Bianca. You okay?
Bianca: I am. Very okay. My dad’s coming back today to see me and Mom.
Kingston: That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re happy.
Bianca: I am happy. Very, very, very happy. Especially now that my mom and dad are starting to like each other more.
I wait a few minutes to see if Kingston will respond. When he doesn’t, I send another text.
Bianca: I just wanted you to know so that you’ll be happy for us. He’s taking us to dinner tonight when he gets here. He’ll be staying all week to look for a house. He told me and Mom that he wants us to be closer. I think it means we might get to live with him soon.
Kingston: I’m glad you’re happy, Bianca. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you and your mom.
For some reason, that text makes me sad.
Yes, I wanted to hurt him, but … I don’t like feeling like this.
I feel bad for Kingston. I haven’t seen him for a while, but the last time I did, I could tell he wasn’t as happy as he used to be when he was seeing my mom all the time.
Staring down at my phone, I reread his last message, and a lump forms in my throat. I remember my dad telling me that my mom deserves a chance to be happy with Kingston. I had asked him if it bothered him and he told me no. I thought he was lying at first, but he never said anything else.
Now that I think about it, my mom’s been sad ever since Kingston stopped coming around so much. Maybe he didn’t hurt her on purpose. Maybe she’s sad because she misses him. She hasn’t said anything, but…
Ohemgee. I think my mom has a broken heart.
I flop back on my bed and stare at the stars on the ceiling. A tear slips from my eyes and into my hair. Not only does my mom have a broken heart but I think Kingston does, too.
Did they break up because of me? Because my dad came back and they can’t be together anymore because of me?
Is this all my fault?
Kingston
I don’t know why I thought Ellie might come to the Penalty Box on her date with James tonight. Then again, it is a family date night, so it makes sense that she didn’t. I guess it was more wishful thinking than anything. However, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to handle seeing them together. Once was definitely enough.
After getting Bianca’s text, I couldn’t stand to sit at home alone, though. I could practically hear her excitement. She has never texted me a message like that, but I figured she wanted to tell everyone she knows. I get that. She’s a great kid; she deserves to be happy.
“Another beer?” Noelle asks, coming to stand on the other side of the bar from me.
“Yeah.” I’ve already had two, but beer is nothing more than carbonated water for me. It does nothing for my ability to function, but it does manage to relieve a little of my stress.
“You talk to Ellie lately?” Noelle asks as she grabs a mug.
“I heard she was going on a date with James.” I don’t bother to tell her that I haven’t heard from her since the night I practically threw her out of my hotel room. I still get sick to my stomach when I think about how I treated her that night.
“I doubt that,” Noelle snorts.
“I heard he’s moving here, too. That they’re looking for a house.”
“He might be looking for a house,” she says, wiping the counter with a cloth. “But she’s not helping him.”
“Not what Bianca told me.”
Noelle slaps the empty beer mug on the bar in front of me with a thud. I meet her gaze.
“She did not say that.”
“Oh, she did.”
“No, she didn’t,” Noelle argues.
“How the hell do you know what she said?” I can feel my defenses fall in place.
“Because Ellie’s not dating James.”
“You don’t know your friend all that well, now do you?”
I can see the anger glittering in Noelle’s eyes. “I know her a hell of a lot better than you do.”
I cock an eyebrow. I could say something crude, but I’m not the kind to soil a woman’s reputation by mentioning that she’s been in my bed or me in hers. I manage to keep my mouth shut.
Noelle leans in. “Let me tell you something, Kingston Rush. That woman is head-over-fucking-heels in love with you.”
I snort.
“This guy is her