Page 93 of Trust Again

“I think I screwed up.”

“It’s not as bad as you think. It could happen to anyone…” Allie started before Kaden interrupted.

“What you did to Spence yesterday was completely uncalled for, man.” His expression was dark.

I wondered if, since he called me “man,” I still qualified as his beer buddy.

“I don’t actually remember much of what I said,” I admitted, looking down at my fingernails.

“You just ripped out his fucking heart and trampled on it in front of all of us, that’s all.”

I swallowed hard. Allie led me by the arm to the kitchen table. She offered me a chair, and I slumped into it.

“Honey, how long have you and Spencer been seeing each other?” she asked softly.

My cheeks grew hot and I looked down. “A while.”

“My God, Bubbles, you’re blind as a bat,” Kaden said.

“You knew?” she asked, disbelieving.

“He didn’t tell me, if that’s what you mean. But come on. He was so fucking happy.”

Allie made a fist and punched him hard in the bicep.

“Besides, you couldn’t help hearing the two of them in the vacation house,” he added drily, rubbing his arm.

My cheeks were even hotter.

“When did we start keeping things from each other?” Allie asked, turning back to me.

“I’m sorry.” My voice quavered.

“Don’t be sorry, Dawn. I’m just worried that you feel like you can’t talk to me. And I don’t want you to feel that way. I mean, I’m always running to you over every little thing.” Reaching across the table, she grabbed my hand and squeezed.

Maybe it really was time to tell her everything. Without exceptions. Allie was my best friend. I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me. But maybe that just meant she cared about me. That she was concerned.

So I told Kaden and Allie everything. And surprisingly, this time, I didn’t cry. Allie, on the other hand, bawled like a baby.

It had been much easier to tell her about my novels. And that should say something.

Kaden cursed the whole time. His anger at me was gone but now he cursed a blue streak under his breath about Nate. I told them everything. No holds barred. Even though I felt more vulnerable than ever, it was good to share my secrets.

“Last night… I just went insane. Nate’s call sent me over the edge. It felt like when I left him. I couldn’t take it,” I concluded.

Allie wiped her arm across her eyes. “I get it. And I am sure that Spencer would get it, too, if you explained what was going on.”

“I’m the worst friend in the world.”

“You have to set things right, Dawn. He’s…” Kaden searched for the right words. “I don’t think he took last night well.”

I had to press the bell twice before he answered the door. His hair was damp and disheveled, and the fragrance of his shower gel tickled my nose. He looked fresh and awake but there were definitely dark rings under his eyes.

Silently, he stepped aside and held the door open. If he was at all curious about the colorfully wrapped package in my arms, he didn’t give it away.

Spencer went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. His expression was dark and resigned, and I realized then and there that the apology I’d prepared was woefully inadequate.

I walked toward him slowly; his gaze seemed so foreign and strange to me, it was hard to know how to approach him. When I touched his arm, he flinched. It felt like a blow to the chest.