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I hurriedly get out of my car and jog to make sure she spots me first. I don’t want to scare her.
She grins. “Hey, Pipe. Let me call you right back.” When she hangs up the phone, her eyes roam shamelessly over my tall frame. “Hello, handsome. How can I do you…I mean help you?”
Her words are more forward than I expect, but they also take away some of my nerves. “I’m Owen. I met El—” I’m cut off by Kenzie poking a finger in my chest.
“You have some nerve showing up at my work,” she sneers.
I put my hands up in surrender. “I know what Ella saw, but I need to explain.”
“No, what you need to do is stay the hell away from her. Ella’s been through enough. She doesn’t need another dickass in her life causing more turmoil,” Kenzie says, stepping back from me and crossing her arms.
“If I’m right and Ella saw me with my co-worker Natalie, then it isn’t what she thinks. I just want to explain and if Ella still hates me, then I’ll leave her alone. I promise. Hurting her is the last thing I want.”
Kenzie glares at me. “What is it that she saw?”
I’m surprised to hear Ella hasn’t told them everything, but also concerned that I hurt Ella worse than I thought if she’s keeping things to herself.
Since I don’t know how much Kenzie knows, I do my best to make a long story short.
“Ella saw me once with this woman I work with, but I never fully explained who Natalie was and what I was doing. I assume Ella saw me with Natalie again and made a rightful assumption in the moment, but what I need Ella to know is that regardless of what I could have had with Harrington Enterprises, I walked away from the company as soon as I knew Ella was gone. That job means nothing to me if I have to hurt people I care about in the meantime.”
Kenzie’s arms are still crossed, and she’s tapping her heel on the asphalt. Her poker face is solid, and I have no idea if she believes me, but I’m not going anywhere until I’ve exhausted every option in finding Ella.
“Why are you here?” Kenzie asks with an even tone.
I sigh, thankful she doesn’t tell me to fuck off.
“Because I want to make sure Ella knows the truth before she decides to never speak to me again. She deserves better than what she thinks I did to her. I promised I’d never hurt her like that Blake guy did or any of her other exes, and I don’t want her to think that’s exactly what I’ve done.”
Kenzie drums her fingers over crossed arms while staring at me with thinned lips, but I don’t shrink away from her intimidation.
“Ella’s my best friend. The sister I never had. Her and Piper mean everything to me. The only reason I haven’t killed Ella’s exes for the way they’ve treated her is because the thought of being arrested for murder instead of having girls’ night isn’t all that appealing.”
I fight a smile, because I don’t actually think she’s joking. Not entirely, anyway. “Understandable, but I promise not to give you a reason to plot my death.”
Kenzie smirks. “Oh, the plotting is already done. Don’t you worry there.”
I want to return her smile but think better of it. “Well, that’s…good to know.”
She looks around and finally uncrosses her arms to pull up something on her phone, which reminds me that she never responded to my online message.
“I sent you a message through social media,” I add while she’s typing.
Kenzie shudders. “I never use messenger. Too many dick pics that I can’t unsee.” She hands me her phone. “Put your phone number in here. That’s the only way you’ll hear from me. When I think Ella is ready to see you, I’ll call you.”
“But if she doesn’t know the truth then she might not ever be ready to see me,” I say.
“You let me worry about that. For right now, all you get to know is that she has plans and I won’t let you interfere with them. If I find out that you’ve tried to contact her again or show up anywhere that she might be, then you’ll be seeing me a whole lot sooner than I guarantee you’ll like.”
I take Kenzie’s threat seriously. I grew up with two sisters. I know how women like to flock together and how sharp their claws can be.
“Do you believe me that I didn’t mean to hurt Ella?” I ask while I put my information in her phone, then send a quick text to myself so I have Kenzie’s number as well.
She doesn’t answer until I’ve handed her the phone back. “I’ll admit, I did my fair share of looking into you and I haven’t found anything glaring yet. Though, that doesn’t mean I believe you.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that, so I merely nod and take a step back. “Well, I appreciate you even considering letting Ella know I’d like to talk to her.”
“I’m sure you do. If you can leave her alone for the weekend, I might be in touch.” Kenzie slides her phone into her purse and walks away.
I watch her for a moment before going back to my car. I’m not sure our interaction went well, and the thought of not trying to reach Ella for another three days is already painful, but I’m going to try.
Unfortunately, I think Kenzie is my best chance at speaking to Ella. I have no choice but to hope Kenzie is merciful and doesn’t make me wait too long.
