While I’m not surprised she’s already painting herself as a victim, she does have a fair point. After all, her safetyisa concern because of my relationship with Silas.
Catching Kri’s notice, I nod to silently ask her to fade into the background. She departs the living room wordlessly, heading toward Reed’s office. I suspect she’ll stay within earshot and would love to toss Kenzie out the door if need be. And I’m fine with that.
I ease deeper into the living room, waiting for Kenzie to follow.“Let’s sit.”
An awkward tension joins us on the sofa.
Kenzie’s red-stained eyes burn into me. I hate how I’m questioning the authenticity of her tears.
But here we are.
She speaks first, trepidation lining her voice. “Go ahead and let me have it. Tell me why you’re mad. Get it out of your system.”
My teeth snap, making an audible clicking sound. “Do you really need me to tell you why I’m mad?” Not waiting for her response, I continue, “For the record,madis a gross understatement. And after what you did, it’s insulting for you to imply all I need to do isvent.”
Get it out of my system? Really? As if that’s ever possible.
“Lila, come on. Are you honestly going to throw away our lifelong friendship for this?”
My eye twitches spastically as my blood pressure spikes. “Do you have any intention of accepting responsibility? If you plan to keep pinning this on me, there’s the door.”
“Well, you haven’t even told me what I did. How can I accept anything unless you accuse me of something?”
Surely she jests.Nobody can be this obtuse. Even my top-tier deflecting techniques can’t hold a candle to hers.
How have I been so blind to her narcissism for so long?
I clasp my hands in my lap, noticing them tremble. “Fine. I’ll be perfectly clear with you.”
“Thank you.” Her expression softens, and she has the audacity to reach for my hand. “That’s all I’m asking.”
Jerking my hand back, I scoot farther away from her. “Reed and I figured it out, Kenzie. We know what you did.”
Her head tilts abruptly to the side, like this is shocking or confusing information. Unbelievable.
“Five years ago,” I continue, the rage building inside me like she’s stoking the fire with whatever act she’s trying to pull. “You lied to both of us to break us up.Intentionally. Why did you do that?”
She puts her head down, whispering. “Oh, that.”
I jump to my feet, that fire turning into an inferno. “Yes.That. What the hell did you think I was upset about?”
Kenzie slumps against the couch and closes her eyes. She can’t even look at me.
“I knew what you meant. I was just hoping it was something else. Wishful thinking, I guess.”
“You can’t wish this away, Kenzie. Your betrayal was reprehensible.”
Her eyes open, but she locks her vision on the ceiling. “I’ve regretted it for years. I wasn’t in my right frame of mind.”
“Frame of mind?” My hands ball into fists. “How does that excuse it?”
She finally looks at me, a hint of hostility coloring her features. “My father had just died, Lila. Meanwhile, Reed was hellbent on blaming Mom for it. And then, mysupposedbest friend sneaks off with him on the night of his funeral instead of staying with me. Did you even consider how that made me feel?”
Cold tendrils of guilt slither through me.
She has a point. I knew the tension between Reed and Kenzie was at the tipping point. Did I consider her feelings? Or did my selfishness blind me to how it would affect her?
Wait.No.
