Chapter 32
“What the? Little doll? That’s creepy as fuck.” Roxie is the first to sink into her seat, and shock is evident on her face, with her jaw dangling open and her eyes just as wide. “And you’re certain he killed Will?”
“No doubt in my mind.” I nod, propping my hand against the ledge of the counter in my kitchen.
She flicks her eyes to the corner of the room and shakes her head. “What a fucking monster.”
“Also, horrendously disgusting,” Kitty says, her eyes glassy with tears. She gently dabs the area underneath her eyes, careful not to smudge her black eyeliner which is flicked to perfection. “And then the way you had to leave … I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“Well, that settles it,” Roxie says. “You’re by far the strongest woman I'll ever meet. Shit, I don't think I could ever even live through half of that. I knew you’d been through a shitshow, but I thought it was more along the typical lines of I was bullied, or my brother locked me in the closet one time. I didn't know ... I-I couldn't … Fuck. I’m just sorry.”
“Don't you dare apologize, Roxie Richards,” I say, adding the third marshmallow to her hot chocolate. “If it wasn't for you two, I would have cracked years ago. Some days, the only thing that gave me hope and kept me alive was knowing that I had you in my corner, rooting for me. And the fact that both of you stood beside me, and offered your unwavering support when you didn’t even know half of my story? Well, I can't thank you enough.”
Kitty and Roxie share a passing glance, one full of warmth and kindness, as I cross the threshold and enter the dining room. After all these years, I finally decided to tell them my life story. Grant is out of town this weekend, and the three of us are staying together in my apartment. It was my idea, and I’m glad I still hung on to my place, despite me mostly living with Grant.
On the occasions that Grant leaves town without me, it’s much more comfortable for the girls to crash at my apartment—a place they are familiar with and that essentially has no rules—than it is for them to take over Grant’s. I’m sure that will change in the future, but for now, this apartment remains mine.
Chaos and disappearances still run amok for women here in Seattle. Partly, from Seth’s hand, I'm sure.
I’ll be damned if anyone else I love is ripped forcefully from me or taken away too soon. No chance in hell. I'm going to protect both of my friends by keeping them locked in here with me if I have to. This can't last forever.
The instigation to all this honesty was Lonnie's name brought up by Roxie. She was curious for an update, but in my mind, it was the perfect moment to cut yet another chain off of my heart and set myself free that much more.
I want to break free from my cage for good. Coming clean and divulging everything that happened, from childhood to Will, is yet another key to my cage.
The last four hours have included me telling them every last tidbit about myself, and while I feel a little naked and exposed after disclosing so much information, this is not the reaction I expected from them.
I thought the girls would look at me differently after the news was out, maybe with a little bit more sadness or hesitation. But as I take my seat at the table, there's none of that. They're looking at me like they're awestruck. It reminds me of how I look at Grant.
After a passive and tentative bout of silence, Roxie adjusts in her seat and takes the lead by leaning on the table with an intense look in her eyes.
“So … have you heard from Lonnie? Is there any news about him at all?”
“I have not. Honestly, I haven't been checking up on him or thinking much about him.” A small smile perks up my mouth, and I can feel the heat blossom through my cheeks as I look at the girls. “Grant is a little distracting, to say the least.”
Our giggles are soft in the room—short-lived, but they're there.
“And Grant,” Kitty says while resting her teacup on my tabletop. “What does he have to say about Will?”
“Nothing yet.” I pick up my teal coffee mug and wrap my hands tightly around it. “I haven't told him about everything. He knows some of the story … just not the Will part.”
Both of their eyebrows raise high, nearly touching their hairlines.
I shrug in response. “I love Grant—”
“Wait!” Roxie interjects. “Say that again.
“I love him,” I push out, my chest wanting to burst at how right the words feel.
They both gasp, coo, and titter at my words, which does kind of make me blush in a good way. This is my first time saying it out loud, and it’s amazing to finally confess the inward emotion that feels so natural.
I tuck a stray hair behind my ear and smile. “But I've known both of you longer than I've known him. It didn't feel right not telling you ladies first. I've been wanting to get all of this off of my chest for a while but lacked an opportunity. I didn’t want tonight to go to waste.”
“Well, hot damn,” Roxie says with a large grin on her face. “Who knew chicks before dicks reigns supreme and tops hot billionaires.”
I almost spit out my drink from wanting to laugh so hard. Quickly, I swallow, wipe away a small dribble of coco liquid from the corner of my mouth and finish laughing.
“Oh, it definitely trumps all,” I say, setting my mug down. “But only with you two. I doubt anybody else would have put up with my shit for so long.”
Kitty starts crying again and waves her hand in the air, covering her mouth, while she dashes off to retrieve a tissue.
Roxie, on the other hand, sticks her nose in the air and angles her head, showing off that tapered jawline. “You’re welcome. Alsoooo,” she sings out as her gaze drops to my neckline. “Congratulations on breaking Grant Brexton, Seattle's Best Playboy. Don't think I haven’t noticed that diamond solitaire pendant hanging around your neck there. One and half carats?”
“Two carats, thank you very much.” I touch my hand to the bauble, loving the cool feeling it gives off. A warm smile tilts up the side of my mouth, but it stops as Roxie winks and drums her fingers on the table with a wry look in her eyes.
“However, tell your man that if it's supposed to mean anything, then that rock is occupying the wrong place and is far too small. Nothing but the best for you.”
“I’ll tell him,” I say, returning her wink and nodding. “But first, I should tell him about Will, don’t you think?”
Her lips pull down and she bobs her head. “Yeah,” she agrees. “That’s probably wise.”