Attention What If

Chapter 54

POV: Skylar

When I arrive at Darleen's house, I use my code to get inside. Darleen is probably at counseling right now; her car is not in the driveway. When I walk inside, I find Kenzie crying on the stairs, covering her face as she sobs loudly.

She looks up when I walk inside.

"Skylar," she says in surprise. "You... left her?"

"I did," I walk over to her.

She sobs again, and I pull her into my arms.

"I'm sorry," I say to her. "I'm sorry I let her treat you like that all the time. I'm sorry I never stood up to her. I'm so sorry."

She clings to me and cries and cries. I can tell she's been holding those words back for so long, waiting to tell Jade how much she's truly hurt her. This is a deep level pain that couldn't wait a day longer to see the light of day. Hopefully, she can finally begin to heal from all that.

Hopefully I can.

"Come on," I scoop Kenzie up in my arms. "Let's take a breather, not think about Jade right now."

She lets me carry her all the way to the pool, then past the pool to the hot tub.

"I don't have my swimsuit," she sniffles.

"Me either," I shrug. Then I kick off my shoes and shirt and pants before setting my phone down and stepping inside in only my underwear and sports bra.

Kenzie blushes but quickly does the same.

I pull her into my arms and let us both sink deeper into the hot water.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you ever again. Not Jean, not Jade, no one." I assure her.

"Does this mean you acknowledge my feelings?" Kenzie asks.

"Don't ask me that right now. I'm done with love, forever. I'll just stay single forever." I say.

"You don't have to let her have that power over you," Kenzie says.

I feel my eyes water, and I'm on the verge of another breakdown.

"Uh... what's going on?" Darleen walks into the room.

The sight of her makes me start crying. I have to turn away so she won't see me.

"Skylar," Darleen says.

"It's a long story, join us?" Kenzie offers.

So Darleen strips where she stands and gets in.

"Skylar," Darleen walks over to me.

"Um, does the offer to get me a one-year lease still stand? Because I can't hide out at Jade's house anymore." I say without facing her.

"What happened?" she pulls me into her arms.

I just broke down and buried my head into her chest, sobbing loudly and hard.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay. I'll get you an apartment, no problem. Shh, shh, shh," she soothes me.

"I'm such a fucking idiot. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I'm so sorry, Darleen." I sob.

Then Kenzie starts crying again and also throws herself at Darleen.

"Whoa, okay, can someone tell me who hurt my girls? I'll kill them." Darleen pulls Kenzie into her embrace with me.

That gets us to laugh.

"I mean it," Darleen smiles.

So we take a breather and tell her everything from Jade showing up out of nowhere to Jade slapping Kenzie, to me and Kenzie disowning her.