Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,74

me. Oh, holy fuck.

“What?” Her mouth dropped in surprise, understanding the word I was about to declare.

“Nothing,” I grunted, swinging around, taking a few steps before I came to halt.

Kinsley walked out onto the patio, our eyes locking together.

It was the first time in my life a woman’s look made me want to cower. It wasn’t loathing or anger… It was void of anything. The calm resolve. Any chance I might have had was gone.

“Kinsley?” Panic I had never heard before sounded in my voice, and I had spent three years of my life fighting for survival, against gangs of men wanting to make me their new plaything.

My attention went to the figure who came from behind her, a malicious grin hinting on her face.

Shit. Becca. No doubt she had told Kinsley of my past.

“Kins…”

Her gaze shifted, like I was no longer there. She veered the opposite way, her shoulders rolled back.

Instinct had my feet moving for her, a desperation to make her understand. “Kinsley, listen to me.” I dove for her arm.

She swung around, anger so violent and firm, I could feel it slam against me like a force.

“I think it’s time you left,” she stated evenly.

“What?” I glanced around, seeing Kay, the woman I almost considered my other mother, watching us. “What did Becca say to you?”

“What you should have.” She raised her head to me, looking like a fierce queen. The moment I walked in, I felt her, tugging my attention toward her like a siren. Her beauty had almost knocked me over until I saw some guy touching her, and I wanted to knock him out. “Get out, Smith. This day is about Kyle and Amie, about being surrounded by friends and family. You are not that.”

“I have been part of your family since I was sixteen,” I fumed, stepping closer to her. She didn’t budge, her head tipping back. “Whatever she told you, let me explain.”

“You are too late for that.” Her palm pushed into my chest. “Now get out of here before I call security.”

“Security? What the hell, Kinsley? This is me. The guy you spent over a week with. Who plucked nettles out of your ass and held your hair back when you puked?” I could hear my voice rising. “Give me five minutes. That’s all I ask. Please.”

Her lashes batted, her head twisting to the side, agony engulfing her expression, cracking her barrier.

“Please,” I said to only her.

She swallowed, moisture dampening the corner of her eyes.

I touched her arm, jolting her body, snapping her head to me.

“Goodbye, Smith,” she said coldly. “Go back to your wife, finish building that dream house for your family.” She spun around, heading for her parents, leaving me gaping after her, feeling she had gutted my chest like a fish, my guts trailing behind her.

Kay took her daughter’s hand, her gaze snapping back to me, screaming with accusation and disappointment, cutting me at the knees.

“Smith?” Becca’s voice clawed at my ears like nails. “Sweetheart?”

I whipped around, stomping past her, doing the thing I should have done since the beginning.

I walked away from Kinsley Maxwell.

Chapter 20

Kinsley

Two weeks later

“When are you taking off?” Mom stepped into my old bedroom, placing a stack of clean laundry on my bed.

“Early tomorrow.” I picked up the items, stuffing them into my bag and walking to the dresser to get more things.

Instead of leaving, my mom plopped down on the mattress, stroking the white furball curled on my bed. I continued to move around, but I could feel her speech coming, the air crammed with unsolicited motherly advice.

“Just say it.” I sighed, tucking my socks and underwear in my backpack.

“Say what?” She continued to pet Goat.

“Whatever mother’s wisdom you are dying to say.” I motioned to her. “I know you, Mom. All the looks and sighs have been building up since the wedding. Get it out.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

I snorted.

“I was just going to mention that Kasey is stopping by.”

I smirked, my head shaking with annoyance.

“You two haven’t spoken since the wedding.”

“What she said to me that night was enough.” After I kicked Smith out and we no longer had to play perfect bridesmaids, Kasey and I had a huge fight.

In short, I was a backstabbing bitch, who was always jealous of what she had, so I took Smith to hurt her.

“You know Kasey didn’t really mean it.” Mom absently played with Goat’s ears, pain kneading her eyebrows. “She loves you, Kinsley. She was hurt and lashing out.”

“Why