CHAPTER TWO
Back from nowhere
I tried to get out of the bathtub but Hannah pinned me down.
“Not today, you're not .” Hannah gets out of the tub, looking grim. “I'll tell your boss. Don't worry, he won't give me any trouble.”
I couldn't help but chuckle. No one gives Hannah trouble and any ones who do seriously regret it.I mean who dares to get a top lawyer troubles?
I don't think Roland will mind, though. He's not heartless, and I have a spotless record of him.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Hannah comes back, along with pizza and ice cream.
“Roland said it's fine, he can get someone else to cover the story. He asked me to pass along his best wishes .”
“Thanks.” I poured myself a glass of wine and took a sip. “I don't know what to do .”
“For now, relax, drink and eat. Tomorrow, I suppose you'll be expected back at work. As I said, you can stay here as long as you need. There's no rush .”
Her words are a comfort, but they don't fill the aching hole that Raymond had left inside of me. I had been slapped hard on my face and my years with him proved to be a total joke!
Over the next few hours, we proceed to drink our way through two of Hannah's best bottles. By the time I'm pretty better. I flop into the bed, grinning vaguely. My phone is on the dresser and I grab it.
I scroll through my W******p contacts, not looking for anyone in particular. The name Hunter catches my eyes and I gasped, remembering our high school days.
Hunter was very close to Hannah and me in school and throughout most of college. Everything changed one weekend after he went camping.
We never figured out what happened. He came back with blood, refusing to say how he got hurt. Barely a week later, he moved clear across the state. I've tried calling him, with no response. So far he hasn't responded to my messages.
Well, it is worth a shot.
Kenzy: “Hey.
I broke up with Raymond, he cheated on me.
Dylan: Sorry, Kenzy. Are you okay?
Kenzy: Sure, I'm great.
Dylan: You are drunk, ain't you?
Kenzy: Absolutely.
Dylan: Lol. Call me when you are sober if you want to talk.
It's not much, but it was more of a response that I've gotten so far. I send Dylan another smiling sticker before dropping the phone, missing the dresser and letting it fall to the ground.
I tried to grab it, but I ended up hitting my head on the lamp.
"Ouchhhh.." I whimpered, rubbing the area in circular motion.
There are five missed calls from Raymond, but I ignored those.
Maybe I'll let Hannah go there tomorrow and castrate him.
My head is starting to pound, so I figure this is a good time to sleep. Getting myself under the blankets is a task that defeats me in my drunken state, so I sprawl atop them. My thoughts try to turn to Raymond, and I tried to shut them down with little success.
For the first time in a long time, I worried about my future. I don't know what my life looks like without Raymond. I don't know if I can survive without him.
What if I can't do it?
*****★*****
Unsurprisingly, I woke up with a pounding headache.
I groan, rolling over and nearly falling off the bed. I somehow manage to crawl to the shower, thanking every God I've ever heard of that it's a Sunday.
If I had to drag myself into work today, it might just end for me.
Once I'm dressed, I head for the kitchen in search of water and a painkiller. Hannah isn't up yet, but I managed to find what I needed rooting through the drawers and cupboard.
Feeling slightly revived, I went back to the guest room and spent a few minutes finding my phone.
There are two messages.
Dylan: Hey, give me a call when you wake up.
Dylan: I'm in town, it would be wonderful if we could meet up.
I vaguely remember messaging Dylan last night. Still, I was surprised at his new messages.
Does he want to see me?
Hannah and I were both under the impression that he didn't want to be friends anymore. Apparently, that wasn't the case.
I found myself grinning as I responded.
Kenzy: Sure I'd love to meet up. Where?
Dylan: How about IHOP
Kenzy: Just give me some hours to bring myself back to life. Eleven?
Dylan: Sure see you then.
Wow, I can't believe I'm going to see him again.
I wonder what made him disappear for so long? I guess I would soon find out. I paused halfway thinking of what he was going to look like after such a long time. I grinned, whatever I wanted to know, I was certainly going to find out about it in the next few hours.
