curtain, worried about what Crystal might tell her.
“Do you want me to stay with you or disappear?”
It took Amber a minute to decide. “Disappear.” When Kade stepped back into the deeper shadows, she tapped lightly on Crystal’s window. Then she tapped a little harder.
The curtain was drawn back and Crystal stared at her. She quickly opened the window and pulled the screen out. Throwing her leg over the sill, she clambered outside to stand in front of Amber. The two of them walked quietly to the garden seat hidden at the rear of the yard under a green arbour.
The familiarity of it startled Amber. How many times had she tapped on Crystal’s window so they could sit on the garden seat and chat when they were meant to be elsewhere. Like in bed asleep. But it was different. This time lacked the easy flow of words.
Crystal clasped her hands tightly in her lap, staring down at them. “I couldn’t tell you sorry. I was stupid. That wasn’t forgivable.”
“Why?”
“It started as an innocent kiss. At least, I thought it did. I was sad you’d left. He was comforting me.”
“You could have pushed him away.” Amber stopped the words that wanted to pour from her. She focused on releasing her anger. There was no way she wanted to let the panther escape.
“I was shocked. He kissed me. Properly. That was the last thing I expected. I know how much you love him.”
“Not anymore.”
“Loved him. I wouldn’t hurt you. He’s been telling everyone we’re dating. I’ve been denying it. He’s been saying we don’t want it to get back to you. Everyone believes him. I was terrified you would too.”
Amber threw her arms around Crystal. “You idiot. Of course I wouldn’t. I know you. I couldn’t understand why you didn’t tell me about this.”
“I was confused. There are so many rumours flying about. The worst is that you’re not coming back. Tell me that’s not true.”
“Crystal…” What could she say? She feared the same thing.
Crystal pulled away, standing to face her. “It’s true, isn’t it? Why didn’t you tell me? Why’d you let me think it was only for a couple of months?”
Amber rose. “Because Mum lied to me. And I don’t know for certain, but I think it might be true. Or it would be if I weren’t going to uni next year. She can’t keep me in Hicksville then.”
Crystal giggled. “Hicksville?”
Amber smiled. “Yep.”
Crystal threw her arms around Amber. “I’ve missed you so much. In future I promise to talk to you no matter how stupid I’ve been.”
“You better.”
“How’d you get here?”
“A friend gave me a lift.” Amber forced herself not to hesitate over the last word.
“Friend?” Crystal’s voice was uncertain.
“You have nothing to worry about. No one could take your place.” Amber turned to scan the yard. Her eyes locked on Kade. When she saw he watched her, she beckoned him forward.
“Oh!” Crystal stared at Kade, speechless.
“Kade, this is Crystal.”
“Is this who you’ve replaced Josh with?”
“How do you want me to play this, Amber?”
She was tempted, but her friendship with Crystal was worth more than that. “No. We’re just… friends. Armed enemies sometimes, but mostly friends.”
“A pity. That’d really burn Josh.” Crystal grinned.
Amber couldn’t resist grinning back. “Very tempting.”
“I could go and get my phone to take a pic.” Crystal glanced between them.
Kade shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Wait right there.” Crystal dashed back to her room.
“You don’t have to.” Amber turned to Kade.
“I know.”
“Why are you?”
“I heard what you said. He’s not worth tears. Focusing on revenge is a better choice.”
“Why do I get the feeling that revenge is your answer to a lot of things?”
Kade grinned. “Survival of the fittest. That includes never showing weakness.”
Crystal hurried towards them, phone held aloft. “I’ve got it. Get close.”
Kade wrapped his arms
“Do you want me to stay with you or disappear?”
It took Amber a minute to decide. “Disappear.” When Kade stepped back into the deeper shadows, she tapped lightly on Crystal’s window. Then she tapped a little harder.
The curtain was drawn back and Crystal stared at her. She quickly opened the window and pulled the screen out. Throwing her leg over the sill, she clambered outside to stand in front of Amber. The two of them walked quietly to the garden seat hidden at the rear of the yard under a green arbour.
The familiarity of it startled Amber. How many times had she tapped on Crystal’s window so they could sit on the garden seat and chat when they were meant to be elsewhere. Like in bed asleep. But it was different. This time lacked the easy flow of words.
Crystal clasped her hands tightly in her lap, staring down at them. “I couldn’t tell you sorry. I was stupid. That wasn’t forgivable.”
“Why?”
“It started as an innocent kiss. At least, I thought it did. I was sad you’d left. He was comforting me.”
“You could have pushed him away.” Amber stopped the words that wanted to pour from her. She focused on releasing her anger. There was no way she wanted to let the panther escape.
“I was shocked. He kissed me. Properly. That was the last thing I expected. I know how much you love him.”
“Not anymore.”
“Loved him. I wouldn’t hurt you. He’s been telling everyone we’re dating. I’ve been denying it. He’s been saying we don’t want it to get back to you. Everyone believes him. I was terrified you would too.”
Amber threw her arms around Crystal. “You idiot. Of course I wouldn’t. I know you. I couldn’t understand why you didn’t tell me about this.”
“I was confused. There are so many rumours flying about. The worst is that you’re not coming back. Tell me that’s not true.”
“Crystal…” What could she say? She feared the same thing.
Crystal pulled away, standing to face her. “It’s true, isn’t it? Why didn’t you tell me? Why’d you let me think it was only for a couple of months?”
Amber rose. “Because Mum lied to me. And I don’t know for certain, but I think it might be true. Or it would be if I weren’t going to uni next year. She can’t keep me in Hicksville then.”
Crystal giggled. “Hicksville?”
Amber smiled. “Yep.”
Crystal threw her arms around Amber. “I’ve missed you so much. In future I promise to talk to you no matter how stupid I’ve been.”
“You better.”
“How’d you get here?”
“A friend gave me a lift.” Amber forced herself not to hesitate over the last word.
“Friend?” Crystal’s voice was uncertain.
“You have nothing to worry about. No one could take your place.” Amber turned to scan the yard. Her eyes locked on Kade. When she saw he watched her, she beckoned him forward.
“Oh!” Crystal stared at Kade, speechless.
“Kade, this is Crystal.”
“Is this who you’ve replaced Josh with?”
“How do you want me to play this, Amber?”
She was tempted, but her friendship with Crystal was worth more than that. “No. We’re just… friends. Armed enemies sometimes, but mostly friends.”
“A pity. That’d really burn Josh.” Crystal grinned.
Amber couldn’t resist grinning back. “Very tempting.”
“I could go and get my phone to take a pic.” Crystal glanced between them.
Kade shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Wait right there.” Crystal dashed back to her room.
“You don’t have to.” Amber turned to Kade.
“I know.”
“Why are you?”
“I heard what you said. He’s not worth tears. Focusing on revenge is a better choice.”
“Why do I get the feeling that revenge is your answer to a lot of things?”
Kade grinned. “Survival of the fittest. That includes never showing weakness.”
Crystal hurried towards them, phone held aloft. “I’ve got it. Get close.”
Kade wrapped his arms
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