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“You and Chad, huh?” Nolan says,, and I turn to face him. “Looks like I need to have a word withChad!”
“Don’t you dare, Nolan. Just leave it alone. Like Mom said, we’re just friends.” He raises a brow disbelievingly, but the door opens before he can say any more, both of us turning that way.
“Hey!” Ash says, stopping when he senses the atmosphere is a little frosty. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say, but there is no way Nolan wasn’t going to tell his best friend and the one guy I can never have.
“Kennedy here, is dating Chad,” Nolan says.
Ash’s eyes snap to mine as Nolan turns back to the wall he was painting. Eyes locked on one another, I watch as his narrow and a swirl of…something swims in them, darkening them from their usual light blue to that of a stormy sea.
“Is that right?” Ash says, tone low and gravelly.
The effect his voice has on me is instant, and I have to hold back from squeezing my thighs together. “Like I keep saying, just friends. And it’s none of your business, either of you, so back off.” With a tilt of my head and eyes on Ash the whole time, the challenge in my voice is clear; what are you going to do about it? Ash’s nostrils flare and his jaw ticks, but he turns away without a word.
Once his focus is no longer on me, I can breathe again. The man drives me insane.
The blareof a horn makes me jump, and I realize that I’ve stepped out into the street and am halfway across. I ignore the shouts and hollers and quickly jog the rest of the way.
I’m now standing directly in front of Morning Kick. This close I can make out people inside, my mom talking to a girl behind the counter and several people sitting down enjoying their morning coffee. My mind conjures the image of my dad giving my mom a kiss that day as he went back to work after popping in to see her. They were so in love. Childhood sweethearts, prom king and queen and married straight out of college.
I take a step back, crashing into something solid behind me. Hands grip my forearms, preventing me from falling over, and I pull away, spinning round to face them.
“Get your—” My words come to a grinding halt as they land on the man in front of me. “Jackson?”
“Hey, Kenz. Long time no see.”
The familiarity eases some of my anxiety. It’s temporary though as I realize that if Jackson is here, then… My eyes flick around the street seeking him out. We spot each other at the exact same moment.
“Asher,” I whisper as he begins walking this way, and my eyes widen.
Jackson follows my gaze, then turns back to me. “Kenz—”
“I need to go,” I blurt out before turning and racing away.
I hear Jackson calling after me alongside a female voice; my mom, but I don’t stop. I can’t.
Sand fills my shoes, and the salty smell of the ocean permeates my nostrils halting my frantic pace. My steps falter, becoming stuttered as I take in my surroundings. The beach is alive with people, families enjoying the glorious weather and splashing around in the shallow surf as it laps at the shore. I look behind me and spot Asher jogging this way. He hasn’t seen me yet, so I quickly turn away from the bustling sight and head in the opposite direction, toward The Clifton Hotel.
Once I’ve put some distance between us, I stop to remove my shoes and socks, hanging them loosely from my fingers, and stroll up the beach with the water gently washing over my feet. Gradually, my breaths even out, settled by the gentle roll of the tide, and when I look up, I see that I’m almost to the small cove we used to swim in as kids, and where later as teens we would have beach parties.
Cut in the cliff side, just past the steps leading to where the hotel sits atop regally, is a large, deep crevice, and I change direction toward it. I can’t say being here is any easier though. This town is full of reminders. Reminders of a family that is no more. Reminders of a childhood filled with love and laughter. Everything, everyone and everywhere is a path to sadness, and I can’t believe I thought coming back here was ever a good idea.
I stop just outside the opening, dropping my shoes and sitting down on a large rock. There’s a small breeze blowing through here, and the mild air stings my cheeks. Raising a hand to my face, I feel wetness, and it’s only now I realize I’ve been crying. Wiping the unwanted tears away, I look out to the ocean in front of me, watching a sailboat pass.
Now away from the coffee shop, Jackson and Ash, my anxiety begins to fade, and I take a deep breath. Repeating the process until my heart settles and my chest doesn’t feel like an elephant took a seat on it. My cell vibrates and pulling it from my pocket, I see it’s Mom calling.
“Kennedy, are you okay?” Mom demands as soon as I answer.
“I’m fine, Mom. I decided to take a walk that’s all.”
“Hmmm. I spoke to Jackson, darling. He—”
I cut her off. “I said I’m fine. I’ll meet you back at the house in a bit.” I end the call before she can respond.
Fuck my life.
I look down at my cell and see more missed calls from Owen, and I know I’m going to have to face him at some point but not today. He has no idea where I am or where I might have gone because I’ve never talked about Silverbell with him. Or anyone except Charlie in the last six years I’ve been gone.
