Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Only, this time it’s me.
This day has no chill whatsoever.
I get home to find Kayla waiting for me—the cyanide icing on this awful day.
I just wanted a quick stop to grab a few things before I return to Delly’s place to pick up Arlo.
She’s sitting on the stairs by the door, her coat hunched around her shoulders, looking like a demented flamingo. She must like the way the fluffy pink draws eyes to her waist.
“Lemmy, where have you been? I’ve been waiting forever.”
I don’t take her hand. “You never said you were stopping by.”
“Um, did I need to? What’s with the attitude?” Her bottom lip juts out in a pout that’s worked miracles a thousand times before. It’s definitely worked me over, before I figured out how to grow a backbone. “I heard about Arlo and I wanted to drop by and give my condolences.”
“He’s still alive, Kay.”
“Oh, wow. Of course he is. Yay?” She gives me a pained smile.
Someone needs to strangle this girl.
Also, it’s a weird coincidence to find her here after that toxic meeting with my parents. But this time I don’t spiral.
I don’t let myself believe I was cursed in a past life and the universe is really out to get me. I can learn.
“Did you tell my mother about Arlo? Did you ask her to come out?” I ask point-blank.
Her eyelashes flutter at the hardness in my tone.
I know they still talk once in a blue moon. My parents practically worshipped the Persephones and hoped that just being around Kay would make me richer.
And although I know I summoned my mom in the panic over Arlo, I never put her up to coming back to Kansas City. With Kay showing up unannounced, I’m suspicious Mom had encouragement.
“Nope,” she says, but she hesitates a beat. “I told my mom, of course, but you know how it is… She might have told your mom, but as for me, I—”
“Spare me the excuses.”
Surprise flashes on her face, mingled with something else.
Hurt?
I’m not sorry.
We’ve been quasi-friends long enough for me to say something like that without her acting like I just shot her.
Even for this unexpected visit, she’s perfectly made up, like the dolls I used to play with as a kid.
Always perfect. Always presentable. Always the same selfish brat.
“What do you want, anyway? I need to get back to Arlo soon.”
“Oh, right. But did you meet your parents? I heard they were in town,” she says, following me up the stairs. “I hope it went okay.”
“I didn’t tell them I was filing a restraining order, so I guess that’s a plus. They have one chance to start behaving themselves. We’ll see where we go from there.”
“Holy crap. Pretty hardass for you, Lemmy.” What gives? That’s what she really means. Surprise colors her voice. “I thought they might hit you up to go back to California.”
“They did.”
“Oh. And you said no?”
I turn around and face her, huffing a breath.
“Why, you’re trying to get rid of me?” I ask dryly, staring at the water stain on the wall and hoping she notices too. Any hint of mold will send her into a hypochondriac fit. “Or are you just wondering where Patton went?”
“I mean… I stopped by his office today in Lee’s Summit. He’s been out for a while, according to his secretary, and I wondered—”
“If I know where he is,” I finish.
Her eyes widen at whatever the look is on my face. Hopefully bitter rage because that’s what’s burning through my chest.
How dare she.
How dare she show up and pull this crap, now of all times.
“You decided you’d ambush me while I’m at my most vulnerable. Be honest,” I bite off.
“What? No, I—” She flinches back.
“Kayla, you could have visited anytime this past week after Arlo was poisoned. You could have called. But you chose the exact second when you couldn’t find Patton Rory. So you came sailing over here, pretending to be worried, all so I could bail out your latest boy toy quest. I’m not stupid. You’re in luck, I guess, because I have news for you.” I walk down a step and she stumbles back a few steps. “Here’s the thing, Kayla. He’s not going to date you.”
“What? What the hell is wrong with you?” Twin red suns flare on her cheeks. “Don’t talk to me like that! You don’t know him. Guys like Patton always come around.”
“Do they?” I laugh harshly. “Because I’ve figured out Patton Rory’s type—me.”
The red heat on her face melts into whiteness under her bronze skin. She grips the banister, not seeming to notice the metal is flecked with rust and grime from years of neglect.
“Y-you? What do you mean? Lemmy, you’re talking crazy.” She shakes her head. “Are you sure this Arlo situation hasn’t gone to your head?”
“No, Kay. Patton Rory is Arlo’s father.”