“We were young.We moved on.”Even as I say the words, I realize how cruel I’ve been to her.Dismissing her always.
“I told her,” she says, speaking of Sophie.
“She won’t believe you.”
Her eyes close.Tears fall.And I almost do it.Almost kiss her to dry her tears.I almost cross the line I swore I’d never even look at.
But Sophie’s face flashes through my mind.I jerk back.Becki’s breath breaks.A sound like heartbreak swallowed whole.
“You destroy everything,” she whispers.“You’re fire, Legend.”
And I know it’s true.
Sophie
Legend comes into our room late.He looks wrong.Guilty.
I already know where he’s been.
With her.
“Hell, Legend.Did you fuck her or something?”I ask.
