Chapter 15 Kaylor
KAYLOR
Kreed pulled his SUV up to Kenny’s house. I had no idea if she was home, and since I didn’t have my phone, I hadn’t called or texted. This was a reunion best done in person. I needed to see her with my own eyes, needed to know she was okay.
Coming back to this block always did strange things to the rhythm of my heart.
The house next door, my old house, used to smell like fresh-baked cookies and lemon furniture oil.
I could still conjure each room with perfect detail.
I could hear my mom laughing at something my dad had said while she kneaded dough on the counter in front of the kitchen window.
We’d painted the fence together that summer I turned thirteen.
I’d grown up here in all phases of my life, and by my side had been Kenny and Carson.
Kenny and I had shared dog-eared fashion books on my porch swing, the chains squeaking with each lazy push of our feet.
Carson and I argued over who deserved the bigger slice of cake at barbecues where the adults got too drunk and the kids ran wild until the fireflies came out.
The three of us had hidden from summer thunderstorms under the same patchwork quilt her grandmother had made, telling ghost stories while rain drummed the roof and lightning split the sky.
Those memories felt like another life entirely, stitched into the peeling paint and the worn porch steps of the house that wasn’t mine anymore and never would be again.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Kreed asked, breaking my trance. The engine idled while cold air pressed against the glass.
I blinked, pulling myself out of the reverie. “You don’t have to worry about me,” I assured, doing my best to convince us both it was true.
He turned in his seat, the corners of his mouth gone completely serious.
The afternoon light caught the stud in the side of his nose.
“I think we both know that’s not true. I’ve done nothing but stress since you walked into my life.
But I’m not blaming you. None of this is on you. It’s not your fault.”
I glanced at the police car stationed outside Kenny’s house. “Maybe not directly. But because of me, Kenny got taken. What if she blames me? What if she can’t look at me without seeing the reason she was terrified?”
“You sacrificed yourself for her. I don’t know anyone who would doubt how much you love your friends.”
I wanted him to be right with a vulnerable desperation. I needed him to be right, because if Kenny couldn’t forgive me, I wasn’t sure I could forgive myself. “I hope you’re right,” I said softly, the words fogging between us.
“When am I ever wrong, little raven?” He flashed that crooked grin, and my heart flipped.
I snorted before steeling myself and opening my door to step out into the cool late afternoon.
Elmwood was in the weird in-between state of winter transitioning into spring.
The snow had nearly melted, leaving the earth damp.
Wet icicles hung from the tree branches, dripping onto the ground.
I loved this time of year with the promise of new beginnings.
Hopefully, that was what this next chapter of my life would bring, and I wanted Kenny to be a part of it, whatever it looked like.
We walked the path to Kenny’s front door shoulder to shoulder, our shoes crunching on rock salt someone had scattered after the last snowfall.
The porch light blinked on automatically as we approached, a welcome sign or a warning, depending on your perspective.
My hand hovered over the doorbell for a heartbeat, two, three, then finally pressed it.
The electronic chime went off, coming through faintly from the other side of the door.
Before the third chime had finished ringing, Kenny stood in the open doorway wearing black leggings and an oversized baby-pink sweater, her honey-brown hair pulled into a messy half-ponytail with wisps escaping around her face.
Her brown eyes went impossibly wide, then immediately flooded with tears, spilling over her lashes and tracking down her cheeks.
She lunged forward without saying a word, throwing herself at me. Her arms wrapped around my neck and squeezed. “You’re—you’re here.” Her entire body shook against mine as she pressed her face into my shoulder. “How?” she whispered. “How are you here? How did you get away?”
“It’s a long story,” I managed, tears burning behind my own eyes and threatening to spill over. “One that I feel like I owe you. Can we come in?”
Sniffing, she pulled away but took my hands in hers. “As if you’ve ever had to ask to come inside. I don’t know why you even rang the bell. You never have before.”
“I didn’t want to scare you…and I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me,” I admitted, studying her face for a reaction.
“Are you kidding? I was freaking the fuck out when I saw you that”—she swallowed thickly—“that night.”
“I know.” Neither of us was ready to dive into the details of that night.
She pulled me over the threshold. Kreed followed behind us, closing the door with a soft click. Kenny drew me down onto her couch as Kreed claimed the armchair opposite us.
