“Really.” I used to buy whatever Blair sold by the gallon, but I stopped scooping her shit down my throat like ice cream once I discovered she was spoon-feeding me lies.
“Yeah, really. She said she’s in training to be the town whore and that she’s ‘playing the player.’ Trying to get him to believe he’s actually falling in love.”
My stomach bottoms out.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, nor do I want to. Why don’t you go back to Dartmouth, or didn’t they want you there either?” I didn’t need to say it. I could have picked up my briefcase and bolted for the door, but a part of me wanted to push in the dig to let her know I didn’t appreciate what she did. Although, in the end, I’m glad it happened. I don’t know what I would have done if Kenny walked into my life, and I was still serving time with Blair.
“I’ve come back to you.” Her eyes widen like cesspools filled with malice and loathing. “I came back for us. We spent four years as a couple.”
“Four years I’ll never get back.” I shut my laptop and slip it into my briefcase.
“We had good times, Cruise. It doesn’t have to end like this. We could forget all about that guy and all about this silly girl. We could be Cruise and Blair again and spend the rest of our lives together. I won’t ever bring her up, I swear.”
Blair spins her fantasies like a witch trying to cast an impotent spell, and a laugh gets caught in my throat. “You won’t bring up my fiancée because you won’t be around to do it. Kenny and I belong together, not you and me.” I stand, towering above her. “Sorry things didn’t work out for you and that, what was it? Basketball player?” I head to the door and turn around. “Heard you cheated on him just like you cheated on me. Looks like we both get what we deserve. I get true love, and you get screwed.” I head out of the building so fast my heart tries to detonate out of my chest.
That felt good.
Damn good.
18
Kendall
Chain Reaction
Lauren was kind enough to pick up a pizza for Cruise and me, so we don’t need to worry about dinner. She thought it was awful what Blair did. She went as far as saying she was going to lay into her the next time she saw her. Of course I protested for like a second, but if Lauren is determined to kick some “white trash ass,” then who am I to stop her?
After a quick shower, I wrap myself in my fuzzy Hello Kitty robe then reapply the mascara I cried off at the thought of Cruise ever wanting to marry someone as vindictive as Blair. At least he had the good sense to break it off with her. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out she’s driving the entire fucking crazy train.
I try to hide the red patches all over my face with foundation in the event Cruise asks what’s wrong. That run-in with his ex is the last thing I want to talk about. I’m just not ready to go there. I’m too afraid that Cruise is keeping her under the cuff because maybe deep down inside he still has feelings for her. Anyway, Cruise isn’t a cheat. I can tell by the way he loves me.
By the time I make my way back to the kitchen, the pizza is cold, so I heat up a slice. My foot snags on something under the microwave stand, and I pull out the human leash I spotted the first morning I was here.
A dull laugh rattles through me at the sight of the kinky cord.
I pluck the dust bunnies off and examine it. Long red and purple straps are interwoven throughout the chain. It looks strong enough to walk an elephant.
Lavender feathers and spikes decorate the three cuffs that dangle from it. The steel collar flexes in my hand as if daring me to try it on for size.
I look into my reflection in the black glass of the window and snap it over my neck until it clicks in the back.
I guess it looks sexy, even if it does have bondage and discipline written all over it. I pluck at the collar to take it off and the latch jams. I head over to a mirror and twist it around and the buckle doesn’t seem to have release mechanism.
“Crap,” I whimper. Surely there’s a key for this satanic contraption. I’m not going to wander through life with a leash dangling from my person. Am I? I’ll get wire cutters if I have to. People get jewelry sawed off their bodies all the time. Although, this is one solid sheet of steel, and it sort of looks impervious to getting hacked off without taking my head along as a causality.
My phone vibrates, and I pick it up. It’s a text from Mom.
At the airport. Andrew is picking me up. Will head straight to the bed and breakfast. See you in a little while. Can’t wait!
My mother? I give the collar a hard yank, and it doesn’t loosen. In fact—it just cinched a little tighter, and now it’s getting difficult to breathe.