Asher’s complexion was bright red. “We don’t need to hear whatever bullshit That Woman has to say.”

“But what if—”

“Enough!” I roared, quieting them both. “Both of you need to calm down. You know what? It doesn’t matter what Kennedy has to say. Nothing would change the fact that she broke my heart so she could stay in Hollywood and become a goddamn icon. The type of person who does that isn’t someone I want anything to do with.”

It was the hitched breath that alerted me we weren’t alone.

I turned.

Kennedy and the man she’d arrived with were standing a few yards away. She had her hand clasped to her mouth, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

Fuck.

She’d heard everything. And based on the thundercloud expression of her companion—whom I now recognized as her brother, Blair—so had he. I meant what I’d said, but I’d never wanted to hurt her. Not like this, and especially not in public.

A sob burst from her chest, and she pivoted and ran. I took a few steps after her, but Blair blocked my path.

“I need to—”

“You need to leave her the fuck alone,” Blair rumbled. He had a raspy voice and a build that was difficult to reconcile with the scrawny fifteen-year-old kid I remembered. Apparently he’d been a late bloomer, because this guy looked like he could crush me one-handed—and had every intention of doing so. “You have no idea what went on in Kennedy’s life.” His chest heaved with emotion. “She had to go through shit that nobody that age should have to deal with. You think she dumped you for the Hollywood dream?” His face twisted with distaste. “The past decade has been far from a fucking dream.” He shook his head. “You don’t have a clue, and I’m ashamed I ever looked up to you.”

My lips parted, but I had no idea what to say. What the hell was he talking about? Kennedy had been the one to leave me. She’d ditched me in this town that was too small for her while she went on to earn millions of dollars and become a household name.

“You don’t know anything about it,” I told him, but I sounded as unconvincing as I felt.

Blair leaned forward, baring his teeth. “No, Liam. You’re the one who doesn’t know anything.”

“Fucking hell.” Anger surged through me. Anger at his attitude, at my best friend and sister for starting this debacle, and at myself for feeling like I couldn’t make sense of a really simple situation. “If I missed something, it’s because she never told me.”

Blair laughed. It sounded bitter. “Maybe not. But it’s not as though you made an effort to find out, did you?” He looked at me in disgust. “I thought you loved her.”