Page 63 of Risky Little Affair
“Yeah. Thanks again for inviting all of us. That was really nice of you,” I say, keeping my back to her so she can’t see my face. It’s the truth, it was nice of her, and I am grateful, but I feel like I’m lying to her, and my lack of a poker face would have her doubting my sincerity in a heartbeat. “You sure you don’t want to come down to the pool? We’re all just chilling. Sipping on cocktails and gossiping.”
“Pretty sure Kendall has no interest in hanging out with me right now,” she says so low I can barely make out the words from across the room.
Turning around, I find her sitting on the arm of the couch, head bowed in shame.
“You know, I don’t have a sister, so I don’t get how either of you can treat the other person so mean, but I do have a great relationship with Piper. I think of her as a sister, and I’d never treat her the way you guys have tonight.”
“You’re right.” Lifting her head so her eyes meet mine, she continues, “You don’t get it. She has everything, she always has, and for the first time in my life, I have something great and she’s still better than me.”
“Better than you? Kora, it isn’t a competition.”
“It sure feels like it. We were getting along great before I went away. Now, she has a boyfriend she didn’t even want and here I am, single and alone all the time.”
My brows pinched together in confusion. “So that’s what this is really about? Her having a boyfriend?”
“No. It’s about her having everything. About how she doesn’t even have to try, and she gets exactly what she wants. The perfect life. Perfect friends. Perfect boyfriend. And all I get is a fuck buddy who refuses to acknowledge me in public.”
I want to press her for more details. So I can kick the guy’s ass for treating her this way. For tearing apart her self-esteem. For making her devalue herself. But I don’t. Because that’s not what she needs right now.
“Fuck him,” I state firmly, moving to stand in front of her. “If he can’t see how great you are, he doesn’t deserve you. Because you’re a wonderful person, Kora. When you’re not trying to tear other people down or belittle your sister. I know it’s a defense mechanism. I realize you’re protecting yourself from getting hurt. I’ve seen it before.
“I used to do something similar. I’d ignore everything around me. Focus only on school. I wore clothes that were two sizes too big for me, so I didn’t draw attention to myself. But you know what? That didn’t do me a damn lick of good because when the right person came along, they broke down all my walls. Peeled back the curtains I sheltered behind and saw me for who I really was. That’s the kind of person you want standing beside you. Not this jackass who fucks you then sends you on your way. You deserve better, Kora. I hope you realize that.”
Fresh tears stream down her face as she stares up at me in awe.
“What if he’s not the one running away after? What if it’s me?” she finally asks after a long stretch of silence.
“Then I’d say you’re more afraid of getting hurt than I ever was.”
Kora nods her head in acceptance before pushing off the couch and moving past me. Watching her over my shoulder, she silently searches through her bag, pulls out her swimsuit, and heads into the bathroom. Once she’s dressed in a basic black bikini with a hot pink cover up, her beautiful, blonde hair piled on top of her head, we head down to the pool side by side.
Kendall is the first to spot us. She launches off her lounger and into Kora’s arms before we’re even through the door. They embrace and converse in hushed tones for a few minutes before joining the rest of us.
“I’m sorry,” Kora starts.
A mix of “It’s okay!” and “No big deal!” echo through our little circle.
“No, it’s not. I was being a bitch, and I am genuinely sorry. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you guys. I honestly did want to come up here to have fun, but if you guys want to head back to campus I’ll understand.”
“Hell no,” I jump in, even though the idea of seeing Micah even a day early excites me. “We’re here to have fun and I say we get started.”
Cheers ring out as Lo hands Kora a drink. The tension has melted away for the moment. I just hope it can last another thirty-six hours until we get back to campus. I’d hate to think I just wasted my breath for nothing.