school.” My tongue lashed out like a whip, all my pent-up resentment streaming out. “Who am I to get in the way of true love?”
Revolving around, I took off, not thinking about where I was going.
“Kinsley,” he called out after me. I moved faster, slipping through the throng of people, rushing into the mansion, winding through staff with trays of food and champagne, stumbling into the restroom.
I leaned against the sink, grappling for oxygen, my lungs not filling enough to stop the spinning in my head.
Anger fused my bones, but pain tore my insides. And it was all my own doing. I hated I let this happen, that I allowed myself to completely lose my head and fall for this guy. I felt shame at my own stupidity and guilt for hurting my sister.
She was misguided, but what I had done was cruel. I betrayed her. She would probably never forgive me.
Flattening my palms, I tried to regain myself, knowing this day was about my brother and new sister, not about me. I still had to do a toast later this evening, smile, and act like love and commitment were beautiful things, that my soul wasn’t being crushed.
“Get it together,” I scolded my image. “Get through this night. This is about Kyle’s happiness.”
Hate Smith if you need to. Use it.
But as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t seem to truly hate him. Nor did I regret my time with Smith. I missed him, craved him, and dreamed about him, which added to the ache already carving out my chest.
What if you heard him out? What if he had an explanation?
The door squeaked as it swung open, making me wipe my face, putting on a mask, my eyes watching the woman enter in the mirror.
Fuuuuck.
My muscled tightened into armor, guarding me like spikes.
“Kinsley.” Becca’s smooth voice echoed in the empty bathroom, her lids narrowing on me. “I was hoping to find you.” She sauntered up to the mirror, opening her clutch, reapplying her lipstick. “Get some one-on-one time between us girls.”
“Just us two? And here I thought you were here to invite me for a threesome.”
She choked, her face paling for a moment before she regained her composure. “Charming.”
“Never been accused of that before.”
Her lids fluttered, her brows furrowing for a beat, like she had no idea how to take me.
“What do you want, Becca?” I twisted to her. “I know you aren’t here to braid my hair or gossip about boys.” I’d braid her hair into a noose.
She tucked her lipstick back in her bag, facing me. “I came here to warn you.”
“To stay away from your husband.” I finished for her. “Got it. Done. I’m the one who didn’t know, and as soon as I did, I left. He came up to me. So, this conversation should be with him.”
Her superior gaze bounced over me like I was a filthy urchin. “I don’t get it,” she said brazenly. “What does he see in you?”
I tried to hide the flare of insecurity, the voice asking myself the same question.
“You know I’m not the villain here. Whatever he’s told you, he lied to you,” she said.
“Actually, he said almost nothing about you.” It was meant to be a strike at her, but all it did was clarify how little he let me in.
Her cheek flinched, but she cleared her expression. “There is so much you don’t know about Smith. His past. What he’s done. He’s not the good guy here.” She tilted her head. “And you look like the type who wants the nice man.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know more than you think.”
“This is starting to feel like some stereotypical Hollywood movie.” I folded my arms. “Get to the point.”
“Did Smith tell you about his construction business? The one he co-owned. The one I was also a partner in?”
“Yes. He said he didn’t work there anymore.”
“Did he tell you why?” Her sculpted eyebrow curved up. A haughty smile curved her mouth when I stayed silent. “No?” Smug and mocking. She was loving this. Putting me in my place.
“Smith was never satisfied, always wanted more, and when his father’s bills started piling on…”
“His father?” The question came off my tongue without thought, only widening her smug smile, calling out again how little I knew.
“His father is dead.”
How little I knew Smith.
“Yes, because of Smith. His father was on disability, couldn’t pay for his medication. Smith wouldn’t help him… let his father die.” She tipped her head. “You must know how