“Other things that happened with Drew made me doubt my abilities and myself,” Tasha added. “I was so young.”
“A teenager,” Savannah whispered.
“Only a couple years younger than you when you became Drew’s partner.”
They were adults now. But age wouldn’t stop the abuse of a spoiled narcissist like Drew. “I didn’t know better, then. I do now. If you ever need to talk or help, whatever, please let me know.”
“You’d want to talk to me? Help me?” Savannah sounded shock. “After everything that happened?”
“I’m guessing your parents had a bigger role in Drew becoming your partner than you did. And you weren’t the reason he wanted to stop skating with me.” Savannah’s dad had probably bought the best partner he could for her daughter.
Savannah glanced around. Was she looking for Drew?
“I wish I didn’t love him so much.” Savannah’s expression was bittersweet. “Sometimes I think things would be better if we didn’t skate together.”
“That’s what I thought too.” Remembering the throw gone wrong, Tasha rubbed her hip. “Be careful telling him that.”
“He’s not as bad as he was with you.” Savannah was quick to defend him. “He admitted he made some mistakes.”
Some. Wasn’t that rich? Tasha forced herself not to laugh. “Get more to eat. And call me if you need an ear.”
Or a shoulder.
With that, she entered the dining room and made her way to Phoebe and Kristen, who sat at a table near the window. She sat next to Phoebe. “Good morning.”
“Were you talking to Savannah?” Phoebe asked, curiosity in her eyes.
Tasha placed her napkin on her lap. “Yes.”
Kristen made a face. “Is Drew pulling the same stuff with her?”
“I don’t know.” Tasha glanced at the doorway to the dining room. Savannah hadn’t returned to get more food. “Maybe.”
Lines creased Phoebe’s forehead. “What stuff?”
Tasha took a sip from the glass of water at her place setting. Only Kristen knew everything Drew had done, and when she’d walked away from their friendship, Tasha had been left with no one to turn to for help. “Skating things.”
Kristen bit her lip. She shifted in her seat. “I’m so sorry, Tash. I treated you no differently than Drew did. You deserved better.”
“I did.”
Phoebe flinched, but to her credit, she didn’t say anything. Instead, she sipped her coffee.
“You did, but I only thought of myself. I was so hurt when Alek told me he didn’t want to be friends or part of my life any longer.”
“That was as much my parents as him.”
“I know, but you—”
“We were best friends.” Tasha stared into Kristen’s eyes. “You pushed me out of your life like I was some stranger, not a sister from another mother.”
Kristen’s eyes gleamed. “I was so selfish. I wasn’t thinking of you as my friend. Only you as his twin sister. I didn’t want anything that reminded me of him.”
“Do you know how that made me feel?” Tasha sniffled. “Especially when my life started falling apart with Drew. No one else knew…”
“I’m sorry. I responded the only way I could. I’m sorry you paid the price. I know we can’t go back, but maybe we can try to go forward.”
Silence filled the table.
