Page 22 of Rumor Has It

Chapter 4

Boone

“Kenzie. What the hell, Kenzie?” My throat feels as though it’s closing off. I call after her, wishing I could take it all back. “Mackenzie!”

I hesitate a minute too long, and she’s halfway across the parking lot when her destination comes into view. I’m speechless and mad as hell. I should’ve known the second I let my guard down, here he is.

“What in the hell is she doing?” I grind my teeth, watching Mackenzie as she marches toward Reed Thorton. “Kenzie, don’t you dare do something this stupid.”

She turns to look at me, no doubt knowing she’s making a mistake. “If you think you’re going to make me jealous with this little show, you’re damn right, and it’s not gonna end well.”

My body quakes as anger races through me. It’s like a train wreck, and I can’t look away, watching Mackenzie walk straight into the arms of my best friend and biggest enemy.

“Son of a bitch!” I close my eyes tightly when Reed leans in, taking the one thing I’ve always wanted— Mackenzie. We’ve been played, and the damage has only begun.

I fist my hair, turning my back on the most important person in my life. I rear back and kick the hell out of my Jeep. I want to scream, and for the first time, at Mackenzie.

Jerking my door open, I jump into the seat and do my best to put as many miles between us as possible. I take the corner and hit the gas, burying my foot through the floorboard.

“What just happened?” I hit my steering wheel, trying to dissipate the anger surging through my body. “The one person who can destroy us both because I’ll be damned if I allow him to hurt you just to prove a point to me.”

Highway Seventeen is a parking lot. I decide to get off the next exit and take the backroads home. Besides, I need the extra time to calm down before I implode. “How could you?”

Completely lost in thought, I blow through a traffic light, nearly causing an accident. I immediately pull off the side of the road, my emotions overcoming me. I throw it in park and lay my head back against the seat.

“Hatch!” a voice yells, startling me. I twist in my seat before spotting Walker Pennington jogging up to me. “Are you alright?”

“Dude, you missed that car by this much!” Riley shoves his hand in my face. “You drove like a boss.”

I open my mouth, but can’t say anything. The entire day has been so jacked up, and I have no words except for the ones that hurt the most. “She kissed Thorton.”

“C’mon, Hatch.” Walker motions to Riley. “Our house is right here. Riley will drive you.”

“Yeah, I need a minute.”

Riley pats my shoulder as I stumble from the driver’s seat. I’m not sure how I get around the Jeep, but before I can focus, we’re pulling into their driveway. Riley parks beside Walker, while he waits on us to catch up.

Walker gives me a tight smile when Riley tosses me my keys. “You alright, man?”

“Hatch, come in for a few.” Apparently, I’m a little more jolted than I thought.

I nod, climbing from my seat. “I’m not sure what happened, just lost my train of thought.”

“It’s understandable, that’s a helluva blow.” Riley opens their front door, allowing me to walk in front of him.

“I’m not sure why Mackenzie would do something like that; she knows he’s a douche canoe.” Walker’s dislike for Reed Thorton runs as deep as mine.

“I didn’t say it was Mackenzie.” I try desperately to deny his assumption, but Walker and Riley have been childhood friends of mine for so long, I think I’ve lost count. Did I mention, they’re brothers?

Riley chuckles as he rifles through the refrigerator. “That ship has sailed, Hatch. We all know. Why do you think the walking asshole came after you two?”

“Because it’s what he does.” Walker points to the couch as he sits on the other end. “It’s what he did to Sally, broke her heart and drove her into the arms of the guy who killed her.”

I rub my forehead, trying to banish the thought of Mackenzie with him. It’s not working. “I don’t understand. What do you mean by ‘everyone knows’? What do they think they know?”

“Is he kidding?” Riley stands in front of us, his head bouncing from me to Walker. “You’re joking, right?”

Walker shakes his head. “No, they both think we all have no clue.”