Hannah is dead to the world, I even have to check up on her to check if she is still breathing. After eating, I spent the whole morning browsing through N*****x. I keep glaring at the clock checking the time as it passes by slowly. It's 10:30 and I'm already dressed up and on my way out when Hannah pushes her door open, robbing her eyes and asking me the big question.
"Where are you going?"
I'm reluctant to answer that and only make up excuses, pulling the door open and slipping out.
I ended up at IHOP half an hour early. As I sip my coffee, I looked at the window watching for Dylan.
He arrived at eleven on dot.
I leap up, pulling him into a hug.“ Hey, it's so good to see you .”
Dylan returns the hug gingerly, as though afraid of breaking me. “You too, Kenzy. I've missed you so much.
“Where have you been? What happened to you? You just vanished! I was really worried.”
When we were friends, Dylan had never had secrets. We used to joke that he'd make the world's worst secret service agent. Now, he leaned back, his face suddenly closed off.
I could feel the guilt in his eyes and knew he was hiding a lot, there were many things he wanted to say but I guess for some reasons he is choosing to hold it back.
“It's....it's a long story."
CHAPTER THREEHe's hiding somethingI rolled my eyes at Dylan' words.“I have time!" I snapped.“I can't go into it all. A lot has changed for me.“Come on, Dylan. You're just suddenly back from nowhere. You're seriously not going to tell me why?“I....maybe another time.”As much as my curiosity was telling me to push, Dylan obviously doesn't want to talk about this.“For me too. Raymond, I never thought he would do that to me.”“He'll regret it .” Dylan's glare sends a shiver through me. He looked dangerous. I never thought of him this way before, but I do now.“I don't know if he will. Things weren't great between us. He may just be glad it's over.”Dylan opens his mouth to say something but closes it again. “Maybe you're right. It's his loss.”We sat in comfortable silence for a while. The waiter brings our pancakes, which are especially delicious to my hungover body.“I have some news.”Dylan hesitates, seemingly nervous. “ I've decided to move back here.”“Really?”That's wonderful
CHAPTER FOUROne more question“Thank you, ma'am. If you think of anything else, please call me.”“I will.” I take the card he's holding out.Please don't let it be Hannah or Dylan.The last thing I need is either of them being prosecuted for vandalism.Hannah was waiting inside, “What's going on?”She closed the door, pecking out of the window to make sure the officers are gone.“They said someone trashed Raymond's house. Not that he doesn't deserve it, but who will do that.“It wasn't you, then?”“No, I've been here all morning, nursing a killer hangover. Not that I wouldn't have done it, but guess someone else beat me to it.”“I think you know the people that did it, but I didn't say anything. I didn't want to implicate Hannah. Unfortunately, she knows me too well.“You know something. I can see it in your face. Spill it out.”“I don't know anything for sure ”“So you suspect, then, I'm all ears”I suppose she won't leave me alone until I tell her.“I think….it might be Dylan ”Han
CHAPTER FIVEBack off !!!The clicking of the laptop keys hurt my brain and my eyes. Let's not mention my ears, the sound is so irritating I wanna break the laptop but I still try to keep calm.God, why does it hurt so much?Because you drunk half of the bar, Kenzy, you idiot.I'm never drinking again.I try to focus on what I'm doing, rather than my pounding headache. The memories of Jake keep intruding. What the fuck was I even thinking? I was so close to having sex with a stranger. All in the name he looked like Dylan!And why was I even thinking about Dylan that way?He took it alright when I freaked just as he was about to get my pants down. I went back to the bar shortly afterward.It's not Jake, exactly, that's bothering me.It's the fact that I was only attracted to him because he looks like Dylan. I've gotten Dylan friendships back, and the least I could do is to ruin it with my inappropriate longings.I force myself to look back at my laptop screen. I'm looking into Daravit
