I glanced at the police car stationed outside Kenny’s house. “Maybe not directly. But because of me, Kenny got taken. What if she blames me? What if she can’t look at me without seeing the reason she was terrified?”
“You sacrificed yourself for her. I don’t know anyone who would doubt how much you love your friends.”
I wanted him to be right with a vulnerable desperation. I needed him to be right, because if Kenny couldn’t forgive me, I wasn’t sure I could forgive myself. “I hope you’re right,” I said softly, the words fogging between us.
“When am I ever wrong, little raven?” He flashed that crooked grin, and my heart flipped.
I snorted before steeling myself and opening my door to step out into the cool late afternoon. Elmwood was in the weird in-between state of winter transitioning into spring. The snow had nearly melted, leaving the earth damp. Wet icicles hung from the tree branches, dripping onto the ground. I loved this time of year with the promise of new beginnings.
Hopefully, that was what this next chapter of my life would bring, and I wanted Kenny to be a part of it, whatever it looked like.
We walked the path to Kenny’s front door shoulder to shoulder, our shoes crunching on rock salt someone had scattered after the last snowfall. The porch light blinked on automatically as we approached, a welcome sign or a warning, depending on your perspective. My hand hovered over the doorbell for a heartbeat, two, three, then finally pressed it.
The electronic chime went off, coming through faintly from the other side of the door. Before the third chime had finished ringing, Kenny stood in the open doorway wearing black leggings and an oversized baby-pink sweater, her honey-brown hair pulled into a messy half-ponytail with wisps escaping around her face. Her brown eyes went impossibly wide, then immediately flooded with tears, spilling over her lashes and tracking down her cheeks.
She lunged forward without saying a word, throwing herself at me. Her arms wrapped around my neck and squeezed. “You’re—you’re here.” Her entire body shook against mine as she pressed her face into my shoulder. “How?” she whispered. “How are you here? How did you get away?”
“It’s a long story,” I managed, tears burning behind my own eyes and threatening to spill over. “One that I feel like I owe you. Can we come in?”
Sniffing, she pulled away but took my hands in hers. “As if you’ve ever had to ask to come inside. I don’t know why you even rang the bell. You never have before.”
“I didn’t want to scare you…and I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me,” I admitted, studying her face for a reaction.
“Are you kidding? I was freaking the fuck out when I saw you that”—she swallowed thickly—“that night.”
“I know.” Neither of us was ready to dive into the details of that night.
She pulled me over the threshold. Kreed followed behind us,closing the door with a soft click. Kenny drew me down onto her couch as Kreed claimed the armchair opposite us.
“You’re okay? They didn’t—” I couldn’t seem to finish the sentence.
She shook her head quickly. “I’m fine. Really. You saved me before anything...before they could...”
My guilt swelled. “God, Kenny… I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “This is my fault. All of it.”
“Don’t,” she said, squeezing my fingers. Her eyes flashed wet and bright.” Don’t you dare apologize for what that monster did. Carson told me you’ve been blaming yourself, but I don’t blame you. Not even a little bit.”
My throat burned. “How could you not? Rusty targeted you specifically because of me.”
Kenny’s lips pressed together. “He fooled all of us. How could you have any idea what he was doing? If anyone is to blame, it’s him. Not each other.”
A breath shuddered out of me. “You’re right. I know you are, but I can’t help but feel responsible.”
Her eyes softened. “I still can’t believe what you did, giving yourself up. Do you have any idea how incredibly brave you are? I don’t think I would have been able to.”
“You’d be amazed at what you’re willing to do when you’re put into a crisis.”
She studied me for a beat, then tilted her head. “So… how did you get out?” Her voice dipped. “Because I seriously doubt Rusty just let you walk away out of the goodness of his black heart.”
My gaze slid instinctively to Kreed. The moment my eyes met his, something passed between us, a bond I didn’t share with another soul. “Kreed found me,” I said simply.
Kenny’s lips curved, just barely. “I’m not surprised.”
Kreed cleared his throat, the first real sound he’d made since we’d entered the house.
“You told me he would find you that night, but I didn’t fully believe you then,” she admitted. “Clearly, I was wrong. I’m so fucking glad I was wrong.”
Me too.
