Page 75 of Rumor Has It

She smiles sweetly, patting the cushion beside her. “I was hoping we could talk.”

“Please don’t say it like that, like we’re having ‘the’ talk.” I sit facing her, my leg tucked under me. “First, I need to apologize.”

“For … starting world war three yesterday or just something all men should do on the daily.” She quirks her brow, earning herself a racing pulse from me.

“Yes, all of that, but most importantly, I honestly didn’t realize what you endured before and after giving birth to her. I hate it, all of it. It was a shock to see you, both of you, and though I’m still working through so many emotions, it was good to see you.”

“But that entrance, though, so graceful. Bet it took your breath away.” She drags in a deep breath of her own. “Seriously, I’ve written you a thousand times or more over the years. Right now, I understand why I never sent them. You deserved so much more than a letter.”

“All I wanted was you, the both of you, and I would’ve done anything to have it.” I reache for her hand, and she gives it willingly. “I left because you asked, no other reason. How she got here was of no consequence to me.”

Her tears break free, rolling down her face. “I was so ashamed. I knew people would talk, that if I even tried to deny it, you’d find out and eventually hate me.”

“Like I could ever hate you, never.” I rub small circles on the back of her hand. “I was pretty damn mad, Kenzie, but it’s never been about hate. Not for me, anyway.”

Mackenzie grabs a tissue from the table, dabbing at her eyes. “Mad about me being pregnant, or the fact she could be Reed’s?”

“Well, there’s that.” Her eyes dart to mine, as she begins to chew her nail. I rub the back of my neck, trying to find the right words here. “I have to admit, I think that hurt me more than any of it. I still can’t believe that I loved you for all those years, but he’s the one you chose to sleep with.”

She fidgets, twisting around in her seat. “Wow, I suppose I should’ve kept that thought to myself for right now.”

“Why? Isn’t this a part of the reason we’re in this mess, because we didn’t talk?”

She stands, crossing the room. “This has nothing to do with talking about our problems, it’s the fact of going over them again.”

“I don’t remember ever discussing the reason you ended up sleeping with Reed.” The mere mention of that asshole has my blood boiling.

She spins on me. “Because we didn’t! I realized pretty damn quickly what a mistake I had made, and ended it just as fast!”

“Not fast enough, obviously.” I quip, cutting her to the bone. I immediately hate myself for it. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. Please, do go on.” She waves her hand. “It’s not like I haven’t heard it over and over for the last ten years. You know, being the whore who had a baby with two different men as possible fathers. The only I haven’t heard… what the fuck the fathers name were.”

I spring from the couch, countering her. “And that’s my fault? Why’s that, Mackenzie? I sure as hell didn’t push you to screw around with Thorton the way you pushed me away!”

“Twice, Boone.” She holds up two fingers, not realizing the fire ignited inside me. “I was so hurt by everything that was happening, you know this! I hate I did it! I’ve despised myself from that moment on.”

“You fucked him, twice?” My face feels as though it’s as twisted up as my stomach. I swear, I think I’m going to vomit. “You never told me he had you twice.”

Mackenzie sinks into a chair behind her, curling up into it as tears fall unrestrained. “I’ve did it again, I’m sorry. I suppose you’re right, I’m a whore.”

“I didn’t call you that, don’t put that shit on me.” I begin to pace, doing my damnedest to ebb the pure, unadulterated anger flowing through me. “Why would you even do it once, while all the time, you were professing your love for me?”

“It’s not like we were together! The entire time, I imagined it was you. He kept telling me, I’d never get over you or find love, if I didn’t try. By the second time, I felt so dirty and used, I refused him from the point on. He was so angry.” She fists her hair, as she trembles. Something isn’t right, it’s as though she’s reliving it.

I ease over to her, wanting to ask quietly. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not during sex, he’d never be able to do that.” She rolls her eyes, and oddly enough, I find that piece of information entertaining. “He didn’t hit me, either.”

I tilt my head, trying to get a read on her. She’s hiding something from me. “What did he do, exactly?”

“It’s how he made me feel, you never would’ve done that to me. You didn’t do it to me, even when I deserved it.” She hides her face from me, humiliated by Reed Thorton.

I shake my head, heat radiating from me. “Did you expect anything else?”

“No,” her head snaps up. “but I did from you. Just now, I thought you’d be kinder.”

“Fuck. Mackenzie! I’m mad as hell! What do you want from me?” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “He took you from me, don’t you understand how much I loathe him. He stole our firsts, all of them!”