Chapter 41
forty-one
. . .
Felix
This guy really has everyone fooled into thinking he is some paragon of virtue. It makes me sick. A part of me really wants to leak the video of what he really does in his private time—sorry, did. But I can’t humiliate Eden.
Up on the screen, Kyle is at his high school graduation. Stupid smile on his stupid face. I fucking hated my graduation.
I pick at my small plate of food that the church is serving for the occasion. I guess you get special treatment here when you donate large sums of money every year. Mum got a “May the spirits be with you,” and we were ushered out the door.
How long do we have to be here? What is the appropriate length of time to spend at a funeral for a fucking piece of shit?
My eyes search for Eden, looking for a glimpse of her dark hair and the cute black dress I picked for the funeral.
I smile when I find her standing near the stained glass window talking to a woman I don’t recognize.
The bright sun shines through the multi-colored glass and bathes her in an angelic hue.
“I don’t know how you did it, but you have her completely convinced that you’re this sweet and loving guy.”
I roll my eyes, then turn to face Kris with a despondent look on my face.
“That’s because I am a sweet and loving guy. What makes you say otherwise?”
Kris narrows her eyes as she crosses her arms. Her eyes are red from crying, but hard as ever when she glares at me.
“It’s just the two of us. You can drop the act. I know you hated my brother,” she says, and I shake my head.
“Look, I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I didn’t hate Kyle,” I say honestly.
She snorts. “Such a good liar.”
“I’m not sure what I’ve done to upset you, Kris, but I assure you that I love Eden and have no intentions of hurting her.” I cross my arms and mimic her pose. “But that does lead me to the question of why you’re so upset that your friend is happy? Maybe it’s you she needs to look out for.”
She takes a small step forward, anger burning in her eyes.
“I know it was you.”
“What was me?”
“You killed my brother.”
I chuckle. “Is that so? What proof do you have? Because that is quite the leap even for you, Kris.”
“I don’t have any…yet, but you also didn’t deny it,” she growls under her breath.
“That’s because I don’t need to defend myself to you or anyone else,” I drawl.
“How have you fooled everyone but me? I see through you. And I will find proof that you were involved with Kyle’s death, and when I do…you’ll be locked up with that degenerate father of yours.”
I smirk and lean a little closer.
“I’m truly sorry you’re hurting and need someone to blame. I’m sure that losing your brother, your twin, is a loss I’ll never understand. Especially so tragically and to such senseless violence, but…”
My voice lowers with a threatening edge.
“If you continue down this path, trying to discredit me with your absurd lies, or come between me and Eden…well, let’s just say it will be devastating for Eden to lose another friend.”
I’m close enough to see the goosebumps rise on her skin.
“Maybe that friend is so distraught that she takes her own life. Or worse, her friend’s father is unstable.
Pushed over the edge by his grief, he commits the unthinkable.
Murder-suicide…the whole family gone because he just can’t cope.
God…it’s just too much for someone to bear.
Eden’s already hurting, but then again, I’ll be there to comfort her during such a difficult time.
Your favorite color is purple, isn’t it?
We’d be sure to have purple flowers for your celebration. ”
I lean back and let her see the full weight of my wrath and what I can do, burning in my eyes.
Kris stands frozen to the spot, her throat working, and pulse pounding hard. She blinks like a bunny caught in a snare.
“You don’t want that to happen, now do you, Kris? You don’t want your big mouth and bad attitude to cause anymore pain, right?”
“You really are insane,” Kris whispers, her body trembling.
“That’s a very unfriendly label, Kris. One that causes great offense.” I pop a grape into my mouth. “You may want to start using words like protective, efficient, dedicated.”
“There you are…what’s going on,” Eden asks, walking up to us.
I wrap my arm around her waist while Kris watches Eden snuggle up to my chest.
“I was just telling Kris how sorry I am for her loss. It’s an incredibly sad day. No one deserves to die like that,” I say, tightening my hand on Eden’s hip. “Life is so short, and we can go at any time.”
Kris is silent, staring at me like I’ll pull a meat cleaver and dice her up right here. Not a bad idea if she continues to be a pain in my ass, but I won’t do it here. That’s just dumb.
“We’ve decided to call a truce and move forward without all the tension,” I say, smiling down at Eden. “We both love you and don’t want you to be caught in the middle any longer.”
“Really?”
Eden’s tone clearly says she doesn’t believe this newfound olive branch as her eyes bounce between us. The look makes me wonder what other poison Kris has been dripping into her ears.
“Yeah, really, what Felix said,” Kris says, smiling, but it’s clearly forced. “He’s been good to you and I’ve been very judgemental.”
“Thank you. I love you so much,” Eden says, stepping away and pulling Kris in for a hug.
Kris’s stare remains locked on me.
I wink, and her face pales like she’s going to be sick.
“I better go talk to Mum about what she wants done with all these leftovers,” Kris says, stepping back.
“Do you want us to help,” I ask, enjoying the spark of fear in her eyes.
“No,” she blurts and then stops and clears her throat. “I think it’s best if it’s just me and my parents right now. You know, family.”