CHAPTER SIX Tell me the truth My gaze are still fixed on Dylan, he looks away, I know he is trying to pretend as though what I said hadn't had any effect on him. There is a bit of silence between us and for some reasons, I'm afraid of what his answer was going to be like. Now, he knows am following him and I wouldn't give up anything soon. Dylan stiffens.“ Where did you hear that name ?” I almost laughed at his questions, “I'm an investigative journalist, Dylan. You know me, I can never leave a mystery unsolved.” I chuckled but he didn't seem to take it lightly. “So.... I guess you went digging. From our messages I guess.” He spoke precisely and I'm glad he has a current memory. “That's right!” I smirked. Dylan closed his eyes. He huffed and opens his mouth but shuts it almost immediately. His eyes are still shut and I wonder if he's praying for patience. Was he angry I was different into his personal life? The thought of that makes me want to whimper but I stood my ground an
CHAPTER SEVENDinner of one“Come on, Kenzy, we're going to be late!”“I will be out in a moment.”I give up on choosing between dresses, grabbing the nearest one, and pulling it on. I was going to do something with my hair, but I procrastinated too long and it's too late.Hannah is waiting impatiently. "I don't want to be late, we'll make a bad impression.”“You do realize that we're not engaged, right? You are just filling in for Raymond because I can't have them alone. A good impression isn't necessarily. Besides, my family knows you.” I explained over the room.“I know, but I still don't want to give them any more reason to berate you than they have already.”That's true enough. My family is going to be a nightmare.Hannah drives, and all too soon, we're pulling at my mom's driveway. Marcus's car is already here. There are cars parked all along the sides of the streets. My mom always favored big gatherings.She opened the door, her eyes going from me to Hannah. Her mouth pop open
CHAPTER EIGHTA Horrible MistakeShit! She must have heard me screaming Dylan name. I try to come up with a lie but it's not coming forward.“I'm fine. Nothing to worry about!”Apparently, Hannah thinks from my tone that there is something to worry about because she opens the door. I'm all too aware of how flushed and disheveled I must look.“Ever heard of privacy?”“Ever heard a roommate shouting their friend's name like he's saving her from a burning building? Because I just did .”Crap!No way am I willing to confess to Hannah what I just did.“I think you are hearing things. It's probably just that wind.”Hannah's eyes narrow in suspicion.I knew it. She doesn't believe me. Well, she tells Dylan?If she does, I can kiss the dream of remaining friends with him goodbye.“You don't have to lie to him, you know. So you have the hots for Dylan. Fine. It's not like I'm going to tell him”I'm torn between shame and relief. Of course, I don't need to lie to Hannah. I know that. “Promise m
CHAPTER NINEIt's Over!"What did you say?""Nothing." I don't turn around to face Raymond hoping that he'll be overpowered by need and ignore my slip. "Keep going."Come on."Dylan, as in your friend, Dylan? You've left me for that loser?"No! Dylan and I aren't together. It's you I need." I turn around and try to kiss Raymond, but he gets up off the couch.You're going to have to try harder than that if you want me, Kenzy.""Fuck you, then.Without another word, I get up, pull my clothes on and storm off. He's not making me beg again. Never again.I drive back to Hannah's at a reckless speed. I know I should slow down, but I'm so horny I feel like I'm going to explode.It takes all my willpower to keep my hands on the steering wheel and not let one of them slide down to my clit.That doesn't stop me from pressing my legs together.Fuck, I need to come.I rush inside, running to my room and slamming the door behind me.I throw myself onto my bed, yanking my pants down. I reach blindl
CHAPTER TENStalked on All SidesI bit my lips as she asked the heavy questions again."Would he be willing to help you with this?""I don't really feel comfortable asking himthat."Why not? You've known him as long as you've known me. You two are super close. I'm sure he'd do it for you.""Maybe, but you don't know my mom. She wouldn't be satisfied with dating. She won't really leave me alone until I'm married. I'm not going to ask Dylan to marry me."At least, not when it's not real. I couldn't ask that of him, especially given my very real feelings for him.Shut up, Kenzy. You're ignoring those feelings, remember? Dylan is your friend."I suppose that is a bit much to ask. What's going on with you and Luke anyway? You haven't said a word about him in days. Usually, you never shut up about him."I can feel my face going red. "We kind of had a fight."Let me guess. He's not happy that you're still investigating him?""Not at all. Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Should I back