All Chapters of When Best Friends Kiss: Chapter 261 - Chapter 269

I had known this was coming. I had seen the text on Tia's phone. I had known for days. But hearing Dad say it out loud was different. It made it real."I want your blessing." Dad said. His voice was softer now. Vulnerable. I rarely saw him like this. "I know I don't need it. I know you're my daughter and you'll love me no matter what. But Rory, I want you to be okay with this. I want you to be happy for me. For us."I didn't know what to say. My mind was spinning. Too much had happened tonight. Too much was still happening. Todd in the hospital. Denver's lies. And now this.But I looked at my father's face. The hope in his eyes. The fear. The love. He was asking me. He was putting his happiness in my hands.I thought about my mother. About what she would want. About what she would say if she were here. I thought about all the years Dad had been alone. All the years he had worked and provided and never complained."She would want this." I said quietly. My voice was small but sure. "Mom

(TODD'S POV)Rory's hand tightened around mine. I felt her whole body go stiff beside me. Her eyes locked on Denver, and I could see the fear there. And the anger."Well, well." Denver's voice was smooth. Too smooth. Like we were old friends meeting for coffee. "The patient is awake. How wonderful."He walked closer, his expensive shoes clicking against the hospital floor. Dana followed, her eyes scanning the room like she was looking for something to criticize. Leslie hung back near the door, her arms crossed, her face unreadable.Rory stood up. She moved so she was standing between me and Denver. Blocking him."Please sir, you need to leave." Her voice was shaking, but she said it anyway. "He needs to rest."Denver looked at her. Really looked at her. Like she was a bug he hadn't noticed before."Ah. You must be the girlfriend." He said the word like it was dirty. "Rory, isn't it? I've heard so much about you.""You need to leave." Rory repeated. Louder this time.Dana stepped forwa

(RORY'S POV)Tia walked into the hospital room as boldly as ever. Not in a rude way. In a confident way. The kind of way that made you feel like everything was going to be okay because she was here now.She was wearing a simple blue dress and her hair was pulled back. But her eyes were sharp. Focused. The eyes of someone who was ready to fight."Oh, sweetheart." She came straight to me and pulled me into a hug. "Look at you. You look exhausted."I hugged her back. It felt good. Safe. "I'm okay."She pulled back and looked at me carefully. Then she turned to Todd."And you." She walked to his bedside. "You look like you've been through hell."Todd tried to smile. "That's one way to put it."Tia pulled up a chair and sat down close to him. She reached out and took his hand. Gentle. Caring."I'm so sorry this happened to you." She said. "So sorry."Todd's eyes got a little wet. He blinked quickly. "Thank you."Tia looked at me. "Tell me everything. From the beginning. Don't leave anythi

(THIRD PERSON POV)The Williams' mansion was quiet.Not the peaceful kind of quiet. The kind that comes before a heavy storm. The kind that makes the hairs on your arm stand up.Denver Williams sat in his study, a glass of whiskey in his hand, staring at the wall. The room was dark except for one lamp. His face was half in shadow.Dana sat across from him, her legs crossed, a wine glass in her hand. She looked calm. But her eyes were sharp. Watching.Leslie sat on the small couch near the window. She was curled up, her knees to her chest, staring at nothing.The meeting with Todd at the hospital had not gone the way Denver wanted. The boy was stubborn. Still defiant. Even after everything."He's not broken." Denver said finally. His voice was quiet. That was worse than shouting.Dana took a sip of wine. "He will be. Give it time.""I don't have time." Denver set his glass down hard. The liquid sloshed over the side. "His phone. My boys went back for it but it was not there. I think we

(THIRD PERSON POV)The sun came up over Daisyland like it didn't know anything was wrong.Leslie watched it from her window. She hadn't slept. Not really. Just stared at the ceiling and listened to her own thoughts.Her phone was still in her hand. The same phone she had almost used to warn Todd. The same phone her mother had taken and then given back after going through all her messages.She hadn't found anything. There was nothing to find. Leslie had been careful. Too scared to do anything, too scared to say anything, too scared to be anything but what they wanted.But the voice was still there. Small but present.You don't have to be like them.She pushed it away and got dressed.---Shirley and Joy were already at their usual table when Leslie walked into the café.Shirley was scrolling through her phone, a bored look on her face. Joy was eating a pastry and looking at nothing.They looked up when Leslie sat down."You look terrible." Joy said. It wasn't mean. Just honest.Leslie