“Why? What’s the point of re-hashing old wounds?” Just thinking about facing him after all these years made my stomach twist into knots. What was there to say? I’m so happy that you’re so happy without me? Silence said that enough.
“It’s not about re-hashing old wounds. It’s about…healing. You two were so in love.”
I was already healed.From that.I’d moved on. I was happy with Miller. “It was a long time ago.”
“Does it feel like that long when you’re here in New York? Because it all feels rather recent to me. And you two were so in love,” she said again like I hadn’t heard it the first time.
I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about this. Everything she said made my stomach twist even more. Because Kennedy was wrong. Matt and I hadn’t been in love. Yes, I’d been madly in love withhim. But he hadn’t loved me back. I think a part of me always knew that. That I didn’t belong in his world. That I never would.
“You’re really not going to see him?”
“No.”
She exhaled slowly. “Okay. Well then.” She pressed her lips together. “I really need to tell you something. Actually a lot ofsomethings. But… Shit,” she said under her breath, and looked over at the door.
I followed her gaze. Poppy had just arrived. I was hoping her similarities to Isabella wouldn’t affect me. But…her dark hair and sharp features made my heart beat a little faster.
She pulled off her sunglasses and looked around the little diner in disgust. And then her eyes fell on me. Her lips curved into a smile, and it reminded me so much of Isabella that I actually stopped breathing. That same fear washing over me whenever Isabella turned my way. Just waiting in horror to see how she’d torture me next.
Poppy dismissed the hostess with a flick of her wrist and walked toward us. Her heels clicking on the linoleum floor made me wince. It was like being back at Empire High all over again. Isabella’s heels echoing in the hall as she approached me to torment me. I couldn’t believe I was in my thirties and still haunted by those memories.
“Brooklyn, darling,” Poppy said. She leaned down and air kissed both my cheeks.
I stayed perfectly still, thinking one wrong move might set her off.
“So good to see you again after all these years.” She grabbed a napkin off the table and wiped off the booth before sitting down. “Interesting choice for dining.”
“My father chose it.”
Poppy laughed. “Uncle Richard would never.” She turned her attention to Kennedy. “And you are?”
Kennedy cleared her throat as she stared at Poppy. “I’m Kennedy.”
Poppy just stared at her.
“I’m Brooklyn’s friend.”
Kennedy was always outspoken. But she seemed suddenly reserved in front of Poppy. Almost like she was scared of her.
“Well, Kennedy, this is a family meeting,” Poppy said. “We need a little privacy.”
“She’s staying,” I said.
Poppy smiled and it stretched her skin awkwardly around her mouth. “If you say so, cousy.”
I gagged a little in my mouth. It was like how Isabella always called me sissy. Just because I was Poppy’s cousin didn’t mean I wanted to be called that.
“So where is Uncle Richard?” she asked. “It’s so rare for him to be late.” She pulled her phone out of her purse and started texting.
I glanced over at Kennedy.
She shrugged.
“So…how have you been?” I asked.Killed anyone’s husband recently?
“I’ve been fantastic.” She smiled again and put her phone away. “How about you?”
I winced. Was she serious? She knew what this meeting was about, right? “I’m…not great,” I said.
