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“Can't I praise you anymore?”

I turned my back on her. It was better not to argue.

“Kendra? Kendra, damnit, look at me!” I continued ignoring until her hand grabbed my wrist. I searched her face and saw the confused expression there.

“Get your hands off me!” I demanded.

“No. I won't let you go until you listen to me.”

I pulled my arm, causing her nails, though short, to graze my skin slightly, leaving a small scratch.

“What do you want?” I crossed my arms, impatient.

Veronica looked me up and down and then smiled weakly. With pity and fear.

“You're an excellent athlete, but I think you need to learn how to be a good person too, you know?!” She declared in a slightly lower voice, making a huskier vibration escape through her lips. “I thought we had improved our relationship, Kendra. And honestly, I know we're not exactly friends yet, but if what I saw is a secret to you, then it will be a secret to me too.”

I felt my eyes burning, but I didn't want to cry.

Veronica was being very understanding while I was just being rude and harsh. And, of course, a total coward.

“It's a secret...” That was the only thing I could say in a low breath.

“So it's a secret.” I nodded. I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. “Kendra…”

“Sometimes I… I wonder why I couldn't just be a walking cliché, you know?” I complained. “Blonde, from a rich family, graduating from a renowned college, being the wife of someone with a bright future. Accepting that in my early thirties I would give up everything to stay at home and take care of the children.”I laughed, bitterly. “That's what they expect me to do. That's what my mother did...”

“You're not your mother, even though you're blonde and stuck up like her.” I laughed while sniffling. My situation was horrible. “Kendra, I…” Her hand touched my arm, caressing it gently. “Honestly, I don't know what to say, but being who you are isn't wrong.”

I searched her face, looking for some kind of pity or deceit, but the only thing I found was sincerity and understanding.

“If you say now thatlove is love, I'll hit you in the face.” I replied and she laughed.

“No, because even I know that things can be more complex than that.”

I agreed. I hated that cliché phrase.

Veronica lowered her hand, holding mine carefully and gently.

“We can be friends.”

“Are you sure about this?”

In the same second she understood why I asked her that in the current situation, but she didn't hesitate for a second to say: “Yes. I'm sure.”

The firmness in her voice and her determination made a good feeling arise in my chest. I was trusting Veronica Torres with my biggest secret and, strangely enough, I felt at peace with it. I was still afraid, didn’t want people to know, but it felt good to have someone who did—even if, ironically, it was the girl I’d hated my whole life.

Impressively, my performance was incredible. I felt good around Veronica and, even though I was a little suspicious that she could use my secret against me at some point, I needed to at least try to trust her.

When I finally left the gym, I saw that Hayley had sent a few more messages. They weren't desperate or anything, they were more concerned, asking me if I was okay and asking me to go to the bar when I could, as we needed to talk.

I bit my lower lip and faced Colleen, getting into her car.

“Hey, can you give me a ride, my dear cousin?”

“Where are you going?”

“Downtown, I need to buy some stuff.”