How quickly that dream turned into a nightmare...
“Sure you did. I haven’t heard from you in nearly two months. You’ve not called me back or answered any of my texts other than vague one-word responses.”
“I know. I’m sorry. So much has happened. I just needed some time to process,” I admit. Partly true. I did need time. I’ve also been hiding from my failure.
“Are you about done processing? My best friend of twenty years moves back home and has been here forweeks, and I’ve only just found out.”
“Surely, my mom told your mom.”
“Well, maybe she would have if my mom were home. She and her new boyfriend have been in Barbados for the last month, probably blowing through my inheritance.”
“Jos.”
“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” She grins. “Seriously, though. Why didn’t you call me?”
“Honestly?”
“Always.”
“I was embarrassed. I mean, obviously, I had every intention of telling you, but it never seemed like the right time. I basically hid in my bedroom the first two weeks I was here until my parents forced me to get a job.”
“Yeah, I heard about the job...” She gives me an apologetic look, her chocolate brown eyes full of sympathy. “Patty did that crap on purpose.”
“I’m convinced that she did.”
“Ridiculous. Grown woman and she still acts like she’s in high school. At least it’s obvious where Cat gets it from. Though I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse.” She tosses a thick strand of dark brown hair over her shoulder as she leans in closer, resting her arms on the table. “Penn must have fallen and hit his head pretty damn good to be screwing that trollop.”
“Aren’t you friends with said trollop?” I arch a brow at her.
“Fake friends, and only to keep the peace. You know she’s best friends with my cousin.”
“I remember.”
“I’m forced to be friendly to her hag bag friends when she went out of her way to be horrible to mine.” She doesn’t have to clarify that she’s talking about me. That much is pretty clear. “But it beats the alternative. A few forced smiles and pleasantries and my aunt Courtney stays off my butt.”
“I get it. Families are hard.”
“Families are the worst.” She snorts. “Anyways, enough about Cat. How are you?”
“I’m hanging in there. Barely.”
“And Penn? How has that situation been?”
“He’s the reason I’m barely hanging in there.” I blow out a hard breath.
“That bad?”
“Worse.” I shake my head. “I expected him to be different with me—it has been seven years. What I wasn’t prepared for was his anger. It’s like... It’s like hehatesme.”
“Oh, please. Penn Kade doesn’t have it in him to hate a single hair on that perfect little head of yours. He’s just got his panties in a twist because you left.”
“You haven’t seen the way he is toward me, Jos. It’s brutal. He barely speaks to me and when he does, he’s so mean. Like mean in a way I didn’t know Penn could be. My only saving grace has been Alec.”
Josie’s demeanor completely changes at the mention of Alec Kade and, in truth, I’m not entirely sure why. Last I knew, the two were friends and had been since high school. We were all kind of a package deal, Josie, me, Penn, and Alec—even if he was two years behind us.
“Why do I get the impression I just hit a sore spot?” I can’t help but ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Maybe because you have.” It’s her turn to blow out a long sigh.
