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“Shit, Laney.You said that?”Kenny hadn’t said a thing, but that was so her.Derek hadn’t hated Laney, and Kenny wouldn’t interfere with that.I hated that she might not have mentioned it because she believed what was said.
She cocked her head.“That was probably the tamest.I was seventeen and had just been dumped by the guy I’d been dating since before I got my period.Think I was a little pissed?”A new White Claw was delivered.She spun the can in a slow circle.“How’s she doing?”
“Better.”
“Papa said she fell off the face of the earth for a while.Must’ve been hard.”
I couldn’t get past my protectiveness toward Kenny.I wouldn’t be the one spilling her business.“Well, I think she starts with tying her right shoe now, so…”
Laney laughed, but it died quickly.“I wish I could’ve come to the funeral.”
I’d noticed she wasn’t there, and at the time, I had thought that Derek had hurt her that bad.“Why didn’t you?”
She wiggled her ring finger.“It’s complicated.”
Whatever that history had been, it had tempered Laney.I missed her fire.
“So you two are close, huh?”
I ducked my head.“She’s never thought I was a piece of shit like the rest of the town.”
Laney’s lips lifted.“I didn’t think you were, but I hated that Derek wanted to rebuild an engine with you instead of make out in my bedroom.”
“Fair.”That engine had never worked again.Grandpa had sold the car for scrap.“She’s just a friend.”
I didn’t know why I felt the need to clarify.Friendwasn’t a strong enough word for what Kenny meant to me, but I didn’t know what else to call it.
“I’m sure you’ll be there to vet the line of men that are going to appear when she starts dating again.”She flashed a smile and tipped the can to her mouth.
A wildfire of rage swept through me, jacking up my pulse.I ground my teeth together.Men were not going to line up for Kenny, thinking she’s an easy target.
Laney’s smirk was the blasting hose of cold water I needed.“Just a friend,” she muttered and took another drink.
