I race to her, flinging my arm around her neck as I squeeze. “Oh, my god! You’re here!”
“I am!” She chuckles, hugging me back as she holds her coffee out to the side so I don’t spill it.
I pull back, grabbing her shoulders. “How did you get in?”
Her eyes widen as she sets her mug on the counter. “Kaden let me in this morning on his way out. Also, WHAT THE FUCK?!”
I wince. “Yeah, he’s back…”
My friend stares at me, her gaze rounded as she urges me to explain. “Well? I need details!”
“Let’s sit, and I’ll give you the rundown,” I decide before fixing myself some coffee and following my best friend to the living room. I don’t give her too much detail, especially not the wild declarations and the drugging that Kaden has done, but I give her enough to satisfy her curiosity as she nods along.
“Wow,” she mutters once I finish. “That’s an emotional overload. Does he not realize he’s been missing for six years?”
I chuckle uncomfortably, gripping my mug tighter. “Yeah. And he just waltzed in as if nothing had happened.”
“Men,” Kodi rolls her eyes before her expression becomes thoughtful. “Are you okay?”
I nod, staring down at the steam curling from my cup.
She clears her throat. “You know, you never told me what happened between the two of you…”
I swallow past my thick emotions. I haven’t uttered a word about this to anyone, but with the chaos in my head, I think it would do me some good to get some things off my chest. I’m feeling vulnerable and small, and I know Kodi wouldn’t judge me.
“We, umm…” A strained laugh is squeezed from me. “We were together after The Hunt. We dated for a few months before he disappeared. That’s why I was so upset.”
My friend’s brows rise in surprise. “I had my suspicions, but I didn’t know you two were together. That makes so much more sense now.” She sits forward, her face becoming serious. “Wait. Has he made a move on you? How did he react to Dylan?”
My lips pull over my teeth. “He may have punched Dylan for raising his voice at me the other night…”
Kodi’s mouth falls open. “HepunchedDylan? Wait,no. Dylan raised his voice at you? Why?”
I blow out a breath, bitterness coiling my stomach. “Because he decided to leave in the middle of the night for work, and it caused an argument.”
Kodi scoffs. “Yeah, I’m on Kaden’s side on this one. Love Dylan, but he can be an asshole to you sometimes.”
“Yup,” I agree.
“How are you feeling?” Kodi asks quietly.
I shrug, shaking my head. “I-I don’t know. It’s a lot…”
“Are you still thinking about marrying Dylan?”
I pause, my chest panging painfully. That’s the buzzing question that’s been haunting me all morning. I’m glad Kaden isn’t here because it’s giving me the space to actually think about this.
“Can I weigh in?” Kodi sits forward, sliding her mug onto the coffee table before taking my hands in hers. “I was there after Kaden left the first time, Mel. You weren’t just upset. You were devastated. I thought I was going to lose you…”
The bridge of my nose stings with unshed tears as I remember that pain so vividly it still stings in my chest. I didn’t want to die, but I didn’t care about living anymore without Kaden by my side. He completely wrecked me, and it took years to heal from the damage he did.
“I’m not saying you should choose Dylan,” Kodi says pointedly. “I’m just saying you shouldn’t give your heart away so easily anymore. Kaden has been gone for six years. That’s a long time to leave you hanging. I had to watch you pick up all of those pieces, and it hurt so bad to know that you were in pain and I couldn’t do anything to help.”
I nod, rolling my lips in.
“You don’t have to choose anyone, Mel,” she says lightly. “You can choose yourself and still live a fulfilled life.”
I rest my head back, releasing my breath as her words wash over me. “When did you get so good at comforting me?”
