She whacks me in the gut just as Marcus and Nicole enter the pool area via the front gate. “We’re the only ones stupid enough to go skinny dipping with an audience.”
If it were anyone but Marcus and Nicole approaching us, I would have argued. However, Marcus is as stiff as the ties he dons most days, and putting it nicely, Nicole is a prude.
“On the count of three, we’ll make a run for it. Are you ready?”
Kylie finishes slipping her dress over her head before nodding.
“One… two…” I start running, leaving her to face the wrath alone.
She’s on my heel in under a second, years of track helping her overtake me just as we reach the edge of the cabin. I don’t think Marcus and Nicole saw us, but I’m reasonably sure they can hear the heavy clomps of our feet as we bolt across the wooden deck.
We stumble into the living room, laughing at our close call. “Holy fucking shit. I’m dead. Running like that after what we just did—”
My words are cut off by Kylie’s hand getting friendly with my stomach for the second time in two minutes. When she nudges her head to the right, I shift to face the direction she’s gesturing. Jenni is sitting on the sofa, her pale face amplifying the bright red streaks teeming from her eyes.Fuck!
I slant my head to Kylie. “Can you give us a minute?”
After running her hand down my arm in a supportive manner, she nods. I wait for her to enter the hallway of our room before going to comfort Jenni. As I’ve said previously, she’s not my sister, but I can’t help but treat her like she is.
It takes nearly thirty minutes for Jenni’s tears to subside, then another ten to confess she’s pregnant with Nick’s baby. My first thought is to kill Nick, because that’s the only way I can cut the rope Jenni just lassoed around his waist. No matter what happens, he’s tied to her until the day she dies. Their baby guarantees that.
I’m proven wrong when Jenni murmurs, “My mom wants me to get an abortion.”
“What. Why?”
I’m devastated for her when she explains everything that’s happening with her family. I don’t know what I could possibly say to make it easier on her, so I just comfort her the best I can. I tell her she'll always have Emily and me to support her and her baby if she decides to keep it, and that she isn’t alone, and that we’ll never stop loving her.
My promise doesn’t have the effect I was aiming for. It causes even more tears to trickle down her face.
By the time they’ve settled, nearly two hours have ticked by. While rubbing a kink in my neck, I head to the room I’m sharing with Kylie, emotionally and physically drained. I’m surprised to find Kylie still awake. It isn’t a good surprise. Her beautiful face is stained with tears, and her bag is packed and sitting on the floor.
Ignoring the mad beat of my heart, I finish entering the room, closing the door behind me. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes.” Her head barely bobs, but it sends fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m going home.”
“Why?” Our entire weekend has been perfect, so I’m at a loss as to what’s suddenly changed.
“Do you love me, Slater?”
I nod without pause for thought. I’ve loved her since the day I saw her at the Bar N Barrel.
“Then say it.” She stares at me with tear-filled, begging eyes. “Tell me you love me.”
“You don’t need to hear—”
“Yes I do!” she interrupts as moisture floods her cheeks. “Say it! Just say it!”
I’m too shocked to form words. She’s never voiced anger about me not saying it the prior six months, so why is she so worked up now? I show her what she means to me. I express it every fucking day, so I don’t need to tell her as well.
When I fail to reply, she snags her bag off the floor. “Goodbye, Slater.”
When she rushes for the door, I move faster, slamming it shut before she can exit. When I brace my back against it, blocking her only exit, she digs her nails into my arm so deeply, she draws blood.
“What the fuck, Kylie?” I’m yelling, but it can’t be helped. I’m pissed as fuck. First Jenni, now this.
“You won’t tell me you love me, but you’ll tell her!” Kylie thrusts her hand to the door like whomever she is talking about is standing behind it.
“Who?”
