Page 53 of The Rules We Broke
“Oh, I know you’re smarter than that. Yes, he loves her—and he’s the best uncle—but, Ellie, youhaveto know how he feels about you.”
“Kendra, I’m sure Brady has fond memories of me. But that’s all it is—memories.”
“I know you don’t believe that.”
“Why would I believe anything else? Have you ever loved someone who left you? Acted like you’d never existed? Then watched him fall for the one person he swore he could never care about? He wasengagedto her, Kendra. So, tell me why I should believe anything different?”
I hadn’t meant to get upset. I barely knew this woman. And I was a guest in her home.
My voice was raised, my tears were falling—both things I’d been raised to avoid.
Definitely not ladylike. Not the Eaton way.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, meeting her wide, gentle eyes. “I should probably go.”
She didn’t hesitate. She stood, wrapped her arms around me.
That broke me.
I cried harder.
“It’s okay, Ellie,” she said softly. “You have every right to be upset.”
“It was a long time ago,” I whispered. “Why can’t I get over him?”
I hadn’t expected her to answer. That kind of question didn’t have an answer.
She sat back down and handed me a tissue. “Maybe you’re not meant to.”
I dabbed my cheeks, trying to smirk through it. “Well. Spinsterhood it is then.”
She smiled, shaking her head. “You know, I have a brother-in-law who’d be happy to solve that problem.”
“Oh, Kendra, don’t you see? Brady and I can never be together.”
“Why? Because he was forced to make a terrible decision when he was a kid?”
I raised an eyebrow. “He wasforcedto get engaged?”
“Okay, maybe ‘forced’ is too strong—but definitely coerced. You have no idea the pressure his parents—especially his mother—put on him. And Amber was . . .extremelymanipulative. Ellie, he didn’t love her.”
“None of this makes sense. Even if it did, it wouldn’t change the fact that his parents hate me. Did you see how they looked at me today?”
“Yes,” she said matter-of-factly. “But if you and Brady get back together, I’ll no longer be the least favorite.”
I laughed—really laughed. She joined me.
Benjamin walked in as our laughter faded. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing,” Kendra replied breezily. “I was just trying to get Ellie to sacrifice herself, so I won’t be the black sheep in your family anymore.”
Benjamin wrapped his arms around her from behind. “My parents like you,” he said.
Kendra rolled her eyes.
I really liked her.
Caroline joined us just then, wrapped in bright purple footie pajamas, impossibly adorable. She came right up to me, arms reaching.
