Forever Summer - Melody Grace Page 0,69

with someone else,” she began, but Starr shook her head.

“Who is this guy?” she demanded. “How long have you been keeping secrets from me?”

“It’s not like that,” Evie said, trying to calm her. “I would have told you about Noah, in time, but it’s still really new.”

“It didn’t look new to me,” Starr said bitterly. “It looked like you two know each other pretty well. Unless you let strangers feel you up in public. But hey, maybe that’s all a part of your shiny new life.”

“Starr!” Evie gasped. “That’s not fair. Noah is a great guy—you’ll see, once you get to know him better. Glen would have liked him,” she added, but Starr recoiled at the words.

“How can you say that?” Starr cried. “It’s like you never loved him at all!”

Evie froze. “You know I did. I loved him more than anything.”

“Did you?” Starr demanded. “Because I’m looking at you now, and I don’t even know you. It’s like you’re happy that he’s gone. Like you couldn’t wait to be free of him!”

Evie’s stomach dropped at the harsh words. In an instant, it all came rushing back to her. That awful day, the police on her doorstep. The dark chasm that had seemed to open up when she’d learned he was gone from the world. “How can you say that?” she asked, tears already stinging her eyes.

“Because it’s true,” Starr yelled. “It’s how you got the money to buy this place, isn’t it?” she added, gesturing around them. “From the life insurance. It’s blood money, and I don’t know how you can live with yourself!”

“That’s enough.”

Evie didn’t know how long Noah had been standing there, but now he strode into the room. “I understand, you’re upset,” he said, his voice calm as he looked at Starr. “But you can’t lash out like this. Believe me, you’ll say something you’ll regret—if you haven’t already,” he added, sending a concerned glance at Evie.

Evie looked away, shame still cold in her veins. “We’re fine,” she told him, not wanting Starr to feel like they were ganging up on her. “Really. This isn’t your business.”

“It sounded like it was to me.” Noah was still gentle. “Where are you staying, Starr? I can give you a ride, if you want. The two of you can talk again when you’ve had a chance to calm down.”

Starr made a snorting sound under her breath. “Sure. I bet you can’t wait to get rid of me,” she said to Evie. “No pesky reminders of the past to give you a guilty conscience. If you’re even capable of that anymore.”

“Starr—” Evie’s heart broke at the sight of the hurt and betrayal on the girl’s face. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

“No, I had you wrong,” Starr snapped back. “I thought you loved my brother. I thought you missed him. But it’s clear, you never really loved him at all!”

Her words echoed in the room between them.

Noah stepped in front of Evie. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

“You’re right about that.” Starr pushed past them both, heading for the door. “I don’t want to stick around to see you trample all over his memory,” she added. “I hope you’re happy now.”

The sarcasm cut through Evie like a knife, and she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing, hot with guilt and shame. Starr’s footsteps marched away, and the door slammed shut behind her.

“I’m so sorry.” Noah was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her. “She doesn’t mean it, you know that, right?”

But Evie didn’t know anything anymore. Only that she’d betrayed one of the people who mattered most in her life.

She’d promised Glen she would always look out for Starr. It was part of the deal when they’d said “I do.” His family was her family.

And what had she done to keep that vow?

Nothing.

Evie pulled away from Noah, angry—at herself, and him. “Why did you do that?” she asked, wiping her eyes. “You shouldn’t have come here. I told you, this is between us.”

Noah frowned. “The things she was saying to you—”

“She has every right to say them!” Evie cried. “She’s right, isn’t she? I’ve barely thought about Glen in weeks, I’ve been so wrapped up in everything happening with the inn and with—” She stopped herself from finishing the sentence, but Noah did it for her.

“And with me.”

She swallowed. Starr’s words were still ringing in her ears, accusing her of all those terrible things. Forgetting about Glen. Being happy to leave him in the past.