Eden’s face falls like she’s been slapped. Good job, Kris, keep pushing her further away. I won’t complain.
“Oh…but it’s really no bother.”
“It’s fine, Eden, thanks for coming. I’m just…I need to be alone with my parents is all.”
Eden opens her mouth, but Kris walks away. A perplexed look crosses her face, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders.
I give Eden a sad little smile and shrug. “I tried. I don’t know what more I can do.”
“It’s not you,” Eden says, slipping her arm around my waist.
“Guess we should get going.”
“Yeah.” The word sounds so dejected. I’d feel bad, except for the fact that Eden needs to keep her distance from Kris.
Tucking Eden into my side, we walk toward the door. She keeps looking back like she expects Kris to come chasing after us. That won’t be happening anytime soon. If she dares to badmouth me again…well, she’ll get to see her brother sooner rather than later.
It’s a shame, but that’s what happens when you can’t leave well enough alone.
eden
That’s strange.
Kris being distant makes sense. She hates Felix no matter what I say. She’s even gone so far as to blame him for Kyle’s death, which is ridiculous. She claims Felix is dangerous, then she decides to make nice, but leaves when I offer to help like she can’t get away fast enough.
It doesn’t add up.
Felix taps his finger on the steering wheel to the song on the radio like this is just another day.
“Are you sure that’s all Kris said to you?”
He glances at me and then back to the road. “Yeah…although I found it strange, I don’t want to be her enemy so I agreed to get along…why, did she say something to you?”
“She’s just been acting so weird. She practically ran from me just now.”
He shrugs.
“I hate to say this, today of all days, but your friend is a little dramatic. She’s never even given me a chance. Then again, she may just be upset about her brother and not coping. I don’t know her well enough to help. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah…maybe,” I say, but I don’t believe it.
My mind doesn’t want to shut up, and by the time we get back to the loft I’ve gone through a million possibilities. It only gets worse when I text her, and she doesn’t respond.
Even after we’ve gone to bed and Felix is sound asleep, I can’t relax as I stare at the ceiling.
Kris and Kyle never trusted Felix, but why? Yes, he can be a little overstepping, but not in a mean or malicious way. That’s not enough to act like someone is evil or dangerous. Kris all but accosted me after the funeral in the women’s bathroom.
“Eden, that guy is a psychopath and every second you stay with him you’re putting yourself in danger,” Kris whispers as she follows me into the bathroom.
She checks under the stall doors, then hits me with a harsh stare.
“Kris, what are you talking about?”
“He did this to my brother,” she says, shocking me with such a wild accusation. My mouth falls open.
She looks over her shoulder like Felix might walk in and kill her right now.
“And I’m telling you right now, I will find out what really happened to my brother. Felix is at the heart of it, I swear.”
“You genuinely think that Felix murdered Kyle?”
“Yes, I do. Either he did it, or he had someone else do it.”
“You’re out of your mind,” I whisper, anger filling me. “Why? What motive does he possibly have to do that?”
“Because he’s never liked Kyle or me.” She sniffs and blinks back tears. “But also because Kyle loved you and Felix clearly can’t handle another guy being near you. It’s as clear as day.”
She puts her hands on her hips, and it’s then that I realize she’s serious. This isn’t just one of her conspiracy theories. She believes wholeheartedly that Felix is a murderer just like his father.
“Do you hear yourself? You’re accusing my boyfriend, who has been nothing but amazing, of randomly killing one of my best friends simply because he’s a guy.” I cross my arms. “That’s crazy.”
Why is she doing this to me? Does she not want to see me happy? Is Felix right about that?
“Because he is crazy,” Kris hisses through her teeth. “Okay fine…what were you two doing the night Kyle was killed?” Her expression is angrier than I’ve ever seen.
“Felix gave me an incredible surprise, and we ate dinner on the roof. He is very romantic.”
“All night?”
“Yes,” I bite back, but stop when I remember I’m missing a chunk of time.
I was asleep, but still. Could Felix sneak out and do something like this?
No. Stop. This is exactly what Felix meant when he said that every time I’m with Kris I come away questioning him and his motives.
I point at Kris.
“Come to me with proof if you’re going to make disgusting accusations like this, or don’t bother talking to me again.
You’re my best friend, but this…whatever this is, has gone too far.
I can’t believe you’d do this today of all days.
We’re at Kyle’s funeral, and all you can think about is how to split up me and Felix.
” I back away. “I don’t get you, Kris. I really don’t. ”
“Eden?” I stop with my hand on the bathroom door. “If he did this, I will find out. And…I’ll never forgive you for bringing that lunatic into our lives.”
Shaking my head, I yank open the door and walk out.
Blinking the memory away, I slowly turn on my side and wrap my arm around Felix’s waist. He pulls me closer. Even in sleep, he is gentle and protective.
I just can’t see him doing what Kris is saying, but…could he? It’s odd that Kris suddenly decided to let bygones be bygones after what she said to me in the bathroom. Has he threatened her? I know he did something to that guy in the diner.
Ugh. I close my eyes, hating that I once more let Kris put doubts in my head. The one thing I swore not to let her do again.