Page 88 of Kiss Me Ever After
I wouldn’t have had to deal with Robert.
I wouldn’t be on a train right now, headed back to Ealynn Sands to make sure Justin was still alive.
What kind of sick, twisted individual does that to someone else? To make them think they’re about to be a parent, then tell them it was all lies, for the sake of getting rid of a rival? We weren’t in the playground any longer; we were grown women. Not only did I hate Candace for what she’d done to me and Justin, but what about the poor guy who was actually the baby’s father? Did he know of her deception and that she’d been spreading lies for her own gain?
Lennon: I hope to God you’ll stay out of my way when I’m back home. I’m on my way to see Justin right now and you need to keep your distance. Never contact me again.
Candace: I’m sor-
I switched off the phone. My breath came in fast gasps as I tried to comprehend what I’d just found out. If I felt like this, how must Justin have reacted when he found out the truth?
I had to get back to him before it was too late.
39
Justin
“Justin?For fuck’s sake, wake up!”
Alex’s voice cut through the fog in my head as he shook me.
“Gettooff me,” I mumbled. “Leave me alone, I want to sleep.”
“Not happening, buddy, get up!”
My eyelids were heavy, and I could barely open them. Slowly, I became aware of two shapes trying to help me up—Alex and Curtis. The ground grazed my back as my t-shirt rode up and they pulled me to my feet. I staggered around while they steadied me.
“What have you taken?” Curtis demanded.
I pointed at the empty whisky bottle across the road. “No pills. Just drink.”
“Fuck’s sake, Justin, I’m one hundred percent sure you shouldn’t have been drinking on top of those meds.” Alex shook his head as he put my left arm around his shoulders while Curtis did the same with my right. “Let’s get you home.”
“I don’t have a fucking home,” I yelled up at the sky.
“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re coming back to mine.” Even in my dazed and confused state, I could see the furious look on Alex’s face.
He and Curtis bundled me into the back of Amber’s car and slammed the door behind me. I let my head loll onto the rest and attempted to stay awake.
Earlier that summer, I’d had everything.
A great place to stay.
Lennon Cole.
Now, I had neither of those things.
All because of Candace’s lies.
If I never saw that double-crossing bitch again, it would be too soon.
Amber waited for us at the front door to the Kane’s house. She whispered something into Alex’s ear, and he nodded solemnly.
“Let’s get you upstairs,” he said.
My two friends hauled me up to my room, where Sonya waited with a pint glass of water and a bucket. After Alex and Curtis left, she handed me the drink without saying a word.
Under her watchful gaze, I drained the glass.
