“Oh. Hi.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon, but I’m glad I did. I need a favor. When you are done here could you stop by the bar and grill?”
“Um.” I bite my lip as my pulse races. What could Killian’s stepmother possibly want from me?
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” Her big smile fades into a disappointed frown, and I feel bad.
“I’ll come.”
“Great.” She perks up again, and I watch as she pays for her shampoo and nail polish.
Once she has left Sandy starts talking. “How do you know Susie Hendrix?”
“I’m friends with her stepson.”
“Killian? That’s right.” She rolls her eyes. “He hangs around Liam. Hayley’s boyfriend.”
“Yup. That’s him.”
“That boy.” She shakes her head.
“What about him?”
“He’s been through a lot. Now I’m not one to gossip,” she says, and I have to fight my laughter. All she has done all day is talk about everyone in this town. “Well his dad, Conrad, was a big deal around here because he raced cars. He was pro. Anyway, Diane, that’s Killian’s mother, she got sick. Had breast cancer. Susie was her best friend and moved in to take care of her. Everyone thought Diane was going to pass away. She was so ill and frail. Poor thing. Then Killian well he thought his dad hung the moon. He was his hero. He’s the one who caught them having the affair and Diane took it so hard she tried to end her life. He is the one who found her after school.”
“Oh. My. God.” My heart bleeds for him.
“Well you didn’t hear any of this from me. Hayley always knew Killian through school, but they never ran in the same crowd.”
I don’t know what to think. How am I supposed to go see her to ask me for a favor knowing that she screwed over her best friend in the worst possible way during the hardest time in her life. I feel sick about the whole thing. No wonder Killian is fucked up. Though I do only have one side of the story. I’m conflicted. If I go would Killian be upset with me?
Probably.
But if I don’t go, I will be wondering what she wants forever.
“Do you hate your hair?” Hayley questions as we get in the car.
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s different. I’m not used to having bangs, but I will get acquainted with having them”
“You look very mature with them.”
“Thanks.” I’m glad they are long enough to pin back out of my face. My hair grows fast. I don’t think I have had bangs since I was a toddler and it hits me. Sandy gave me bangs because she is hoping it will help James recognize me. I don’t know if I should be upset about it or not. Her intentions were good, but she should have asked me first.
“Mom gets a little crazy, but she means well.”
“I know she does. I’m starving.”
“The food here is great.”
“You um never told me that you grew up around Killian.”
“We went to the same school, but we never hung out or anything.” She shrugs.
“Was he a jerk back then too?”
“He was always getting into trouble. Fighting. Stealing cars. I was surprised when I bumped into him on campus. I figured he’d be in jail honestly.”
I stay quiet and we exit the car.