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.She showed up out of love for him, for Jackson—for all of them.He loved her for that.In spite of everything, he genuinely loved her for that.So why do I feel so miserable?He took a deep breath and tried to smile at her as she unwrapped herself from JT’s arms and headed his way.She tucked herself beneath Jason’s arm, wrapping her other arm around his waist.A palpable strain still permeated the air.Jason didn’t miss the uneasy glances from Marissa and Gevin.They all loved Jennifer.She had been part of their “family” for a long, long time.Ordinarily, it would have seemed so natural to have her here again, involved in their lives again.But it didn’t feel natural.At all.Too much had happened.Too many mixed feelings.Only a few days ago, they had all sat at this same table.Now Jackson was in the hospital, Alli at his side, and Liza was incarcerated.And Jason’s arm was around someone entirely different.Chapter 20“This is getting a little old, don’t you think?”Hannah sat in her easy chair, a rumpled mess wrapped in her pale pink chenille robe.She watched Kylie survey the damage as she dropped her purse and keys on the table by the front door.She pulled off her coat and tossed it onto the back of the sofa.“I mean, how long are you going to keep up this ritual of leaving work every time you feel the tears coming on? You planning to hide out here for the rest of your life?” She walked to the kitchen and began picking up the dirty dishes.“And more importantly, am I gonna get paid for being your maid? Geez, Hannah, this place is a pig sty.”Kylie turned on the kitchen faucet then turned to look at her.Hannah stared back at her then looked down at her hands, picking at the chipped nail polish on her thumb.She heard Kylie blow out an exasperated sigh as she tossed dishes into the sink, attempting to clear off the counter.Finally, the redhead shut off the faucet.“When was last time you had a hot meal? Huh?” Kylie planted a hand on her hip.Hannah shrugged.“Don’t give me that.I asked you a question.When was the last time you had a hot meal?”“Um.I don’t know.I can’t remember.”“Well, you’re gonna have one now.I’m gonna make us some spaghetti and you’re gonna eat every bite if I have to force-feed you, got it?”Hannah moved slowly to the counter as Kylie began putting their meal together.In less than twenty minutes, she had prepared two steaming plates of pasta.The loaf of French bread she’d found in the freezer had warmed quickly in the oven, filling the apartment with a delicious aroma.Hannah’s stomach growled.She took a seat at the table.Kylie sat down across from her.Her friend made small talk as they ate, repeating how pleased she was to see Hannah eating a few bites.She tore off a hunk of the crusty bread and put it on Hannah’s plate.“You don’t have to be my nursemaid.”“Oh? Funny, it looks to me like somebody better take care of you because you're certainly not doing a very good job of it.Go on.Eat.I refuse to let you starve yourself.”They continued in silence.Hannah managed a few more bites of spaghetti then chewed slowly on the bread.Finally, she pushed the plate away.“Thanks, Kylie.”“Don’t thank me.In fact, you’re the one who’s supplying dessert.Come on, let’s go sit on the sofa.The coffee’s ready.I’ll bring it over.”“What dessert?”They settled into the living area, both nurturing hot mugs of hazelnut coffee.“You’re going to tell me everything.Whether you want to or not.This ridiculous merry-go-round you’re on is going to stop for a few minutes, and you’re going to tell me every single detail just like you promised.I know it won’t be easy.But you owe it to me, and quite frankly, I think it might be good for you.”“I don’t see how.”“Because maybe, by just starting at the beginning and running all the way through it, you’ll see it more clearly.You’ll sort through this heartache you’re suffering from and be able to find some way to handle it.”“Kylie, I don’t think—”“I didn’t ask you to think.I just want you to talk.Start at the very beginning.If it takes all night, then so be it.Now, tell me.How in the world did you happen to meet Jason McKenzie?”His name suspended in the air.The ache in her heart gripped her.She traced the rim of the mug with her finger.Finally, she took a deep breath.“It was Laura.Jason’s mom.She came into the store right about closing time on Christmas Eve.”And so the story unfolded.They laughed and cried and continued long into the night.“You were right,” Hannah said over a yawn.“Right about what?” Kylie asked.“I’ve told you everything.Every single detail.Talking about it helps.I still feel this sorrow inside me, but somehow, it doesn’t hurt quite as much.It was all suffocating me—I couldn’t handle it.But now, after telling you everything.I don’t know, it just helps.A lot.” Then she snickered.A little at first, then she laughed out loud.”“What?”“You.Your forehead is caved like some pitiful arch of empathy or something.It’s like you’ve taken on the pain I’ve shared, and it’s warped your face into this, this—”“And that’s somehow funny to you?” Kylie mourned.“I’m distraught from hearing maybe the most depressing story I’ve ever heard.And you sit there laughing at the expression on my face? Geez, Hannah.”“Oh, c’mon.Let me have a couple moments of laughter.” She wiped her eyes.“Because this may all be new to you, but I’ve been living it for weeks, Kylie.And no offense, but you look like some poor little puppy or—”“Like Bambi when his mother got shot?”“What?”“Well, I kinda feel like Bambi must have felt when his mother got shot.Remember? That horrible emptiness you felt when you saw that movie?” Kylie stared at the dust particles floating in the light of the lamp, her mind revisiting the old Disney film scene.“Your story.it makes me feel a little like that.”Hannah pulled the quilt over her legs again.“Oh don’t be so melodramatic.It’s just life.That’s all.People fall in and out of love every day.It’s no big deal.”Kylie tilted her head, not buying the nonchalant remark.“Well, excuse me, but I don’t think so.Not like this.This isn’t some college romance or.or some silly holiday fling, Hannah.”Hannah yawned and stretched, then snuggled into the sofa.“I know.”“But I’m really sorry.All this time.ever since I got back to town and you’ve been so upset and you wouldn’t tell me all this and then I found out about Jason and that you’d been actually involved with these people.Well, I was just stunned! I was so shocked that you—and them—and gosh, Hannah—it’s Out of the Blue!”“Yeah.” Hannah’s eyes slowly closed.“Blue.”“But I’m so sorry.I never dreamed anything like this had happened.And I feel so awful.” Kylie poured out her heart, lamenting her downfall as a friend.“Awful,” Hannah mumbled.“Why do you.”She waited for Hannah to finish her thought.But her own confession couldn’t wait.“I feel awful because I was so jealous! The minute I put two and two together and realized the one you were so upset about was Jason McKenzie and.and that you’d been hanging with these people? I was beyond jealous.And what kind of friend am I, that I would be jealous when you were so upset? I’m horrible.Just horrible.I’m such a wretched excuse for a friend.How can you ever forgive me? At a time when you were suffering and.Hannah?”A soft snore answered her.“Hannah?”The figure buried under the quilt on the sofa turned over and burrowed deeper.“Coffee is on aisle four on your right.”Kylie exhaled [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]