Kenna dropped her elbows onto the table, leaning forward. “Look, you might not understand, but beforeyou,Irelied on them. He wouldn’t have thought twice about letting me sleep in his room. None of them would have.”
Grayson cleared his throat. “Yeah, prior to you growing boobs.”
She shot daggers at Grayson. “Not funny.”
“Let’s just make this clear right now, because I don’t want to play games. Not with you. Not with anyone. You have a thing for my boyfriend,” I bit out, unable to contain the harshness in my tone.
“Jesus,” Grayson cursed. “You just had to come home and complicate everything, didn’t you?”
“You want me to leave again, is that it?” Kenna barked back, waving her fork in the air. “That way you can go back to pretending I don’t exist and Josie can be your perfect sister.”
“I’m far from perfect,” I mumbled, not sure my two cents mattered. “I’m actually probably the most fucked-up person at this table.”
Kenna zeroed her hostile eyes to me. “It doesn’t seem like it from where I’m sitting.”
“You wouldn’t think that if you had been here a month ago,” I stated, the spread of food in front of me no longer appetizing. “And believe me when I tell you, I’m not trying to take anything from you. Not your family. Not your brother. Not your friends. I just really wanted a sister.”
Kenna gave me a sour grin. “Sorry, I disappointed you.”
I snorted. “Are you though? Sorry?”
Liana strolled in, halting the spat. “Morning,” she greeted, a little breathy, and moved to the coffeepot. Her long chestnut hair was pulled into a ponytail, a sweatband encircled around her head. She had on her workout leggings and a thin zip-up hoodie. “Did everyone sleep well?”
Grayson choked on his juice.
Brock cleared his throat, shifting his legs under the table, avoiding Liana’s gaze.
Kenna scowled, stabbing her fork onto her plate.
And I reached for my coffee.
Palpable awkwardness hovered in the air. Liana glanced at us from over the brim of her mug. “Dumb question. I’m sure it was a troubling night for all of you,” she said, misinterpreting the quiet lingering at the table. She leaned back against the counter. “I didn’t sleep either. I just can’t believe Carter isn’t in jail. This has to stop.” It was weird to hear an adult want the same thing we did. It felt as if this whole time the adults were against us, but not in this household. Not when their daughter had been terrorized by him.
I hadn’t told Liana or Chandler about the things Carter had done to me, and as far as I knew, neither had Grayson. If they knew, what would they do?
“You don’t need to worry about him right now,” Grayson said, lines of concern etching over his forehead.
Despite the sigh that left her, I could see the worry grinding down on her. “Well, as stressful as this is, I’m relieved that none of you were seriously hurt.”
“Have you heard anything about Mads this morning?” I asked, carefully changing the subject. I couldn’t stand to see the tension in her face. Grayson gave me a look of appreciation. He didn’t want to upset our mom.
Liana nodded. “They released her last night. It was a mild panic attack. Thank God it was nothing more serious. That reminds me. Kenna, do you think it is a good idea for you to go out after what happened? Why don’t you stay home today? Have Maddy come over. You guys can watch movies, and I can have Elise make some snacks. Just like the old days. It will be fun.” I had to give her credit for trying to make it sound enticing.
“Mom,” Kenna groaned, rolling her eyes. “You can’t keep me locked up after every bad thing that happens. Life is messy. I need to learn to cope with these situations, therapist’s advice. You know, the one you spent thousands of dollars for me to see.”
“Yes, Kenna. I know,” Liana replied dryly. “I just thought it would be nice for you, Maddy, and Josie to spend some time together.”
“We are,” Kenna insisted. “Josie is coming with us.” And yet she sounded less than thrilled about the idea.
“You are?” Liana asked, and the look of hope in her eyes had my stomach clenching.
I gulped.Shit. There was no getting out of shopping now.
Kenna kicked me from under the table, and I frowned at her before lifting my gaze to Liana. I forced myself to nod. “Yeah. I am.” It was the only thing I could reply, because everything else would be a lie. The last thing I wanted to do was add additional stress to what Liana already felt. If she learned that Kenna and I weren’t exactly getting along, it would probably break her already fragile heart.
Liana tapped a finger against her coffee cup. “I guess it will give me a chance to have the finishing touches done on your room if you will be gone for the day,” she said to me.
“It already looks wonderful,” I assured, smiling.