Chapter 1
Chapter One
Kinsley
Have you ever wanted to run away from your life and move somewhere where nobody knew you? Not one single person? A place where you could start fresh and reinvent yourself, your life, and your dreams? I’d thought about that since I was a little girl, and finally, I’d done it.
I felt nervous as I boarded the plane to California and took my seat.
I needed to get as far away from Berkshire, Indiana, as possible.
My heart hurt, and I felt broken inside.
Every emotion I could feel, I did. I sighed as I clutched the small white pillow and stared out the window at the runway that would take me away from this miserable place.
I should have done this the minute I turned twenty years old, but I wasn’t financially prepared at the time.
By the time I was, when I was twenty-three, I met Henry, and he gave me a reason to stay.
I should have known better. But this so-called thing everyone likes to say is love kept me from doing what I’ve dreamt of since I was a child.
Eight Hours Earlier
I awoke with a smile on my face, for today was my boyfriend’s birthday.
I took the day off from the greasy diner I worked at so I could plan something special for him.
I’d made reservations at the Alpines, a fancy a la carte steakhouse that we’d talked about going to since the day they opened.
I had these reservations for over a month because that was how far in advance they booked up.
I hopped out of bed, showered, got dressed, and headed to Henry’s favorite bakery to buy him his favorite cherry turnovers and coffee.
He didn’t know I had the day off from work.
I wanted it to be a surprise and to be the best birthday he’d ever had.
I quietly inserted the key into the lock and slowly opened the door to his apartment, tiptoeing to the kitchen, where I set the bag of turnovers and the cups of coffee down on the counter.
I arranged one of the cherry turnovers on a plate and stuck one candle in the middle.
After lighting it, I carefully walked to his bedroom and opened the door.
My heart started racing as I stood there and stared at him with his arms around another woman.
Not just any other woman but my best friend, Krista.
“What the fuck!” I shouted.
Henry jumped out of bed while Krista sat up, holding the sheet, covering her naked body.
“Kinsley, what are you doing here?” he nervously spoke.
“Kinsley, I can explain,” Krista spoke as she held up her hand.
I swallowed hard as tears streamed down my face, and a sick feeling erupted inside me.
“Kinsley.” Henry pulled on a pair of shorts and began to walk toward me.
I had so much to say, scream and shout, but nothing would come out of my mouth. I put my hand up in front of Henry to stop him from coming any closer.
“Don’t,” I managed to speak in a shaky voice.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
“Baby, please. This isn’t what it looks like,” he spoke.
I shook my head in disbelief as he stood there and tried to lie his way out of it.
“This isn’t what it looks like?” I spoke through gritted teeth. “I walk into your bedroom and find you in bed, totally naked and holding my best friend! How long has this been going on?” I shouted as my eyes met Krista’s. “TELL ME!” I screamed.
“Just a couple of times,” she spoke. “I’m so sorry, Kinsley. I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“Yeah, baby. It was only a couple of times. Please believe me,” Henry spoke. “It meant absolutely nothing. I promise.”
“How could the both of you do this to me?” I asked as the tears wouldn’t stop falling. “Henry, how could you?” I slowly shook my head as I stared into his lying eyes.
“Kinsley, I—” he started to speak.
I looked down at the turnover, blew out the candle, and threw the plate at him. He ducked as it smashed against the wall.
“You two are dead to me.” I pointed at both of them. “Do you understand? DEAD!” I turned around and stormed out of the bedroom.
“Kinsley, wait!” Krista yelled as she came after me.
I grabbed my purse from the kitchen, and as I walked to the door, she grabbed hold of my hand to try and stop me.
“Don’t do this. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen,” she begged as she fell to the floor with a tight grip on my hand.
“You sleep with my boyfriend, the man I’d been dating for over a year, and you have the nerve to tell me not to do this!” I shouted. “Well, guess what, Krista? The two of you can have each other, and you can both rot in Hell.”
“Kinsley, baby. You and I need to talk about this like adults,” Henry spoke. “It was a mistake.”
“Adults?” I glared at him. “You’re not a man. You’re a fucking coward and far from ever being an adult. Happy birthday, Henry. I hope you get everything you want, and by the looks of it, you already have.”
I jerked my hand from Krista’s grip, flew out the door, got into my car, and sped away.
I pulled over on the side of the road about five miles from Henry’s apartment.
My hands tightly gripped the steering wheel as my forehead fell onto it.
I felt as if I was having a panic attack.
I couldn’t breathe, and I knew what I needed to do.
I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed Jimmy.
“Hey, Kinsley, what’s up?”
“Do you still want to buy my car?” I asked.
“Yeah. Sure. You’re selling?”
“Yes. I want four thousand cash. Give me a couple of hours, and I’ll drop it off. Is that enough time for you to get the money?”
“Yeah. No problem. I’ll go to the bank now. What’s going on?”
“I just don’t need it anymore.”
“Did something happen?” he asked.
“I’ll see you soon.” I ended the call.
I drove to the bank and closed down my account. Then I drove home, and as soon as I stepped through the front door, I found my mom passed out on the couch. Rolling my eyes, I ran to my bedroom, threw as many of my things as possible in my suitcase, and headed back to the living area.
“Mom?” I lightly shook her.
“Not now, Kinsley,” she moaned.
Shaking my head, I went into the kitchen, grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from the drawer, and wrote her a note.
Mom, I’m leaving. I can’t stay here anymore. This isn’t the life I want. Don’t worry about me, and I really hope you get your shit together someday.”
Kinsley
I placed the note on the coffee table in front of the couch she was passed out on and walked out the front door, pulling my suitcase behind me. As I drove to Jimmy’s shop, I called an Uber to meet me there.
“What’s going on, Kinsley?” Jimmy asked.
“I’m leaving town. I can’t stay here anymore,” I spoke as I took the cash from his hands and handed him the keys to my car.
“What about Henry? Does he know?”
“Henry is fucking Krista, so I’m positive he won’t care.”
“Gee, I’m sorry.” He scratched his head. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“And what about your mom?”
“She’ll be fine. It’ll probably be a couple of days before she notices I’m gone anyway.”
The Uber pulled up and rolled down the passenger side window.
“Are you Kinsley?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
I walked over to my car and took my suitcase from the trunk.
“Thanks, Jimmy.”
“You’re welcome, Kinsley. Good luck, and stay safe.” He hugged me.
“I will.” I gave him a small smile and shoved the money he gave me into my purse.
As I was sitting in the back of the car, my phone was blowing up with calls and text messages from Henry. I rolled down the window and tossed it out in the middle of the highway.
“Lady, why did you do that?” the Uber driver asked.
“I don’t need it anymore. That part of my life is gone.”
He dropped me off at the airport, and I wheeled my suitcase up to the reservations desk.
“How can I help you?” the friendly brunette asked.
“I need a one-way ticket to California. Next flight out if possible.”
“You’re in luck. The next flight leaves in two hours, and there are two seats left.” She smiled.