Page 100 of Seduce & Destroy

“I’ll make you one,” she said as she sat beside the fire. “Do you like yours crispy or just lightly toasted?”

“Crispy?” I forced out a laugh. “No, I don’t want mine crispy.”

“What? There’s nothing wrong with a little crunch.”

“So burnt?” I came to sit on the opposite side of the fire, dragging a chair close.

“No!” She defended. “Just that the outer layer of sugar is crystallised and then the inside is so gooey and soft.”

I extended a hand toward her. “I think I’ll make my own,” I said, waving my fingers so that she’d pass me a skewer and marshmallow.

“Pink or white?”

“Pink.”

Kilina tutted at a low volume. “Naturally.”

“Hey, they’re good!”

We shared a smile and held our skewers over the burning wood. The hissing of the fire as it let out pockets of remaining air filled the quietness between us. It wasn’t necessarily awkward, but neither was it calm. A tension brewed, and I wished to undercut it in any way. “Would you like wine?”

“No, Laney.” Her tone contemplative. “Gotta keep a clear head around you.”

It was a joke, I thought, but it wasn’t funny. All I could say in response was, “Okay,” as I poured myself a glass. I took a big gulp when I sat back down.

Then, she looked at me, sighed and opened her mouth repeatedly. “Look–”

“Your marshmallow is sizzling!”

“No, Laney, could I just say–”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

“Really, your marshmallow is about to drop, Kenna.”

The name made her grimace. “Laney, I just–”

“It wasn’t a rejection!” Then, it fell off the skewer.

My eyelids closed. “I told you, it’s okay.”

“It’s not, though. I just don’t want to continue hurting you with my decisions. Your home, your job, your father…”

“I killed my father. You are not responsible for that.”

“I am. Or my family is. Seeing you hurt hurts me. And I wish I wasn’t so cold toward you when I came or used sex as a weapon, you didn’t deserve it.”

“I didn’t.”

“I’m glad—”

“But you don’t get to justify your guilt by hurting me more. I made a choice. Out of all the people that I thought doubted my choices, I never thought it would be you.”

“I trust you.” She bit her lip. “I do. But knowing I’m the reason for so much of your trauma. I can’t stand it.”

One side of my mouth ticked up. “You finally grew a heart.”