“You’re okay? They didn’t—” I couldn’t seem to finish the sentence.
She shook her head quickly. “I’m fine. Really. You saved me before anything...before they could...”
My guilt swelled. “God, Kenny… I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “This is my fault. All of it.”
“Don’t,” she said, squeezing my fingers. Her eyes flashed wet and bright.” Don’t you dare apologize for what that monster did. Carson told me you’ve been blaming yourself, but I don’t blame you. Not even a little bit.”
My throat burned. “How could you not? Rusty targeted you specifically because of me.”
Kenny’s lips pressed together. “He fooled all of us. How could you have any idea what he was doing? If anyone is to blame, it’s him. Not each other.”
A breath shuddered out of me. “You’re right. I know you are, but I can’t help but feel responsible.”
Her eyes softened. “I still can’t believe what you did, giving yourself up. Do you have any idea how incredibly brave you are? I don’t think I would have been able to.”
“You’d be amazed at what you’re willing to do when you’re put into a crisis.”
She studied me for a beat, then tilted her head. “So… how did you get out?” Her voice dipped. “Because I seriously doubt Rusty just let you walk away out of the goodness of his black heart.”
My gaze slid instinctively to Kreed. The moment my eyes met his, something passed between us, a bond I didn’t share with another soul. “Kreed found me,” I said simply.
Kenny’s lips curved, just barely. “I’m not surprised.”
Kreed cleared his throat, the first real sound he’d made since we’d entered the house.
“You told me he would find you that night, but I didn’t fully believe you then,” she admitted. “Clearly, I was wrong. I’m so fucking glad I was wrong.”
Me too.
“You need to talk to the police,” she advised.
“I will.” It was a lie. I had no intention of going to the police.
Not yet. Not until Rusty was dead. I didn’t want him locked up where I might have to worry about him making parole or there not being enough evidence to put him away.
He deserved a much more permanent punishment like the one he gave my parents.
“Have you seen Carson?” I asked, quickly changing the topic.
She nodded. “He told me what he did.”
I swallowed, daring a look at Kreed. He hadn’t moved a muscle, yet despite his relaxed position, he tensed, and I knew he was listening to every word.
Fuck. This wasn’t going to go well.
“He knows he screwed up, and he feels horrible,” Kenny continued, defending the guy she still loved regardless of his actions. “He didn’t know. How could he? None of us had any idea. I mean, he was your dad’s best friend.”
“Yeah, he was. And Carson was mine. He should have trusted me.”
He should have,” she agreed. “But we do stupid things for the people we love. He thought he was protecting you.”
I couldn’t argue with her reasoning, not after the choices I’d made and the fallout I’d been willing to pay to protect her. How could I? But it didn’t make Carson’s betrayal sting any less.
“From me?” Kreed interjected, speaking for the first time since we entered Kenny’s house.
Confusion swirled in Kenny’s eyes as she glanced from Kreed back to me. “You didn’t tell him?”
Here we go. Shit was about to get complicated. Heat crawled up my neck and into my cheeks. “I haven’t had the chance, and I wanted to see you.”
“Kaylor,” Kreed rumbled, my name carrying a warning.
“Don’t get all alpha male on me,” I huffed. “I was going to tell you…probably.”
“Tell me now, little raven,” he said, his voice dropping into a register that meant he was dead serious. “Unless you want me to pay Carson an unannounced visit.”
I shot him a pointed look. “Keep your ass planted in that seat, Corvo.”
“I’m waiting,” he said, impatience shining in his gray eyes.
I considered stalling, spinning some elaborate excuse, but the truth has a way of coming out. “Promise me you won’t make him bleed,” I said, holding his gaze. “Promise me you’ll let me handle this my way. Enough people have been hurt.”
“This isn’t starting well, little raven.” His jaw went tight, but he finally said, “I’ll consider it.” And I knew that was the best I was going to get from him.
Kenny wanted to come with me, but I told her this was something I needed to do alone.
I didn’t want her mixed up with Carson and my drama.
It wouldn’t be fair to her, especially with how she felt about Carson.
I had enough to worry about with Kreed flipping out.
I just prayed there wouldn’t be any more outbursts of confessed love. God only knew how Kreed would react.