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Chapter Two - The anger makes sense.

(Possible Trigger Warning: There is mention of a eating disorder in this chapter. It doesn't go into detail, but it mentioned.)

Paxton

I watch after McKenna, confused. Why is she so mad at me? But damn, she has changed since I last seen her. She had grown up good and is damn gorgeous. I never noticed before because well, she was younger and my best friend’s little sister. Obviously, she still is my best friend’s little sister, but she is not a teenager anymore. I am not a perv; I would never have looked at her in such an inappropriate way when she was underage. I still wouldn’t do anything about it now. I would be six feet under in no time if Carter even thought I was looking at her in a different light. I wouldn’t do that to him, especially since he is letting me stay with them this summer. It means a lot.

He is the only real friend I think I have. This is the only place where I can be myself, not some global superstar. It is a safe place for me that no one else knows about. I needed to be here this summer because everything was getting too much. If I didn’t step back, I would not only ruin my career but also my damn life. I have been going down the wrong path. I lost most of who I was a while ago, but if I kept going the way I was, there would be no trace of the real me left.

I turn to Carter and sigh, “Do you know why Kenna is so mad at me?”

“I have an idea.” He replies.

I raise my brow at him, “Why? What did I do?”

“You left her. You left and didn’t even check in with her. You know she has issues when it comes to people leaving her. In her eyes, you were someone else who left her.” He replies honestly.

I can always rely on Carter, to be honest with me.

“Yeah, I didn’t think about it that way,” I reply, feeling guilty.

Kenna has always struggled with abandonment after losing her mom and gran, then her dad walking out on them. In her eyes, I am just like them. I know her mom and gran are different; it wasn’t their fault they passed away, but they still left her alone. They have had so much pain and loss in their lives. I always admired Carter for what he did, giving up everything so he could have had to take care of his little sister. They have been through a lot. Carter is a good man and I always wished I was more like him.

“Just give her a little time.” He reassures me.

I should have checked in with her. I kept in contact with Carter; I could have done the same with McKenna. I don’t know why I didn’t. We were close. I have been around most of her life. It made me feel like shit. I should apologise to her, and I will. I am sure she is disappointed in the person I have become. I am not the same guy she knew, the one who protected her and helped take care of her.

“I will,” I reply.

“Are you hungry? I am going to start on dinner.”

“Yes, I could eat.” I smile.

I haven’t had a proper meal in a few days.

“I will go and see if McKenna wants anything.” He says.

“I will go up and ask her. See if she will talk to me without being mad.”

“Okay.”

Carter tells me which room she is in and disappears into the kitchen. I ran upstairs and stopped outside of her bedroom door. I sigh before I knock. I hear her grumble a come in. She probably thinks it is Carter and not me.

She is lying on her bed on her stomach with a pair of shorts and an oversized tee. She has her glasses on and reading a book. I smile. She looks cute.

“Hey,” I say softly.

When she realised it was me, her head shot up, and she quickly took off her glasses.

“Paxton, what are you doing in my bedroom?”

“Carter is going to make dinner, and I came up to ask if you want some?”

She shakes her head, “I will get something later.”

“Have you eaten today?” I ask softly.

McKenna struggled with an eating disorder in her early teens, but she did get help for it. She said she felt like she was losing control of everything else, and it was the only thing she could still have control over. If she had relapsed, Carter would have told me. It doesn’t stop me from worrying.

“Yes, I had breakfast and lunch.” She replies.

“Promise?”

She sighs, “Yes, I promise. I haven’t struggled with it for years now.”

“Good. Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?” I ask again.

“No, not right now. I will get something a little later.” She smiles.

I nod and turn to walk away but change my mind, “Can I sit for a minute?”

McKenna nods and sits up. I take a seat on her bed. I glance at the book she is reading. It looks like a romance novel. She has always been a bit of a hopeless romantic. I am glad not everything has changed.

“What’s up?”

“I wanted to say sorry,” I answer.

She looks at me confused, “For what?”

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair, “For leaving you and never checking in.”

“It is fine. I get it. You were out living your new life. I didn’t expect you to think about me.” She whispers and pulls her knees to her chest, hugging them.

“No, it isn’t fine. I promised I wouldn’t disappear on you, and that is exactly what I did. I know that is why you were mad at me.”

She blushes, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do. You felt like I abandoned you. I didn’t mean to. I should have made more of an effort.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear and makes eye contact, “I am sorry I acted like a bitch earlier. I didn’t mean to. I was upset seeing you. You promised you wouldn’t disappear, and you did. But I can’t put all my issues on you.” She replies nervously.

I reach over and place my hand over hers, “I am sorry I broke my promise, Kenna.”

I did feel terrible for it. I always asked how she was doing any time I saw Carter, but I should have kept in touch with her, too.

“It is okay. Can’t change what has already happened.”

“No, we can’t.” I agree and squeeze her hand before I pull away.

I stand, “Well, I will let you get back to your romance novel.”

“How did you know it was a romance novel?”

“Because you have been a hopeless romantic for as long as I can remember.” I chuckle.

“Not in the way I used to be.” She shrugs.

“Why not? What changed?”

“One too many heartbreaks, I guess. No longer a hopeless romantic. I still read romance occasionally, but I read other genres more.”

What bastard broke her heart enough that she lost a part of who she was?

“That is sad to hear. Who broke your heart? Who was he? Do you want me to kick his ass because I will.”

I am being deadly serious.

Kenna giggles, “Not he, them. There was more than one. No, I don’t want you to kick anyone’s ass.”

“Hmm, okay. Anyway, I will leave you too do.” I smile.

She returns the smile and gets back into her lying position, quick to get lost in her book again. At least she doesn’t seem mad at me now; it is a step in the right direction.

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