Page 18 of Seein’ Red

“I wasn’t suggesting you fall in love with him,” Kenzie says. “I was saying hook up with him. Enjoy being in Atlanta, away from the eyes of the town and your six older brothers, and have some fun. You deserve it.”

Kenz, if you only knew…

Placing her hand on my arm, Kenzie gives me the warm, understanding smile that makes her the town’s sweetheart. The same smile that has always made it so easy to confide in her. Because I’ve always known that no matter what, she has my back and won’t judge me.

“I saw how much Nash’s question upset you last night…”

My phone buzzes again, and this time, I’m grateful. It’s a reason not to have to respond to that last statement.

Nash

Good

So, you’re feeling better?

I said I’m fine

You were looking a little green around the gills earlier

Irritation flares in me. Green around the gills? I do not have gills.

Did you just compare me to a fish?

If the shoe fits…

You certainly don’t taste fishy though ;)

Fuck off, Nash

I slam my phone down, even more annoyed than I was when I picked it up. So much for that solving the problem.

Looking up, I see all three of them watching me intently, poised to ask the next very obvious question. The same one they ask any time I end up texting while with them. A question I don’t want to answer then, and most certainly don’t now.

“His question pissed me off because who asks that? It’s not any of his fucking business.”

“No, but it’s Nash, and he likes to push your buttons,” Kenzie replies.

“You know, if you two were in my class, I’d almost say that he acts this way because he⁠—”

“Sylvie, so help me, if you say that he acts this way because he likes me and it’s his juvenile way of trying to get my attention, I will leap across this table.”

Sylvie shrugs, the look on her face telling me that she knows her theory has merit. And it does. Because apparently it doesn't matter how old you get, you never actually leave high school.

“We know what Nash is like. He’s an instigating pain in the ass. Were we close once upon a time? Yes. But that changed. Now, being around him makes me see red. And no, not as in the color of love. As in the color of murder.”

“I still don’t know what changed between you two,” Bronwyn says.

“Neither do we,” Sylvie tells her.

I sigh, my already funny-feeling stomach twisting. The familiar pain that shows up every time I think about what happened radiates through me, starting at my heart and spreading out through my limbs. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago, and sometimes—like now—it feel like it’s been five minutes. And if I dwell on it too much longer, I’ll want to puke, which would really ruin this whole evening.

“Tonight is about Kenzie, not me,” I deflect. “We’re celebrating her. And the fact that in one week, y’all will finally be the Wilders.”

"Alright, ladies! A round of Tricky Lickys!”

“Five?” Bronwyn questions, counting the glasses. “I didn’t order one. I don’t⁠—”

“Nope, you’re not included. Your Diet Coke is right here,” he says, placing the large plastic cup filled with the dark bubbly liquid in front of her.