“She is.”
The weight of what I’ve done hits me in full force. I might have ended a career I spent my entire adult life building. The adrenaline courses through me, but underneath it, I feel relief that I can tell everyone the truth.
Kendall Hart ismine.
I pull my phone from my pocket and text her.
Patterson
Hi. Where are you? We should talk.
I wait another minute for a response, and when I don’t get one, I call her. It goes directly to voicemail.
“Ken Doll, I’m leaving the facility. Are you at your apartment? My place? I need to see you.”
When I don’t hear from her, I try her apartment and knock until I’m blue in the face. I text her again and call again.
Then I go to my penthouse to see if she let herself in. It’s empty.
Before I start worrying, I shuffle through the list of locations she could be. Maybe she’s grabbing something to eat, or maybe she’s at Addison’s.
I immediately text my sister.
Patterson
Hi. Are you alone?
It’s a general text that shouldn’t set off her Spidey senses if she is.
Her text bubble pops up.
Addison
Kendall’s here. Said her phone died. Also, you have A LOT of explaining to do. WTF, PATTERSON?! SHE TOLD ME EVERYTHING! WTAF!!!
Patterson
Heading that way.
I take the elevator down to the lobby and push through the front doors, where a car is already waiting. When the early spring air hits my skin, I realize I left my jacket inside, but I don’t go back for it.
The ride to Addison’s building in Tribeca takes over twenty minutes, and I spend every second checking my phone even though I know Kendall’s is dead. I need to see her face. I need to know she’s okay.
When I reach Addison’s floor, I force myself to take a breath and calm down before I knock.
My sister opens up, and the look on her face makes me want to turn around and leave. She’s furious in a way I’ve rarely seen. It’s not her usual dramatic flair or the passive-aggressive comments that sting three days later when you understand what she meant. This is different. She’s trying to cover her hurt with anger.
“Hey,” I say.
“Don’theyme.” She blocks the doorway with her body, arms crossed. “You lied to me. For months.”
“I know.”
“I asked you point-blank if something was going on between you two, more than once, and you literally lied to my face. Jameson did too. Probably because you’d put him up to it.”
“I can only apologize for my own wrongdoings. He did it because he kinda owed us both for being a complete and utter dickhead.”
“I didn’t hear you sayI’m sorry.” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it.
