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But that’s not going to fix anything.
My family doesn’t know how to shut up.
I’m not even sure it would make me feel better.
Instead, I decide to tuck my tail between my legs and act like their version of the adult they want me to be. “I’m sorry I let you down. I’ll talk to Easton, and we’ll get this taken care of.”
I move to leave the kitchen but stop without turning around when my mom calls out my name. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To kiss Brandon and Raven goodbye and grab my dog. I’m exhausted.”
“You’re just going to leave?” Mom’s tone wavers for the first time tonight, and I almost feel bad for what I’ve put her through.Almost. But I don’t. Because this is my life. And not a single person in this room bothered to ask me if I wanted to marry Easton Hayes.
No one asked me if I loved him, or if he loved me.
They’ve all just assumed I was a drunken idiot.
Which, okay, so maybe I was.
But for my entire life, I’ve been the good girl. The smart girl. The girl who trained harder, longer, and more often than anyone else. I’ve been the perfect daughter. Perfect partner. And the perfect Kingston. What I’ve never been is irresponsible.
I deserved more from them than this tonight. But I’m not going to waste my breath trying to argue that point because everyone in this room still sees a baby instead of a grown woman. And married or not, that’s not going to change.
I walk out of the kitchen and find Brandon leaning against the wall at the end of the hall, silently listening. His strong arms are crossed over his chest, but when he sees me, he immediately opens them and pulls me in for a hug. “Hey, shortcake. How are you feeling?”
“Like I just got run over by a stampede of wild horses.” I bury my face against him and somehow manage not to cry. “I’ve never seen her so mad before.”
“Your mom’s just worried about you. This isn’t like you, Lindy. Hell, it’s not like Easton either. What’s going on?”
I close my eyes and soak in my stepfather’s strength. “I’m not actually sure yet.”
Brandon kisses the top of my head, then rests his chin there.
My lip trembles while I fight back the tears.
“Guess you better figure that out then, shouldn’t you?”
I nod. “Yeah. I guess I should.”
* * *
The apartment is dark and quiet when Myrtle and I get home later that night. My lazy little bulldog moves surprisingly fast when she runs into our living room, sticks her fat face in her toy basket, pulls out her favorite stuffed dinosaur dressed in a Kings jersey, then settles on her fluffy bed in front of the fireplace, and starts snoring within seconds. She was never a super-active dog, but she’s definitely slowed down a bit this year. She and I have been together since I was fifteen, and I may actually love her more than a few members of my family.
Okay, well, maybe just Maddox.
I grab a bottle of water out of the kitchen and make sure the place is locked up before heading to my room. Judging by the lights out, I guess everyone crashed early, which sounds pretty good to me. “Lindy...” I stop at Kenzie’s door. It’s cracked open with a soft glow coming through.
“Hey.”
She closes her laptop and makes room for me next to her. “How were the moms?”
“Even Juliette was there.” I pull back her blanket and crawl into bed next to her. “They’re all so mad at me, Kenz.”
“Kinda like you were with Easton earlier?”
“Touché.” I link my pinky with hers and lay my head on her pillow. “I’m sorry. I know I put you in a funky spot. I just wish I could remember last night. He remembered everything but refused to tell me any of it. Then told me he wouldn’t give me an annulment. Iwasjust so mad. I still am. But I’m not sure if I’m mad at him or at myself.”
She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t need to. The look on her face is enough.
