Shameful by May Dawson
34
Legacy
The next morning,I was groggy-eyed after tossing and turning all night, in between Rhett andWest.
“She’s got to give up on him,” Rhett said to West. I overheard them as I walked through the hallway; the two of them were in the ballroom.
“I am!” I cried, marching in to face the two of them. They looked up guiltily from where they stood on the training mats. “I don’t love him anymore. How could I? He’s a monster.”
West gave me a doubtful look. “Then how does he still have so much power overyou?”
“I don’t know. Is it because he and I were…” I turned my face away, embarrassed by the words.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Rhettsaid.
“I don’t understand why it still hurts so much.” I whispered.
“I don’t know,” Rhett said. “I never had amate.”
West didn’t answer. He never did. But he wandered over to the grand piano in the corner and began toplay.
Rhett held his hands out to me. “Are you too mad at me to dance?”
“I never manage to be mad at you, Rhett. At least not forlong.”
“You’d be the onlyone.”
The two of us were dancing, and West was laughing at us both, when the front door slammedshut.
I froze, but Rhett spun me and kept dancing withme.
He twirled me again, and I was laughing when I spied Killian leaning against the doorway at the far end of the ballroom.
“Aren’t you three just living your best life?” he asked, his voicedry.
I almost stumbled, but Rhett caughtme.
“You can’t cut in,” he toldhim.
Killian’s face was taut. “I’d like a word with you, Rhett. West.”
“Later,” Rhett said. “We’ve got nothing buttime.”
Killian stormed towardus.