Page 131 of Kings Fear No One
Everything’s been disposed of, wrapped in tissues and tossed in the trash.
Sydney arches a brow at me when I snatch the door open and we come face to face. “You sure? You seem flustered.”
“I was just… thinking.”
“Thinking?”
“I do my best thinking on the toilet. TMI. But you’re asking, so…”
I brush past her with warm cheeks and a warning quake in my belly. She pads after me, following down the hall of the house she shares with Mason.
There’s no escaping her on her turf.
I wander into the den and park myself on the loveseat, hoping for a change of subject. Sydney being Sydney, refuses to drop the matter. I’ve ignited her sense of curiosity and once that’s piqued, there’s no slowing her down.
She collapses on the cushiony armchair, drawing her legs up to fold them like a pretzel. “I know what’s bothering you.”
“You do!?”
“Tey, give me some credit. I’ve known you for how long? I know all your tells.”
“Like what?”
“The stammering. The rushing off. Avoiding eye contact.”
“Well… you… I’m not… ugh!” I grumble in sudden frustration, words failing me.
Sydney laughs. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you.”
“You… don’t?”
“After everything that’s been going on? Why would I?” she asks, picking at a loose string she finds at the hem of her cutoff denim shorts. “You should know you can always come to me about these things.”
A sigh eases out of my lungs. “Of course. Thanks for even having me.”
“You’re basically family.”
“It’s been difficult, and I’m trying to be strong. It’s not just about me.”
“I get it,” she says. “I’m feeling the same way.”
My brows knit closer. “You… are?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Everything’s a mess. I spoke to Kori earlier. She’s barely left Cash’s side. He’s doing better. The doctors say he should be released soon. But that doesn’t change what’s happened—the storm on the horizon. I’m sure it’s a lot for you considering your situation.”
I’m still lost as to whether she understands me as well as she believes she does. It could go either way. Sydney and I have known each other since we were kids. She was several years older than me, but her family attended the same church as mine. I was more involved, attending Bible Study, behaving myself every step of the way.
As we grew older, Sydney was living life. She was skipping classes and sneaking out for parties. We never hung out together ’til we started working at the Sunny Side Up years later.
After Sydney had gone off to university, then returned to help her sick father out.
In a lot of ways, she’s always been the braver, more outspoken person I wondered if I could ever be. The version of myself that had real confidence.
But listening to her now, I’m not sure if we’re on the same wavelength at all.
“My situation?”
“Yeah, with Logan. He and the guys are gearing up to take out the Saints.”
