Page 38 of The Weight Of Falling
Lucy doesn’t hear her. Or pretends not to. “We all just want to see you happy.” Her voice dips. “Which is why it’s so shocking to hear how he treated you.”
“It was just as shocking to hear you were with him,” Liz adds. “Joel Adams? Not that there’s anything wrong with him exactly, but...you know.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t, actually.”
The hint of challenge in my tone clearly catches Liz by surprise. I hear Tess give a strangled sound in her corner of the studio, and I’m guessing she’s trying her best to disguise her laughter.
“He’s not what we pictured for you,” Liz explains. “You’re the type who settles down. And Joel is...not that type of guy.”
“We always knew there was something off about him,” Lucy interjects. “The man keeps to himself. Never talks about his past.”
Sofia has already turned back to her laptop, her fingers clicking so fast it’s like she’s daring the keyboard to argue with her.
Liz tilts her head. “Sometimes you don’t really know a person. Not until it’s too late.”
Lucy nods gravely. “Men like that, they can charm you one minute and hurt you the next.”
Part of me wonders if they’re both speaking from experience. My heart goes out to them, but they’re wrong about Joel. “Joel didn’t hurt me.”
Liz’s mouth presses into a thin line. “We just want you to be careful. No one knows where he came from, why he’s reallyhere. People don’t keep that many secrets unless they’ve got something to hide.”
“We’re all just looking out for you,” Lucy insists.
“Of course you are,” Tess says sweetly, pushing to her feet. “And now that you’ve looked, you’re welcome to leave. I’m sure you both have lots to do today.”
Their faces sour, but they reluctantly turn toward the door.
Misery lodges in my throat as the weight of their words presses on me. I know Joel is guarded about his past, but hearing it twisted into something dark and ugly sparks an unexpected urge to shield him from the whispers and half-truths floating around.
And it’s not only Joel I worry about. His business depends on this town, on people trusting him enough to book him, and right now they’re treating him like a villain in their favorite soap opera. And Kate relies on him too. Their partnership has built both of their careers here. If Joel’s bookings dry up, hers will take a hit as well. The thought makes my chest ache.
I rub my thumb over my pendant. This won’t die down anytime soon. And it’s all my fault.
“You want to know the real reason I was crying?” The words are out before I can think them through.
Everyone turns to look at me, Sofia and Tess included.
And then, in a moment of pure insanity, I blurt out what has to be the most impulsive, most monumentally stupid thing I’ve ever said.
14
[MESSAGES]
KENZIE:I did a terrible thing.
JOEL:I know.
KENZIE:Someone told you?
JOEL:Yes.
KENZIE:I don’t know what came over me.
JOEL:Are you home?
KENZIE:Yes.
JOEL:I’m coming over.
