“That’s not your fault.”
She shakes her head. “I should have seen it. Seen the signs. I should have been there to help her!”
“There is nothing you could have done. If she didn’t tell you, how were you supposed to have known?”
“I’m her sister. I practically raised her. I should have seen something.”
I push her away so I can look down at her face. Cradling her cheeks, I swipe my thumbs over them. “You did; you must have because you got there in time.”
“But not soon enough to save her.”
“You saved her, Kitty. You saved her. But you can’t protect her from everything.”
There is so much sadness in her gaze that it makes my chest ache. I want to protect her from this pain that’s long gone. I can understand now, her need to protect Penny above all else—to shield her from all the bad people in this world.
She clenches her hands into fists and pounds them against my chest. “It’s not fair.”
“I know. I know,” I whisper, my hand soothing her hair.
She punches me a few more times, and I let her, not loosening my hold in the slightest. Once she’s done, she places her head on my chest, and I can hear her sniffle softly. I let my hand slowly graze up and down her back.
“What happened? After you found her?”
“Besides almost killing her myself?” She chuckles, but there is no humor in the sound. “I hugged her, forced her to tell me what the hell had been going on and what she’d been thinking, and then I promised her I will kill her if she attempts that ever again. Then I got into a fight with Mom. A lot was said that day, but the only thing that matters is that I won, and she agreed to let us move here.”
To me, I finish silently. And that’s the story of how she came to me.
I wish I could feel sorry, and I am, I’m sorry they had to go through all of that to come here, but I can’t say I’m sorry to have her in my arms here and now. I’ll never be sorry about that.
“Why do you think she’s here now? If she was so against you coming here in the first place?”
Maybe if things were different, if her mom didn’t have some kind of grudge against this town, she’d have been here sooner. Maybe we’d have spent summers together. Maybe…
“I wish I knew, but Mary Adams is too fickle, too unpredictable.”
“Do you think…” My throat feels thick, so I force myself to swallow before attempting to get the words out. “Do you think she’ll want to take you back? To California?”
My whole body revolts at the idea, but if Kate is right and her mother is that unpredictable, it’s a possibility. And I need to know about all the possible routes to make sure my defense is perfect.
“Honestly, I don’t know. But she better not. Penny is finally settling in, she’s happy and smiling again. She loves her new school and is finally getting the hang of Henry. I don’t want…”
“What about you?”
Kate blinks, surprised at the sudden interruption. “What?”
“Penny’s happy here, but what about you? Are you happy?”
Do you want to stay?
The words are out there, between us, although I haven’t voiced them out loud.
“I—” Kate starts but stops almost instantly. Her throat bobs, tongue flicking over her lower lips.
I extend my hand, brushing her cheek with the tips of my fingers.
“Because I’m falling for you,” I confess softly.
My heart thunders in my chest as the words slip out, my palms turning sweaty with nerves. This is probably the shittiest moment to put this on her, but after everything she’s shared with me, I need her to know this. I need her to know how much she means to me and not some half-hearted bullshit. Screw that.
“No, I have fallen for you.” I look into her eyes, those deep, deep blues that rock me to my very core. “I have fallen for you, Katherine Adams, and I don’t think I’d be able to watch you leave.”
Kate’s mouth falls open as she sucks in a breath, her eyes widening in surprise.
For a moment, time seems to have stopped as my words, my confession, hang in the air between us.
“We’re not leaving.” Kate shakes her head, desperation in her voice. She looks down, her eyes fixed on my chest. “She didn’t say anything. She’s probably grown bored and just came for a short visit, and she’ll be back on her way soon enough because God knows there isn’t anything that can hold her attention here.”
“But—”
The bell rings, stopping me before I can finish.
Kate gives me a small, pleading smile. “C’mon, you can’t be late for class and risk being benched because the coach will kill you.”
Disentangling from my arms, she grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door. For a moment, I wish it would be stuck so we can stay here and finish this conversation.
But it gives in without much trouble, killing any hope that I might get to hear her say those words back.
Chapter Twenty-Four
KATHERINE
Because I’m falling for you. I have fallen for you, Katherine Adams, and I don’t think I’d be able to watch you leave.
Why didn’t I say anything back yesterday?
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
The disappointment was evident on his face, but as always, Emmett didn’t push me; instead, we went to our class and continued with our day like nothing had happened.
Only it has.
I have fallen for you.
My whole body shivers as his words ring in my mind. My heart has been beating so hard; it’s a surprise it hasn’t given up on me yet.
I look down and see a squished to-go cup in my hands. I definitely didn’t need more caffeine today, but I was nervous and needed something to occupy my hands.
But seriously, what am I going to do?
I should say it back, right? I mean, I want to, because the truth is, although I tried my hardest to resist him, I’ve been falling for Emmett too. Desperately, head-over-heels in love.
I burrow my head in my hands and sigh.
This is so freaking complicated.
But before I can think too much about it, there is a high-pitched squeal, and then hands wrap around my neck tightly.
I stumble, almost falling face first, but somehow, God only knows how really, I manage to regain my footing.
“Miguel asked me to homecoming!” Becky says breathlessly and jumps down to the ground.
“What?” I chuckle and turn around to face her. That girl seriously needs to slow down before she kills somebody.
Becky sucks in a breath, but there is no hiding her excitement. “Homecoming. Miguel asked me.”
I can feel my eyes bug out. “As his date?” I ask slowly, not wanting to come to the wrong conclusion.
Becky nods her head yes. Her eyes are huge, and there is no stopping the smile that spreads over her lips.
“When?”
“Yesterday!” She loops her arm through mine and pulls me toward the school. “After lunch, he told me he needed to talk to me and to wait for him after the last class because he’d take me home.”
“And?” I prompt, the suspense killing me.
I mean, I could totally see that Becky had a thing for Miguel, but I was never sure what to make of him. I know she can hold her own, have seen it on more than one occasion, but Becky is such a sweet person, and I didn’t want to see her get hurt. And falling for your best friend has heartache written all over it.