Yesterday, her presence with Cary knocked me off guard and I allowed her to see a rare moment of weakness. She won’t get that from me again. I know she wants a reaction, so I purposely take another long sip of Diet Coke before I lick my lips and set the can down on the stonebench.
“I could say the same thing about you, Taryn. Twenty-five years old and still chasing my shadow.” Shaking my head, I point to my outline on the sidewalk and laugh. “Oh look, there it is. Mission accomplished; you can gonow.”
Taking a few steps to my left, her full form comes into focus, and it takes all I have in me not to laugh. The outdated Alexander McQueen dress and clearance rack Louboutins she has on are such a cry for help I almost feel sorry forher.
I sit up straighter, feeling more like myself than I have inmonths.
“Don’t worry, Shiloh,” she taunts, resting a hand on her hip. “I won’t get too close. I mean, I know what happens to your best friends when they hang around you now.” Looking dramatically from side to side, she cups her hand against the side of her mouth. “You know, they d-i-e.”
“Hmmm, howunfortunate.”
“What the hell does thatmean?”
“Well, taking your logic into consideration, maybe I should’ve spent a few more days in town after graduation,friend.” Tossing her a brilliant smile, I lift the warm can from the bench and give her a condescending wink before taking asip.
The smirk fades from Taryn’s face, and her red nails dig into her cocked hip. “You’ll never get him back. He hates younow.”
“Is that right?” Brushing the left side of my hair forward, I force ayawn.
“He told me what you did to him, you know. Graduation night?” Raising an eyebrow, she takes in my hardened stare and matches it with her own. “I always knew you were selfish, but there are no words to describe someone who deliberately ruins such a good person’slife.”
Taryn hits a nerve and she knows it. I have no right to consider it a betrayal that Cary told her about that night, but my heart feels filleted. Cut out by the only person I ever thought worthy of any sliver of mytrust.
What he said to me when I walked into his office yesterday couldn’t be truer. Carrick Kincaid doesn’t exist anymore. Whoever Cary Kincaid is, I don’t knowhim.
But I refuse to let my former best friend play themartyr.
“Because you were such a good person back then too, right, Taryn? To Cary, I mean. You never put him down or called himnames.”
“Fuck you. Say what you want, but I wasn’t the reason he was behind bars when his sister took her lastbreath.”
She might as well have kicked me in the stomach. I can tear down her insults. I can match her hit for hit against tabloid gossip. But I can’t fight back againsttruth.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She smirks, tucking her long brown hair behind one ear. “He may have followed you around like a love-sick puppy as a boy, but he’s a grown man now. He finally sees you for what you are. You may have nine lives, but eventually they’re going to runout.”
“Be careful, bestie. Someone might consider that awarning.”
She glares at me silently with a blank look in her eyes. Finally, a smile breaks along her lips. “Mop your floors and then go home. This town was better off when you left, and it’ll be better off when you do it again. Until then, stay away from me and stay away from Cary. This conversation never happened, do you understandme?”
“Or what?” I don’t take too well to idle threats. I neverhave.
“Whose family do you think gave him the capital to build this center? Do you really think any reputable bank would give a loan to an ex-con?”
I feel sick. “Are you threatening the centernow?”
Turning, she wags a manicured finger in my face. “I didn’t say that.Youdid. All I’m saying is, easy come, easygo.”
By the time I find my voice, she’s already halfway across the parking lot. I don’t even realize I’m still gripping the Coke can until I hear metal crunching and warm, sticky liquid spills onto my bare legs. I’m about to go back inside when the sound of an engine revving catches my attention. Against my better judgment, I glance toward Taryn’s car as she sticks her head out of the openwindow.
“Oh, and just in case you had any ideas of showing your face at The Light House—don’t. Unless you want to get an eyeful of his hands all over me, I suggest you snap on the ankle bracelet and hang with your alcoholic mother.” Her high-pitched laughter mixes with tire squeals as she peals out of the parkinglot.
Pissed off at my lack of response, I do the only thing I can. Lifting my middle finger, I hold it high in the air until her taillights disappear around the corner. Once I’m positive she’s gone, I let out a long string of curses and grab the granola bar off the bench, and throw it across thelawn.
Fuck Taryn. Fuck Cary. And fuck Frankie for leaving me alone to deal with bullshit that isn’t even myjob.
Cursing again, I stomp across the grass, pick up the granola bar, and head backinside.
Ten
