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Violet nodded. “I agree. But here’s the thing, I’ve rarely seen you happier than you were last Cosplay Saturday. During the day, in that gorgeous outfit. Not like someone hiding or hoping if they played by the right rules, things would be okay. You opened up. If you got to that point because of Kingston, that’s one thing he did right. But you’re that person even without him.”
“And that was part of the problem.” Abigpart of the problem. I opened myself up to them. “I don’t want to believe they did this maliciously.” Now that I was talking, my jumbled thoughts from the last few weeks spilled out without much order. “But of course I don’t want to. What I want doesn’t change what is.”
“People can make mistakes and learn and grow,” Violet said.
“And sometimes people make a bad judgment call, because they make mistakes, not because they’re bad people,” Sadie added. “And sometimes people who have been hurt have a hard time accepting that others love them for them, without ulterior motive.”
I glared at Sadie. “I’m starting to think you’re not on my side.”
“Then you’re not paying attention.” Sadie didn’t flinch. “Maybe they used you, maybe they didn’t. You assumed theprobablyawfully fast, and I’m trying to tell you it’s not the only option.”
I scrubbed my face, and blew out a noisy breath through my fingers. “I don’t know what to do.” Iwantedto undo the bad, and only have the good. “Sometimes I have this almost irresistible impulse to talk to them again. Not to forgive them, but just to hear their voices.” Sometimes. Every waking moment. Whatever. “That’s a bad idea, isn’t it?”
“It might be. There are times when it’s best to avoid the people at all costs who hurt us. Other times, reaching out is the only way to heal.” Violet was making good use of her therapy training. Of course she was putting it back on me to make a decision.
I was grateful for that, and at the same time resented it. I wanted an easy answer. “Those people we should avoid... do they change their business plan for the person they hurt, to avoid doing it again? Do they pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, without demanding something in return?”
Violet shook her head. “There’s always a price attached to anything from theavoid them at all costspeople, no matter how generous the act looks.”
“I can see why you let her run things.” Sadie leaned her head on my shoulder. “She’s smart. I don’t have quite such eloquent words, but Violet is right that you were happy with them. You wereyou. I’m sure they won’t be your only chance at that, and I’m not saying they weren’t wrong. I don’t know if I could forgive them. I want you to do what will hurt you the least now, and later.”
“Me too. Go figure.” I let out a short laugh.
I still didn’t have answers, though. And I still hurt, both thinking about how Kingston and Owen lied to me, and thinking about how much I missed them. But at least I had my girls, and myself, even if Sadie was pushing this whole agenda of self-worth pretty hard.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Isat in the frontpassenger seat of Anne’s Ford Escape, staring at the shop across the street from us. The sign was an alteration on the original Kingu Kafe logo, to remove the heavier anime elements. The banner underneath saidGrand Opening.
Sadie leaned forward from the back seat. “It looks basic.”
“It’s just a coffee shop. It doesn’t have to be more than basic,” Anne said.
We should turn around and go home. The thought had taunted me for the last hour, as we drove up here.
I’d heard rumors that Kingu was opening a new shop, and I tried to ignore the chatter. It hurt that they’d gone through with it anyway, but it was their original plan—open a new location here, regardless of if it was mine or a different one.
