Oh my goodness, but Kendall had been at her most argumentative the past two days. Putting the divorce case behind them relieved Fee. She’d foreseen smooth sailing ahead. However, she preferred ten cases where spouses were at each other’s throats to another hour of Kendall’s disagreeability. “You’re right, but chauffeuring has never been in my duties. Why are we starting now?”
“You work for me. I don’t answer to you.”
Fee gritted her teeth, swallowing back her irritation. “I thought we were becoming friends. As your friend, I can question you.”
“You’re on the clock, Fee. Remember?”
Whatever. Instead of saying that and turning their bickering into a full blown argument, Fee nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
“Oh God, you’re so fucking sensitive. Even worse than Meggie. Of course you’re my friend. You’re my family and my assistant. I adore you. You’re smart and trustworthy. I’d trust you with my life. My children’s lives,” she added with meaning, touching Fee and further proving she’d made the right decision to stay silent, and act as Kendall’s support system. “I’d trust you with my deepest secrets. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here with me.”
Fee grabbed Kendall’s hand, squeezing with gratefulness. She’d lost contact with all of her friends after suffering so many losses in so short a time. Her mother’s death had devastated her. The abuse at Mike’s hands stole all her self-esteem. Once her sisters and nieces were murdered, she broke completely. Without Cash being there for her, she wasn’t sure where she would’ve been at this point.
She’d wanted Cash as her own. It was just recently…Saturday night…yesterday in the park…that she realized how much she liked them. They each had qualities she valued. Cash was chaos and strength. Stretch was peace and calm. She saw herself as the bridge between the two, the missing link they each needed.
In light of everything, pointing out her feelings wouldn’t appease her brother.
He already blamed himself for the decimation of their family. Without Meggie, Fee wasn’t sure what would’ve become of him. Neither she nor Zoann had been in any condition to offer him the type of support he’d needed to get through that darkness. They’d reassured him that it hadn’t been his fault. Val had helped Zoann through her heartache. Cash had stepped in for Fee, bringing in Stretch not long after.
Fee had been so into Cash, she hadn’t cared, until the second time and Cash and Stretch had sex. Before then, she hadn’t realized Cash was bi. That hadn’t bothered her. It was comprehending that she’d been competing for his affection with someone he had an established relationship with.
Now, Kendall was giving her the opportunity at friendship. It took more than approval to be a friend. It took trust. Without it, no relationship had any meaning, romantic or platonic.
“Did you have something to tell me?” Kendall snatched her hand out of Fee’s. “You’ve been staring at me like a moron for two minutes. I’m going to be late for my meeting.”
Fee giggled at Kendall’s abrasiveness, hugging her on impulse. “Thank you for being you. For taking me under your wing. Being my friend and trusting me.”
Returning the embrace, then stepping back, Kendall softened her look with a smile. “I mean every word.”
Fee considered Kendall, not ready to start off again. Being in Cash’s neighborhood, remembering all the times she’d spent in his bed, at his house, overwhelmed her. She needed to unburden herself to someone. Kendall might even offer advice. “You’d really trust me with your life and your secrets?”
“Of course. We’re friends. That’s what friends do. Trust each other.”
“Right.” Fee swallowed, nervous at exposing her affair. She hadn’t had the best track record in judging people. But Johnnie adored Kendall and, for all their arguing, Meggie also liked Kendall. “I need to tell you something,” she whispered, like a dumb ass. No one was near them. “You have to keep this under wraps, though.”
Kendall’s eyes lit up. “That juicy, huh?”
Fee nodded.
“Continue.”
“Your promise, Kendall.”
Raising her right hand, she made the sign of the cross over her heart. “My lips are sealed.”
Fee drew in a deep breath, hoping she made the right choice and ignoring the little warning voice that told her to proceed with caution. Kendall was more than her boss. She was family, who was showing herself as Fee’s friend. “I’m having a secret affair with Cash and Stretch. Christopher has forbidden it. I think I’m in love with both of them and I don’t want to end our affair.”