Her mouth tightened. “Things she started. Things she couldn’t control. Maybe things she never meant to turn deadly. It was messy. It was horrible. It was one tragedy piled on top of too many tragic love stories.”
My chest hurt.
“But you,” Regan said, turning fully toward me, “you were the light that came out of that story, Destiny.”
The tears came so fast I hated them.
Regan reached up and brushed one away with the back of her finger.
“You were never the punishment,” she said. “You were never the curse. You were the only innocent thing to come out of all that damage.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t feel innocent.”
“Most people who are don’t.”
I laughed once, wet and broken.
Regan smiled sadly.
Then her gaze sharpened again.
“Are you sure it was just a kiss with Dylan?”
My cheeks went from warm to burning.
“Oh my gosh.”
“Destiny.”
“No. No, no, no.” I sat up straighter, mortified so fast it almost made me dizzy. “We never— I never even took off my pants. Nothing below the waist. Nothing— no. It was a kiss. A soft kiss. Then another kiss. That’s all.”
Regan’s eyebrows lifted.
“Right,” she said slowly. “Below the waist.”
“Nope.” I pointed at her. “We are not doing this.”
“I’m just making sure.”
“You are like my mom.”
Her face softened so quickly my embarrassment tangled with something warmer.
“Yeah?”
I groaned and covered my face. “Which is exactly why I cannot discuss this with you.”
Regan laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound loosened something in the room.
“I’m glad he stopped,” she said gently.
I lowered my hands.
