Page 10 of Reaper

Especially Kelly.

She’s always been competitive with me for some reason, and I have no idea why, but I’ve never really been competitive with her. In the past, no matter what I did or what I got as a birthday or holiday present, Kelly always had to try and one up me. While she also did it with Miracle and Khloe, it seemed like it happened more with me. Regardless of who it was, Kelly would go on and on about her accomplishment or the present she got any chance she could. While I’ve always been happy for her accomplishments and liked seeing the new things she’d get on her birthday or for the holidays, it got old pretty fast whenshe would go on about them for weeks. Sometimes even months on end. You can only compliment or congratulate someone so much before it wears on you. When things would inevitably get to that point, I would just smile and nod whenever she brought the subject up again until she eventually dropped it or found something else to brag about.

That was the one thing about her that always bugged me because I didn’t feel comfortable around her when she did things like that. There were times when I questioned why I was even her friend because of that and other things she has a tendency to do, but in the end, I didn’t rock the boat so to speak since I knew she really only had Miracle, Khloe, and me as her friends.

The fact that Kelly seduced Aiden so early in our relationship, got pregnant by him, and apparently got engaged while I was still with him, and also engaged to him, is something she’ll be rubbing in my face as much as possible. Honestly, I don’t even know if she loves Aiden. She’s always been the one out of our group that was the most into fashion and buying the latest trends, always having her hair perfectly colored and styled, her nails meticulously manicured, and driving a fancy car. She probably only sees dollar signs when she looks at him.

Wait...

The clothes...

The expensive purses and jewelry…

The even more frequent than usual hair salon and nail appointments...

The car...

Slumping forward, I cradle my face in my hands. “How did I not see it earlier?” I muse to myself before remembering I’m not alone.

“Well, Kelly is a manipulative cunt and Aiden’s being led around by his dick,” Miracle responds as her lip curls in disgust.

I shake my head. “No, that I didn’t notice she started buying fancier clothes, shoes, jewelry, and handbags more so than usual starting last year. That she was going to the hair and nail salons more than usual. And the BMW... Aiden must have been behind all of that. She said Richard and Jessica approved of their relationship, which means they knew he was seeing her behind my back while Aiden tried to get his hands on our land since Richard couldn’t.” I’d had that last thought last night as well but just hadn’t connected the rest of the dots.

God, I’m such an idiot...

Khloe hums. “Not too long after you guys started dating, she did change and became more critical, snarkier, and just downright bitchier than she had been before. Fuck, you might be right, Lark.” She gives me a sad, sympathetic smile and I’m grateful it isn’t filled with pity instead. I can’t take pity right now.

Taking another sip of coffee, I shake my head as my phone chimes again, multiple times, with incoming texts and notifications. Reaching out for it, I end up grabbing air as Miracle snatches it out of my reach and unlocks it. I’m surprised she remembers my passcode to unlock it, but then again, I still remember hers.

Miracle’s face darkens as she reads whatever was sent to me before her fingers start texting furiously.

“M....”

I reach for my phone, but she leans to the side so that she’s even further out of my reach unless I get up. Then she takes out her own phone and takes pictures of whatever is on my phone. She then does something else before handing my phone back to me. I frown when I see no new text messages or other notifications. Looking up at her, I cock my eyebrow in question.

“Cunt and cunt licker have been blocked so that you can’t see that shit anymore. I didn’t do anything with your social media because it’s so heavily tied to the supper club, but I’m not goingto lie, she’s already started on there, too. I’d avoid her page and anything she’s already tagged you in for a while.” Her lips kick up slightly on one side in a small, sad half-smile.

My shoulders fall as I glance down at my phone in my hand. “How bad is it already?”

My voice cracks at the end, betraying how close to the edge I am again. Even though I could have asked either of them, I look up at M, knowing she won’t sugarcoat it. Khloe hates hurting people’s feelings if she can help it.

“It’s bad, Babe. I’m sorry. She’s already concocted some fake story about the whole Aiden dating both of you at the same time and proposing to both of you.” She pauses as she takes a deep breath, and I know whatever she says next is going to be hard to hear. “Lark, she... She also started posting stuff about their baby since she’s in her second trimester. They’re having a little girl. She’s already planning her baby shower and she’s posting stuff about their upcoming wedding.”

My chest tightens. I’ve always wanted children. Being an only child, I’ve always wanted siblings, but for obvious reasons on Dad’s part, it never happened. And while Ma has gone on some dates over the years after Dad left, she never settled down with anyone and had more kids. I thought Aiden might have been my forever, but that epically crashed and burned. When I was younger, I thought I would have already been settled down and having kids by now. I’m already thirty-three, so that doesn’t leave much time before I won’t be able to have kids of my own to carry on our family’s history and legacy. Fuck, maybe I should just go to one of those sperm banks and have a child on my own that way.

Shaking my head, I push that thought aside. I’m not giving up. Not yet anyway. I’ll get over this mess with Aiden and Kelly and come out stronger and more aware as a result.

With that thought, I dig into the breakfast Ma places in front of me.

After placing my dishes in the dishwasher, I open the cabinet under the sink and grab the box of garbage bags. Standing, I square my shoulders as I turn to look at my family, Miracle, and Khloe. I’m determined not to let Aiden and Kelly dictate how I live my life. Like in the past, I’ll just let whatever Kelly says roll off my back, even if it does sting or draw blood on the way down. The most important thing is that all of this came outbeforeI walked down that aisle and said yes.

The Cox family willneverget their hands on our land.

My gaze snaps to Pappy’s at that thought, and he gives me a nod of encouragement. Having his support means the world to me, and I stand a little taller. Ever since Dad left, Pappy and my uncle Mark have stepped up and helped support and guide me as I grew up. My eyes sting a little at the thought that I’ll someday have to say goodbye to Pappy since he’s already eighty years old, and I just pray it isn’t anytime soon.

Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention toward Miracle and Khloe. “Time to collect the tinder.”

Ma steps forward and it’s only then that I realize she has cleaning supplies in her hands. “I’ll tackle the bathroom while you three take the bedroom.”