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“I don’t believe you,” Maggie says.
“Well, believe me or not, it’s the truth.” I pass the receipts over to Kane, who takes a moment to read them over. “It was four years ago, Maggie.”
She shakes her head, pacing the room.
“You knew her. You knew the bimbo he was sleeping with, and you didn’t tell me.”
“Maggie, she’s explained it to you. There’s no need to carry on like this.” Maeve reaches out for her sister, but Maggie dodges her hand. “You’re being unreasonable.”
“I am not. It doesn’t add up to me,” Maggie says. “I don’t understand how you don’t remember. How, if you were so happy for your friend, you didn’t recognize Joey when you saw him again at the pub. I think you did recognize him and you were covering for him!”
“Why in the world would I do that?”
“Enough,” Kane says.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” Maggie rounds on Kane now, shocking all of us. “I mean, marriage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t do it, Kane, don’t give up your biggest dreams for something that won’t last forever.”
“What in the hell is she talking about?” I demand, completely lost now and feeling blindsided. My stomach clenches when Kane closes his eyes, sighs, and then turns to me.
“She’s completely wrong,” he says, trying to assure me. “I’m not giving up any dream for you.”
“That’s not what you told us,” Maggie says. “You said you’re giving up the biggest exhibit of your career because of Anastasia.”
I don’t understand what’s happening. Maggie’s acting out, completely not herself, and now I’m finding out that my fiancé has kept something this important from me?
“Kane? What is she talking about?”
“It was bad timing,” he says between clenched teeth. “And with everything else going on, I didn’t have time to tell you. It’s not a bleeding secret.”
“So, he didn’t tell you that he let something he’s longed for most of his adult life slip through his fingers, all for you? Family doesn’t hold each other back,” Maggie says, shaking her head. “If you’re worried that you can’t have the relationship and your important career, this isn’t right for you. She isn’t right for you.”
“You know what?” I hold up my hands in surrender, feeling angry and frustrated and hurt. “If this is how you act out when you’re upset, I don’t think I want any part of your family.”
I turn to hurry out of the house, Kane on my heels. I need to get away. I need to catch my own damn breath. I’m breathing hard, and unless I get a handle on myself, I’m going to need my inhaler.
“Anastasia, stop.”
I shake my head and rush to my car, but Kane reaches for my arm and turns me back to him.
“We’ll talk about this. You’ll not just run away.”
I can’t catch my breath. I have too many emotions rolling through me. “I don’t understand what just happened in there, but none of it is okay. I need to think.”
“You need to listen.”
“See? She’s just ready to run at the first sign of a fight,” Maggie calls from the porch.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Keegan asks her.
“You go deal with your distraught sister,” I suggest. “And don’t worry about following me.”
I jump in my car and zoom away, fighting tears, battling to pull in a breath of air.
I need my inhaler. But when I open my purse, it isn’t there.
Because I used it at Kane’s house this morning and forgot to put it back.
No problem. I open the glove box, but my spare isn’t there either.
“What the fuck is happening?” I start the mental conversation I always have with myself when an asthma attack happens.
You’re fine. You’re breathing. You’re going to be okay.
But the tears aren’t helping matters, and finally, I have to pull over to the side of the road because I’m afraid I’m going to pass out. It feels like someone is sitting on my chest, and I can’t get a full breath.
I try to talk myself through the techniques I’ve used all my life to calm myself down, but nothing helps, and that makes panic set in.
It’s never been like this before, but I’ve always had an inhaler nearby. Instead of a grown man sitting on my chest, it feels like an elephant now, and it’s getting worse. My vision is growing dark.
So, before I pass out, I do the only thing I can think of. I call 911.Chapter Nineteen~Kane~Anastasia peels away from the curb, and I turn to Maggie, absolutely ready to throw someone through a window.
“Get inside.” I point to the house, my voice leaving no room for argument. “Now.”
“Kane—”
“I said, now!”
Maggie whirls and marches inside. When the door is closed, and I’m sure I’ll be putting my sister in her place in private, I round on her.
