I look up at her for a moment before letting my gaze fall away. “Not much to talk about.”
“Bullshit,” she says awkwardly. “How are you?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Pretty good,” I say, filled with hurt. “Broken Hill High is great.”
“Really?” she scoffs making me remember all the times we hated on the place.
She bites down on her lip before finally giving in. “Don’t get me wrong, the chicks there are brutal, but Jesse is there and he’s kind of amazing.”
“I didn’t think you’d have to deal with the chicks if you’re with Jesse? Doesn’t he, you know, keep them away?”
I shrug, putting a bloodied tissue aside and grabbing another. “He thinks he does, but you know how girls are when they want something. We don’t do things the way dudes do.”
Henley lets out a sigh before silence falls between us, each of us deep in thought. “You left, Kaylah. You didn’t even say goodbye.”
I look up at her, my fingers pausing on her skin. “Are you serious? You screwed my brother. You turned out just like all those other skanks who were using me to get close to him.”
“How can you say that? After the years we spent being friends, how could you possibly say that? You know that two-faced, fake bullshit isn’t me. It never has been and it sure as hell never will be.”
“So, you just happened to fall into his bed? You tripped and landed on his dick? Give me a fucking break.”
“Kaylah,” she says, hurt. “I thought I was in love with him. For years I thought that.”
Is she for real? She couldn’t possibly believe that I’d fall for that crap. “Bullshit. You never once told me that. Don’t come up with shit like that to make you look like the good guy.”
“Are you kidding, right now?” Henley demands. “I am the good guy. I couldn’t tell you because every fucking day you reminded me just how awful it would be if one of your friends wanted to get close to him. You made me feel like what I felt for him was wrong. You made me feel worthless for having a fucking crush on an amazing guy. Of course, I couldn’t tell you.”
My jaw clenches as the tears threaten to spill. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not lying, Kaylah. For so long, I thought he was it for me. I had dreams of having his babies… and then, well, shit went up in flames and I didn’t only lose him, I lost you too. You were supposed to be my best friend and you didn’t even give me two seconds to explain myself.”
“Because you betrayed me,” I yell.
“No, you betrayed me.”
I shake my head, refusing to believe it. “You got close to me just so you could be with him just like every other girl in this fucked up place does.”
“Stop lying to yourself,” she demands. “You know that’s not how it is. We were both drinking. You were at home sick, and it just…happened. Look, truth be told, I should have told you from the start that I was crazy about him, and you should have told me that you were leaving. I deserved an explanation. Do you have any idea what it was like for me all alone at that damn school? I’m practically a chew toy for Monica and Candice.”
Understanding dawns and I suck in a breath as I look over her again. “Is that who did this?” I ask with a grunt. “Maybe you need a few kickboxing classes.”
“And maybe you need to forgive me for having stupid feelings for your brother? It’s not like I could help it. He’s pretty cool, you know?”
“I know, he’s the best,” I agree with a heavy sigh before hesitantly looking back at her, desperately wanting what we used to have. “You don’t still…you know? Want to have his babies?”
“No,” she laughs. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure his babies are going to be gorgeous, but they won’t be crawling out of me. It took me a little while, but I realized what I felt for him wasn’t the real deal. And to be honest, I had the shits with you both too much to even consider it.”
“How’d you know it wasn’t the real deal?” I ask, ignoring her last comment.
“Because what I feel for Noah is.”
“Noah?” I question with my brows flying up into my hairline. “Noah Cage? Like King of Haven Falls? Pack leader? Most intimidating guy on the face of the earth?”
Her cheeks flame, suddenly becoming very sheepish. “Yeah.”
“Well…shit,” I say, impressed. “So, Spencer?”
“Was supposed to be fun.”
Ugh. “Doubt it,” I grumble in disgust while giving her a small smile. “I’m happy for you.”
She gives me an awkward smile and I find myself glancing down at my hands. “I’ve missed you,” I tell her. “It’s been pretty shitty not having you around. I had to make new friends at Broken Hill and it wasn’t easy.”