Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
kennedy
“I hate traffic.”
“I hate when people interrupt me while I’m singing the best verse in ‘Take Me or Leave Me,’” I reply. “Yet here we are.”
“In my defense, that was the third time you’d sung it, and despite how hard you try, you will never compare to Idina Menzel,” Maya complains. “Sue me for needing a little variety in my life.”
“Hence why we’re listening to an audiobook now.” Since we’re in standstill traffic on our way into New York City, I take my eyes off the road long enough to shoot an indignant glare Maya’s way. “You’re welcome.”
She shoves her hand into the near-empty bag of sour worms and pulls out a half-purple, half-blue one. She wiggles it in front of my face. “Want it? I bet sugar would cheer you up.”
“I’m not in a bad mood,” I say for the third time in the past hour. “And yes, obviously, I do.”
I snatch it from her hand and happily munch on the sour candy until the sweetness hiding under it hits me. All best friend pairs should consist of one person who likes the blue-purple gummy worms and another who likes yellow-orange ones. It makes road trips much more bearable.
When Cameron invited me to the New York game, I let myself get excited. Actually excited—the kind where my stomach flipped and I had to bite back a smile while responding to his text. For about three whole minutes, I let myself believe he invited me because he wanted me there.
And maybe he does on some level, but the sharp and sober reality is that this is part of the plan.
It’s always been part of the plan.
Big away games within driving distance where it makes sense for the “girlfriend” to attend. Games Gigi is definitely attending, where we need to sell this thing we’re doing. Where my presence serves a purpose beyond just… being wanted.
The confirmation came when he found out Maya was going and texted me: Perfect. You two can drive together.
I stared at that message longer than I should have, trying to untangle the disappointment knotting in my chest. This is what I signed up for… right?
“You’re definitely in a bad mood,” Maya repeats, popping a yellow gummy into her mouth. “I can see it in your face.”
“This is my natural face when I’m concentrating on not rear-ending the car in front of us.”
“We haven’t moved in seven minutes.”
I tap my fingers against the steering wheel. “Stop talking and listen to the audiobook. I think the detective is about to solve the murder.”
“The butler did it.”
Whipping her way, I gasp. “Maya!”
“What? It’s always the butler.” She grins, victorious, with another gummy worm pinched between her fingers.
I can’t help but let out a huff. The traffic inches forward, and I press the gas just enough to move three feet before stopping again.
“Is it Gigi?” Maya asks in a neutral tone.
My chest tightens at that name. “Maya—”
“What did she say to you?” she pushes. “And don’t tell me nothing. I know she cornered you at practice last week. I’ve been waiting for you to tell me. We’ll discuss why you didn’t at another time. But Cole said he had to switch into Captain mode to stop Cameron from storming over there.”
“Fucking tattletale,” I mumble.
“He cares, Kenn,” Maya says a little defensively. “That’s not tattling.”
Sighing, I force my grip to relax, flexing my fingers. “I know, I know. Sorry. I don’t mean to snap at you. It was nothing. She just tried to get in my head, and she’ll be at this game, so I’m a little rattled. I’d rather not have to interact with her again… ever.”
“What did she say?” Her neutral tone is gone, switching to full protective bestie mode.
“The usual bullshit.”
My best friend’s jaw tightens. “What else?”
I look back at the road and sigh. “What do you mean what else?”
“Kennedy, don’t play dumb with me.” In my periphery, she pins me with that look that indicates she knows damn well I’m holding back.
I focus very intently on the car in front of us. “It doesn’t matter. I know she’s trying to fuck with me.”
Of course Cameron freaked out over the jersey. Linden was the guy who blew up their perfectly happy relationship.
Of course this isn’t going to last. I don’t understand the spotlight or the pressure he’s under.
Of course I’m just a convenience to him—the one he’ll fuck, not the one he’ll fight for.
I have no idea how Cameron dealt with that kind of mental warfare for two years. I can hold my own, but her tone, the way she said it, made it all seem so… obvious. Inevitable, even. Like the conclusion was foregone and I was the only one too na?ve to see it.
Her words spiral through my mind on repeat, each one landing like a paper cut.
One that doesn’t bleed but stings like a bitch.
Joke’s on her, though, because the reason our relationship won’t last has nothing to do with anything she listed.
Because despite how it sometimes feels, it’s not actually real.
“Damn straight,” Maya says with a succinct nod. “You have a boyfriend who’s crazy about you, Kenn, so ignore her.”
“Right,” I say, maybe a beat too late.
If she notices the slight edge in my voice, she doesn’t call me on it. Instead, she squeezes my hand. “Gigi’s just threatened because she sees what you two have.”
