Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
J
Kelly sashays into the hospital cafeteria, wrapped in Chanel and smelling of expensive perfume.
We were both wearing hospital gowns and messy ponytails for most of the time we spent together, so I almost don’t recognize her.
Kelly spots me, and a wide, excited grin explodes on her face. She throws her arms high, waving both at the same time.
“J!” Kelly makes a mad dash straight across the cafeteria.
As a sea of heads turn to take in her lovely face, I’m once again reminded of my love-hate relationship with Kelly.
She’s so cheerful and pretty and nice, which is why we became friends. But she also has all the things I wish I did—a naturally pretty face, big, bouncy hair, and big boobs.
Plus, she looks so healthy, running like a gazelle in the woods.
I can’t even jog.
Or take the stairs.
The last time I tried, Finn had to scoop me into his arms and carry me to the nurse’s office.
And he was the one who was injured.
“J!” Kelly collides with me and grabs me in a tight hug, pulling me from my thoughts.
I laugh and pat her back. “Hey, Kelly.”
“Hi.” She straightens and beams a pretty-girl grin at me. Her eyes turn into little half-moon slits. If she were a cartoon character, light would be shooting out all around her face. “Oh, my gosh. It feels like forever since I last saw you.”
“Hospital time is different than outside time,” I agree, leading her to a table. “I already got the jello.”
“Dragonfruit flavor.” Kelly pushes out her bottom lip. “How?”
“I have my ways,” I say mysteriously.
Money is very convincing.
And so is my puppy dog face.
“You’re the best.” Kelly pops the cover off her jello. “How have you been?”
Oh me? My life was taken over by a gorgeous psychopath who keeps sending my heart into overdrive every time he touches me which means that every time we’re in the same room, I am always near death.
I don’t even consider telling Kelly the truth. “I’ve been fine. And you?”
As I ask the question, I look her over. Kelly’s face is completely made up with lipstick, blush, and highlighter. It’s only been a few days since she left the hospital, and I doubt her bruises have healed that fast.
It’s fascinating the way she completely put her new face together to mask the ugly scars underneath. She’s good at hiding the darkness she’s living with.
Not that I can judge.
I glance at my watch. To some extent, everyone has an ugly side they want to hide.
“I’ve been okay,” Kelly says quietly.
“How’s Shawn?”
“Shawn is…” Her smile fractures, and she looks into her jello cup. “He’s been extremely busy lately. He’s never at home, which isn’t like him at all.”
It’s hard to muster up any sympathy for that. Shawn shouldn’t be around any woman until he learns to control himself.
However, Kelly doesn’t know that I know the ugly secret about her marriage, so I decide to be a good friend and pat her hand in comfort.
“Look at the bright side. Maybe you can use the time that he’s not around to focus on yourself? You know? Maybe do something you like to do like go to yoga or learn to knit or… talk to a therapist?”
Kelly’s lips tighten, and she takes a bite of her jello. Was I too on the nose suggesting that she go to therapy?
At least I didn’t flat out tell her to go to the police.
As we eat our jello in silence, I hear a song playing from someone’s phone.
“Oh, my gosh.” I roll my eyes.
Kelly looks at me inquiringly. “What?”
“That song has been playing all day. The nurses are walking around listening to it. and while I was waiting for you here”—I tap the table—“I heard it coming from literally every phone that passed by.”
Kelly’s jaw drops and she smacks the table. “No!”
I jump in fright.
“No, you did not. Have you not heard that The Kings dropped a new song last night?”
My eyes widen. What?
I normally get notifications about everything The Kings are doing. Why didn’t I know that?
Kelly scrambles to her feet, drags out the chair directly next to me, and falls into it. She crowds my space, holding her phone out. “You have to see it. As my friend, I cannot have you living under a rock. It’s my civic duty to tell you about The Kings.”
Before I can clear up the misunderstanding, she drags out her earbuds, sticks them into my ears, and presses play.
The song that’s been echoing through the hospital all day fills my ears in crystal clear quality. I’m immediately sucked in as the guitar plays a soulful, yearning riff.
The Kings are known for their fast-paced party songs, but this melody is slow and tender. Dutch’s amazing vocals line the track as he rasps about loving someone.
“Your shadow’s my compass. Your breath is my flame.
I’ll tear through the darkness ‘til I hold you again.”
About halfway through the song, something wet splashes on my hand, and I put a finger to my face in astonishment.
I’m crying.
Kelly puts her hand on top of mine. I guess it’s her turn to comfort me.
“I heard their wives were kidnapped,” Kelly explains, pausing the music. “Everyone has been sharing the song. There are videos with people holding candles and putting up missing poster signs. They’re organizing search parties for whenever The Kings have a location. It’s going mega viral.”
Sniffing, I try to play the rest of the song, but Kelly’s phone lights up with an unknown number.
“Here, Kelly.” I hand the phone over to her.
“Thanks.” She scrunches her nose when she sees the screen. “Just a sec, J. You have to finish the song. The last few lines are a total gut-punch.”
Kelly puts the phone to her ear and in a very professional voice says, “Hi, this is Kelly.” The happiness in her eyes drains away, and she grips the phone tightly. “W-what?”
My eyebrows hike, and I tune into her side of the conversation.
“No, there must be some mistake.” Kelly’s voice climbs in volume. “My husband hasn’t been home for a few days, but he would have told me if—” Her throat bobs nervously. “Let me talk to Shawn first. I want to hear it from his mouth.”
The moment Kelly hangs up, I lean forward. “Who was that?”
“A lawyer. He told me Shawn filed for divorce.” Kelly calls her husband, but he doesn’t pick up because she suddenly throws her phone on the table. It bounces a few times, cartwheeling into my jello cup.
“Kelly.” I gasp.
She hides her face in her hands, weeping loudly. People at the nearby tables turn to look at us.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. Kelly seems heartbroken, and while I totally respect that she’s upset, I also feel like this is the best thing to happen to her. Now, she can get away from that creep and find a guy who’ll treat her nicely.
“I can’t believe this.” Tears roll down her face, and I scramble to grab her a napkin.
“Here,” I whisper.
Kelly takes the napkin, but she doesn’t use it.
I try to be helpful. “You should hire a lawyer, Kelly. Make sure that no matter what happens, you protect yourself.”
“There’s nothing to protect,” she snaps. “We have a prenup. I’m not getting a penny if we divorce.”
Her words make me wince. That’s so unfair. Shawn put Kelly in the hospital, and he’s not getting any legal consequences for that? Now, he can toss her out without giving her a penny?
I open my mouth, ready to tell Kelly that I’ll dig up all the dirt on Shawn and make sure she can get something out of this divorce.
Instead, she takes both my hands and gives me a wild, wide-eyed stare. “J, I’m going to tell you something, but you have to swear you’re not going to tell anybody.”
I blink unsteadily.
Kelly leans closer and hisses, “Someone’s been threatening Shawn.”
“W-what?” I squeak.
“She calls herself ‘Jinx’ and she had this app that was all about exposing The Kings. I don’t know why someone like that is after me and my husband, but I think that witch is the reason Shawn’s divorcing me.”
“K-Kelly…”
Kelly pushes her chair back, and the legs scrape the floor loudly as she storms to her feet. “I have to fix this. I have to find Shawn and tell him not to let that disgusting keyboard psychopath control him.”
I rise too, my eyes wide and my thoughts racing. Is Kelly really going to fight to stay married to the man who hurt her?
And how did I suddenly become the villain?
But it’s too late.
Before I can fully grasp the situation, my only friend in the entire world storms off.