Page 96 of Waiting for Her

“You never, not once, looked at me the way you look at her—or even spoke about her.”

I don’t respond because thereisno response to that. I’m not about to deny it but saying she’s right isn’t exactly kind, either.

“Why?” she finally asks when she realizes I’m not going to give her the reaction she’s looking for.

“Because she’s the only one for me. I’m sorry, but I fell in love with Bri long ago and some feelings you can’t turn off.”

“Why am I so unlovable, huh? Tell me! What did I ever do wrong? I was everything you needed. I would’ve been the perfect wife to you.”

“I don’t need perfection. I need someone who’s going to love me through the ups and downs of life.”

“Oh, like she was there for you when you had no future ahead of you?”

I raise my eyebrows even though she can’t see, wondering if she heard the words that just came out of her mouth.

“She was. Maybe not physically. But she’s always been with me. She’s the driving force behind everything I do.”

“Soshe’sperfect.”

“Nah, I didn’t say that. But she is perfect forme.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“What is it you can’t believe? You tried to destroy the person who means the most in the world to me, all because you were jealous? What about the fact you most likely ruined her career out of spite? And you all but admitted you loved me because you thought I was an easy ticket now that I’m finding success? Or, was it the fact you think I’m shallow enough to want to be with someone just because they look good on my arm? Because if that’s what you can’t believe, I’m right there with you. I truly cannotbelieveI was friends with someone for as many years as I was and never, not once, could see through your superficial exterior.”

“Grady,” she murmurs.

“You’re better than this. Reach deep and find your self-worth. I’m sorry I didn’t help you discover it. Had I known this is where your headspace was, I would’ve done something to help you. Hear me when I say this because it’s gonna sting, and I gotta admit, I hate it too, but we can no longer be friends. Don’t breathe Bri’s name, talk about my team, or tell people you and I are together. We’re done.”

“I was there for you when you had no one else!”

“I’ve never been alone, Kennedy. My family was by my side, so was Blake. But I will be forever grateful for the support you showed me after my accident. I hate that it was all a lie.”

She sucks in a breath and I know I hit a nerve.

Being mean isn’t in me so I know I can’t leave it like this. It would haunt me forever. “I’m sorry, Kennedy. I wish it were different. It’s always been her.”

“I never stood a chance, did I?”

“I told you in the beginning we could only be friends. I wish you’d believed me then.”

“Me too.”

“Good bye, Kennedy.”

I hang up the phone after her whispered good bye and send up a prayer she follows through and drops her bitterness she has toward Bri. And Ireallyhope she doesn’t cause any more problems. However, I fear the damage is already done.

Bri

“So that’s it, huh?”

“I’m sorry, Bri. We can’t have your name as the byline. You’ll be a contributor to the article, but this is how it has to be. You knew it was coming as much as I did.”

“I know.”

It’s been a week since we found out about Kennedy going toSI.The day after I first spoke with Simon, he called and told me to send him everything I had written on the article so far. Our Senior Editor Charles had faith in me and my work, according to Simon, but he still needed to evaluate what information I’d gathered, the interviews I’d conducted, making sure I was being fair. He also confirmed Kennedy was the one who called them, but she told him she was calling on behalf of a concerned member of the SMS staff. Just so happens, one of her good friends who works for the paper decided to do some digging of her own.

Apparently, she isn’t very good at her job as a reporter and only managed to get half-assed information. Either that, or Kennedy only listened to the parts she wanted to hear. She also forgot she’d signed some non-disclosures about Grady specifically because of the school’s commitment to usingSIexclusively for the story.

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