I watched as Kenna walked down the street, keeping my eyes trained on her until she disappeared from sight.

I just hoped she wouldn’t vanish from my life, too.

44

Kenna

My breaths came quicker and quicker as I power walked down Main Street. I shoved down the sobs that wanted to surface. I had to hold it together. I could feel Crosby’s stare on my back. I didn’t want him to know that I was falling apart. Going to pieces because I loved a man who didn’t love me in return. You didn’t forget about the people you loved. You didn’t hide things from them. At least, that wasn’t the kind of love I wanted.

I rounded the corner onto Bay Street where I was supposed to meet Bell and Corrie to look at this new office space. I doubted it was in my price range. All of these buildings had ocean views. I tried to focus on crunching numbers in my head, going over how much rent I could afford. It wasn’t working. I kept seeing Crosby’s face in my mind. Alicia with her arms wrapped around him. Nausea swept through me.

When I caught sight of Bell, the tears I’d been holding back began to fall, spilling over quicker and quicker in silent tracks down my cheeks. As soon as Bell could make out my face, she started jogging over to me. In a matter of seconds, she had me wrapped in her arms. “What is it? Grant? What happened?”

I shook my head against her hold. “Crosby.”

Bell let out a very creative string of curses. “What did he do?”

“He—he doesn’t love me.”

Bell pulled back, grasping my shoulders. “Did he tell you that?”

“He didn’t have to. He said it loud and clear with his actions.”

Bell looked doubtful. “Come on. Corrie sent us a text and said she’s going to be fifteen minutes late. Let’s go sit on the beach.”

I followed Bell towards the water. I needed a few minutes to get myself under control. But that wall I’d meticulously built to seal away all my emotions didn’t seem to work anymore. Crosby had eaten away at it with his challenge to experience everything life had to offer. And now I couldn’t put it back together, no matter how hard I tried.

Bell tugged me down onto a worn log. “Tell me what happened.”