Page 86 of Best Kept Secret

I’m safe.

Thank God. I was going crazy.

“I found chocolate ice cream. Want some?” Jenna asked. Her voice was muffled like her head was bent into the freezer.

“Sure, I’ll take some,” Kelsey replied because she couldn’t resist chocolate ice cream. Besides, she hadn’t eaten that much today.

Her phone lit up again, even though he’d promised to stop bugging her. She had to give him credit for his persistence, though. Someone else might have given up by now. Like me. The realization brought on a fresh wave of pain.

I swear this is my last message of the evening. If you want to talk tomorrow, I’m available anytime. Call, come over, or send me a text, whatever you want. I’ll be waiting. Goodnight, Kels.

She sighed and then typed: Goodnight, Hudson.

“Two bowls of chocolate ice cream coming right up,” Jenna trilled from the kitchen.

Kelsey took one last look at her phone and then turned it off. If they kept texting, she was afraid she’d invite him over, and she wasn’t ready to face him, not yet.

Jenna entered the room and handed her a heaping bowl of ice cream. “Here you go.”

She laughed, noticing Jenna’s bowl looked the same. “Did you leave any for your sister?”

“Nah, but that’s okay. We need this more than she does.”

She chuckled again, feeling better just knowing Jenna was there to commiserate with her. For a while, they ate their ice cream in silence, enjoying the chocolatey goodness.

“There’s nothing better than chocolate for soothing a broken heart,” Jenna said.

Kelsey gave her a sideways glance, wondering who’d broken her heart. She decided not to push, though. Jenna would tell her if and when she wanted to.

“Do you want me to stay with you tonight?” Jenna asked in between bites.

“You don’t have to. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

After they finished the ice cream, Jenna took the empty bowls back to the kitchen and put them away. When she returned to the living room, she remained standing. “Well, if you don’t need me anymore, I’m going to take off.”

“Do you have a hot date or something?”

“I do now.”

Kelsey’s eyes went wide, although she shouldn’t have been surprised. “With who?”

“A friend of a friend. It’s no big deal.”

“When did this happen? I thought you said you were free tonight.”

“He texted when I was dishing ice cream.”

Kelsey laughed. “It’s impossible to keep up with your revolving door of men.”

“Hey, that makes me sound like a slut.”

“No, just a happy girl.”

Jenna picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “I want you to be happy too.”