Page 68 of North
“Can’t we settle out of court?” Sierra sniffled, looking from her ex-lawyer to Kane. I guess she realized she wasn’t getting anywhere with me.
“No. I’m suing for the current loss of business revenue, pain, and suffering.” Kane’s teeth clenched together making his jaw flex as he spoke.
“I’ll retract everything I said. I’ll put out a new video and everything. Please let’s talk about it.”
I swallowed whole every tear and every wobble of Sierra’s bottom lip. It was delicious nectar that was well deserved after the pain she caused.
“Youwillretract everything. It’s in our terms. Take your time to read over it or find yourself a lawyer who can help you work through the terminology.” Melanie packed up her iPad and slipped it in her briefcase with a saccharine smile.
“Please!” Sierra squeaked one last time, slamming her palm against the table. I was done listening to her beg. I stood to my feet and Kane stood after me, placing his hand protectively on the small of my back.
“Sierra, I’m advising you to stop taking now.” The balding lawyer said. His reddened face shook with conviction.
I flashed her another satisfied smile before walking out of the conference room. I wanted her to feel the gravity of everything she did. I wanted the consequences to force the breath from her lungs. I wanted her to learn and grow. If she ever got another best friend, I prayed she didn’t treat her the way she treated me.
…
When Kane and I got home, I felt lighter the minute I walked through the door. I thought I would be sad. I thought I would instantly miss my best friend when I saw her in that conference room but the opposite happened. I wanted nothing more to do with her. I was sitting across from a stranger I’d built memories with. That was it.
“Hey, how are you holding up?” Kane fell into the couch in the living room and I sat beside him, propping my feet up on his legs.
“I actually feel good,” I said letting a genuine smile cross my lips. I soaked in the feeling of his strong warm hands on my feet. He rubbed them and kneaded them until they felt boneless.
“That’s how you should feel. It’ll take some time to rebuild after this hit but I’m game if you are.” His smile crashed into me like a tsunami and I was helpless against its pull.
“I’m definitely game.” It felt so good to have the burden of Sierra swept off my shoulders. It meant I could finally enjoy Kane. I could finally enjoy being pregnant.
“Good, because there’s nobody I’d want by my side more than you when I walk this journey. You’re my partner in crime. My best friend.” He leaned close to me and brushed his soft lips against mine.
A realization jolted me, making me pull away from Kane’s kiss.
“What’s wrong?” A frown bent his lips.
“I just realized I was trying to hold on to something with Sierra that I already found in you.” I wet my lips and pulled my feet beneath my body. “I didn’t need to hold on to her or try to salvage broken pieces of what I thought was true friendship. I had it all along with you.”
“You’ve always had me as a friend, North.”
“I know.” My mind went back to my sixteenth birthday and my body ached with heat at the memory of our first kiss. It was so wrong but knowing that I made Kane’s body react so viscerally turned me on while simultaneously making me feel sick and twisted. I cut him off to stave off the shame but he was still the only person in my corner no matter how many times I pushed him away or ignored him.
Kane was always my number one confidant. He understood the hurt feelings that came along with loving an addict. He lived through the helplessness and came out on the other side. I admired his strength and I wanted to possess a piece of it for myself.
“I should’ve listened to you when you told me Sierra was no good,” I admitted shoving a frustrated hand through my hair. I knew it wasn’t my fault that she lied on Kane but I couldn’t stop beating myself up over it.
I was steadily adding to the list of issues I’d have to talk to Dr. Allen about.
“North, you wanted to save something. I get it. I don’t blame you for it.” His thumb swept over my cheekbone as his eyes locked onto mine.
Green and gold on blue and gray.
Earth and sky.
Forever linked.
“I guess my heart is bigger than my brain.” I laughed but there was no humor in my voice. “I tried to save Mom, I tried to save myself, and I tried to save Sierra. I failed on all attempts.”
“No.” He lifted my chin refusing to let me hold my head down. “You didn’t. You saved yourself. You could have harbored all the bad things that happened in your life and let them harden you. You could have run from me the first chance you got. You could have handled your life differently but you chose the path that healed you.” Sincerity and love rang true in his beautiful eyes. My stomach did cartwheels and I couldn’t tell if it was because I was so madly in love with Kane or because I was insanely hungry. I knew once his thumb skated across my bottom lip that the cartwheels were definitely for Kane.
“I guess I never thought of it that way. You’re right though.” I nodded my head. “We always have choices and I could have chosen to cling to toxicity.”