“I know,” I say, injecting faux brightness into my tone. “I’m being ridiculous. She’s his ex for a reason.”
“Exactly.” She settles back, satisfied. “Do you—”
My phone rings, cutting her off.
She eyes the name on the screen and lifts a brow. “You didn’t tell Amelia you’d be in the city, did you?”
“She’s out of town this weekend.” I roll my eyes and hit the accept button on my steering wheel. “Hey. What’s up?”
Not one to waste time, my sister jumps right in. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be in New York this weekend?”
I whip my head over my shoulder and scan the gridlocked vehicles around us. How the fuck would she know that? What’re the odds she’s in a car behind me?
“I have your location. I can see you’re in Scarsdale, Kennedy,” she says as if I asked the question aloud.
Her sigh is loud through the car’s audio system.
“And unless you have a friend I don’t know about who lives in Upstate New York, you’re heading to the city, and for some reason, you didn’t feel the need to tell me. ”
“You’re at a wedding this weekend,” I defend. “I didn’t think you’d be in town.”
Amelia lives in Manhattan, while Frankie moved to San Francisco a few years back.
We’re all busy, so finding time to catch up is a challenge.
That’s how the idea of a shared calendar came about.
I update and check it about as regularly as I remember to floss…
which, much to my dentist’s annoyance, isn’t very often.
But I do remember that my brother-in-law’s friend is getting married in Miami this weekend.
“If you’d looked at the shared calendar anytime in the past few weeks, you’d know it was canceled.”
There’s a subtle dig there, but I’m too focused on the juicy gossip to care. “Oh my God, what happened? Did one of them lead a secret double life? Get caught in a Ponzi scheme? His fiancé had shifty eyes, so I wouldn’t be—”
“You get no details until you tell me what you’re doing here.”
My shoulders drop. Ugh. I hate when Amelia puts her mom voice on. It means there’s no arguing my way into getting gossip before I share my information.
“I’m with Maya,” I tell her. “We’re on our way to the Titans-Bobcats game.”
“Hey, Maya,” she says, correctly assuming she’s on speaker phone.
“Hey, Amelia,” Maya says through a mouthful of the trail mix she’s now munching on. “How are you?”
“Good, but I’d be even if my sister had told me she was coming to Manhattan,” she answers without missing a beat. “And you’re an accomplice, so I’m pissed at you, too, by the way.”
“Oh my God,” I groan. “Let it go. I’m sorry. I thought you’d be out of town, so I didn’t think to text. This wasn’t some grand scheme to purposely avoid seeing you. Do you want to come to the game with us? I’m sure Cole can get extra tickets.”
Or Cameron, but I don’t mention that.
“We’re taking Hope to see The Lion King,” she reveals.
I gasp.
Maya glares at me. “You’re not missing the game to see The Lion King, Kennedy. Absolutely not.”
She knows damn well that yes, I absolutely would.
“This will be the first time Hope sees it,” I point out. “That’s a monumental occasion.”
She tosses an almond from the trail mix at me. “You don’t even like The Lion King, and Cameron would be pissed if you no-showed the game.”
The car is silent for a second. Then—
“Who’s Cameron?”
“Kennedy’s boyfriend.”
Oh, fuck me.
The betrayal that hits me is sudden and intense.
Keeping one hand on the wheel, I smack Maya’s arm. Normally, I wouldn’t care if my sister knew I was seeing someone, but Cameron isn’t a long-term thing, so there’s no need for her to know about him, let alone meet him.
Not that I can admit that.
“I’m sorry, did you just say Kennedy’s boyfriend?” Amelia inquires, her voice rising in pitch. “As in a man she’s dating?”
“As opposed to what? A man I’m keeping around to sacrifice in hopes of maintaining my eternal youth?” I huff. “Yes, the man I’m dating, Amelia.”
“Excuse me for sounding surprised when you’ve literally never mentioned a man in your life,” she snaps. “The five of us will do brunch tomorrow so we can meet him.”
Dread washes over me, mixing with the lingering irritation reserved for the woman in the seat next to me. “What if I have plans?” I argue.
I don’t, but I don’t appreciate being backed into a corner.
“You don’t,” Amelia deadpans. “I checked the shared calendar.”
“The one I don’t update?”
Amelia grumbles, but I can’t make out the words. “Maya, does Kennedy have plans tomorrow?”
My best friend grins. “Nope.”
“Great, I’ll make a reservation and text you the details. Do you and Cole want to join us?”
“We can’t.” Maya’s cheeks flush adorably. “Cole, um, planned this bookstore scavenger hunt date for us.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” my sister says.