Secret Words(40)

"Just go," Dylan replied with a shrug.

He rounded the corner and opened the door to Dylan's bedroom. To his surprise, it wasn't only Faye that was there. Ray and Jessa were with her and all three of them were looking at him in a nervously expectant way.

"What do we have here? A party?" he drawled.

"Close the door, Kane," Faye replied.

He raised his eyebrows at them as he did what his sister asked.

"We want to ask you something."

"Okay. I don't know why I feel like I just walked into an inquisition, but go ahead."

"We want to know how you really feel about Jasmine," Faye asked softly.

He shook his head imperceptibly. Had it been obvious to them he was struggling with his feelings tonight?

"Why do you want to know?" he asked, needing time to process a good-enough answer.

"We just do," Jessa answered. "We're worried about the two of you."

He sighed. He really should work on his acting. He hadn't been very convincing, so here were people who wanted to make sure he had stopped falling apart.

"Jasmine was someone I used to care about. It didn't work out. It hurt me a lot. But I'm okay now. I've moved on," he said with a conviction he didn't feel.

"Are you sure?"

"Faye, yes," he said with frustration. The more they let him be, the quicker he'd recover from his broken heart.

"That girl you were out in the balcony with—she was your date at that big function you went to the other night, wasn't she?" Jessa asked.

"Brenda? Yes, she was."

"Do you like her?" Ray asked.

His eyebrows lifted. Hmm. Maybe this was an opportunity to get them off his back.

"Yes, I like Brenda. She's a lot of fun," he said with a genuine-looking smile.

Jessa exhaled loudly and glanced down on the floor. He frowned. Shouldn't she be relieved he was now fine after her sister tore his heart to pieces? Or was that a sigh of relief?

Jessa looked up at him with a smile of understanding. "Kane, if you say you're over Jaz, then that's that."

He kept a passive expression. "I honestly appreciate all of your concern. But everything's fine. I'm good."

"Okay."

"Can I go now?"

"Yes."

He left the room and closed the door behind him. He took a deep, calming breath before he strode back to where the party was happening. He'd have another drink in the balcony, then leave. He just hoped Jasmine didn't decide to get some fresh air. He just gave a great performance in Dylan's bedroom and he didn't want to undo the fruits of his efforts.





CHAPTER SIXTEEN





Jasmine looked out the car window, feeling despondent and achy all over.

"I know just what you need," Ari declared as she stopped at the set of lights.

Jasmine glanced at her friend with an apologetic smile. "You really should have stayed at the party, Ari. I could have caught a cab back to your place."

"Don't be silly. Besides, you were the invited one, not me. I was just your tag-along and I didn't know anyone there."

"You already met loads of people in the fifteen minutes we were there. I'm sure you would have had lots of fun with them."

"Jaz, please don't feel guilty about it. I know you would have done the same for me. And if I was in your shoes, I would have left too."

She sniffed, unable to contain her tears. Kane had a new girlfriend. And it cut her deeper than anything had ever had.

"It was all my fault, of course," she said almost in a whisper. "I was the one who pushed him away."

"You did it because you loved him," Ari reminded her softly.

"Yes. And now he doesn't love me anymore." Saying that out loud magnified the pain in her heart a hundred times.

"Well, let's stop this drama. Let's move on. And like I said, I know just what you need."

She smiled, forcing herself to shake off her despair. She was staying with Ari for the weekend and she didn't want to be a sad-faced friend the whole time. "So what is it that I need?"

"New clothes."

She chuckled. "Yes. Some retail therapy would do me good. We can start early tomorrow."

"Oh, but we are starting tonight, my dear."

"All the shops are closed! Or are we shopping online?"

"You'll find out when we get to my place," Ari replied with an air of mystery.

"I'm looking forward to it."





*******





"Okay. First, before we do this I want you to know this is on me. Clear?" Ari said.

Jasmine stared at Ari. "You're buying me clothes? I can't let you do that," she responded.

Ari smiled. "I'm not exactly buying you clothes. I'm giving you clothes."

"You want to clean out your wardrobe and you want me to take some of your discards?" she joked.