Lexie’s mouth opened wide. “I didn’t know that. Does Kade?”
“Nobody knew. Julian bottled up his feelings, kept the facts to himself, and started doing drugs to numb the pain.” Kendall ran her hand over her sweat pants, bunching the cotton and releasing it again in a nervous gesture.
“Why didn’t he tell his friends?”
“I don’t know. But his mother was an alcoholic, so addiction runs in his family. And his father was long gone by that time. His grandparents took over his sister’s care and encouraged him to go back to school and graduate so someone could make money to help. Because, oh, did I mention his mother had let their health insurance lapse?”
“Oh my God.”
“That’s a lot of burden on a twenty-year-old, right?” Kendall asked.
“Yes. I get that. And I understand that’s when he became an addict. But from what I was told, he was clean at the time he hooked up with you and when he did what he did to Kade. When he sued the guys for a piece of Blink.” Lexie spread her hands wide. “So…”
“So he screwed up. He admits that. He was buried in debt, and he wanted his sister to have some kind of monetary cushion especially since she has residual issues. And he was so filled with self-hatred for walking away from the guys and Blink, losing out on the opportunity because he’d turned to addiction.”
Kendall scooted closer to her sister and took her hands. “He never once used it as a reason. He said he won’t ever try and use his past
as an excuse for being a total asshole.”
Her sister looked at her, helplessness in Lexie’s gaze. “What changed then? What makes him a different man now?”
“He said he fell for me back then. And when he found out I was… am bipolar, that he’d used someone who had their own issues, who wasn’t emotionally capable of dealing with what he’d done, he hated himself. He looked in the mirror and really saw himself for the first time. And he didn’t like who he’d become.”
When Lexie remained silent, Kendall went on. “He goes to AA meetings. Often. He has a sponsor and I’ve met him and his wife. They vouch for him, Lex. They see a difference in him. Please. Just open your mind toward him a little. Please.” She held on to her sister’s hand, begging for her life. Because being forced to choose between Julian and her twin just might kill her.
“Kendall…”
“Please? Just sit with this for a little while. Let it settle. Don’t make any snap negative judgments.”
Her sister pulled her hand back and rubbed her eyes. “You’re killing me. And I have to tell Kade.”
Kendall swallowed hard. “I know.” She didn’t expect Lexie to keep secrets from her husband. “I’m just hoping maybe with a little background and perspective, Kade can… I don’t know. I’m not asking for him to accept Julian with open arms, but I’d like him to give Julian a chance, to see the man that I do now.”
“This wasn’t the fun breakfast I had in mind,” Lexie muttered.
“I know.”
“Do you? Do you have any idea the position I’m in?” She shook her head. “Never mind. I can’t make any promises.”
“I know.” But she wasn’t outright refusing to even consider the possibility that Julian had changed. That he had conquered his demons.
Lexie rose to her feet and Kendall pulled her into a hug. “Thank you.”
Lexie hugged her back. “I love you, K.”
Tears formed in Kendall’s eyes, fighting past the lump in her throat, because she honestly had no idea how this all was going to end. “I love you, too.”
Lexie stepped back. “I should get going.”
“Okay.” Kendall was disappointed.
She’d been hoping her sister would stay and at least eat the muffins she’d brought. Maybe then the hole in the pit of her stomach would disappear. But she’d dumped a lot on Lexie without any warning.
If her twin needed time, Kendall would give her time, but right now her main concern was Julian and making sure he knew everything was okay. She knew this was a conversation better had in person, but she also understood he was probably waiting to hear. She decided calling him made the most sense, would get the story to him the quickest.
She dialed his cell and he picked up immediately. “How’d it go?” he asked.
She blew out a deep breath. “About as you would expect. She was skeptical, especially at first, but I managed to calm her down and at least give her something to think about.”