Page 14 of One Weekend On Mackinac Island
I decided to ignore the sex question and focused on the others. “We haven’t really talked about what it all means yet. I just know he wants to be with me as much as I do.”
Another high-pitched squeal echoed throughout the bathroom.
“Fuck, woman,” Stephanie cried, rubbing an ear with a wince as she walked into the bathroom. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
The other woman’s presence was like a storm cloud, instantly darkening Tria’s mood and chilling the air around us. It was like a physical weight, and I hated to see her so affected. No one should have to endure Stephanie Chambers as a member of their wedding party. “None of your business.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes, then turned to me. “You looked pretty friendly with Owen out there.” I didn’t take the bait. Stephanie reveled in stirring up trouble, but I was just as committed to staying calm and refusing to engage with her. It seems that he doesn't view you as Kit the Nitwit when you’re in his bed.”
“Shut up, Stephanie. Stop being so crude,” Tria defended.
“Did I say something wrong? Haven’t you just been Kit the Nitwit all these years to him?” After the conversation we just had, I wasn’t going to let that stupid rhyme get to me. Owen had never said those words. Furthermore, he’d never viewed me as anything of the like. I should have known that from the beginning. I couldn’t believe I’d mistaken Scott’s voice for his.
“Tell me,” Stephanie continued, undeterred. “Does he have to cover your face to be with you? I can’t imagine how he can stand looking at that face while he fucks you.”
Yup. That was Stephanie for you. Mean to the core. Some might even say rotten.
“Get out, bitch,” Tria seethed on my behalf. But I was done letting words hurt me. Stephanie was just a bitter girl who could only make herself feel better by tearing other people down.
“Seeing how hideousyouare,” she sneered inclining her head toward Tria. “Maybe you could share with her Todd’s trick for getting it up for you.”
“Jesus, you’re so childish.”
“Seriously though. What does either man see in you two losers?”
“Come on, Kat,” Tria said, pulling on my arm. “Let’s get back to our men. I’m tired of her harshing my mood.”
But before I left, I had a few words to get off my chest. “It makes me so sad to know your life goal is to tear other people down. It must be exhausting. You possess both stunning beauty and remarkable intelligence, which could make you a truly exceptional woman. But time and time again, you opt to behave in a distasteful and unattractive manner. I feel sorry for you.”
I paused, my eyes fixed on Stephanie, to see if my words had made any impact. Her eyes blazed with a fiery anger that was directed squarely at me. No matter how kindly I spoke to her, she would never change. Her heart remained as dark and unyielding as ever.
There was only one thing left to say. “From this moment on, I want you to know that I will forget you. Your words are just empty air, and they will never again touch my soul.”
With that, I turned and walked out of the restroom, Tria on my heels. The negative words that had held me captive, whisperingdoubts and fears, were finally losing their grip. I was ready to let them go.
I was no longer Kit the Nitwit. I was now Kat the Badass.
Okay. That didn’t rhyme as well. But it worked for me. I was badass. And tonight I was going to take what I wanted.
Chapter 8
Owen
The silence between usas I walked Kat back to her room after dinner was punctuated by the nervous thumping of my own heart. My nervousness was inexplicable; I couldn't identify what was making me feel this way.
My talk with Todd had gone exactly as I’d expected. He’d always known of my feelings for Kat, even if I’d never voiced them with him before.
“All I ask is that you treat her well,” Todd said as he approached me at the bar after the girls had gone inside.
“How did you know?”
He let out a loud snort, as if he found my words utterly ridiculous. “We’ve been friends forever. To me, you’re more brother than friend. We’ve been through too much together for you to be able to hide much from me.”
“So, you’ve known all this time and you don’t have a problem with it?” I hesitated, voicing my concerns about her brother's reaction to our budding romance, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. My doubts spiraled as a knot twisted in my gut.
“Why would I have a problem with it?”
“Because you’re her brother?”
