Page 84 of Homewrecker

Klair didn’t respond.

“I love him,” I said again.

“Okay.”

My chest tightened. “That’s it?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know.”

“Congratulations?”

“You’re being an asshole.”

“And you’re sleeping with someone’s husband.”

Klair reduced six months of my life to six words.

“He loves me too.”

“That doesn’t make it better.”

“I didn’t say it did.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to.”

“I’m not!”

“Blair, what are you doing?”

That hurt more than everything else. A tear slipped down my cheek and I wiped it angrily. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t fucking know.” My voice cracked. “I know how it sounds.”

“It sounds bad because it is bad.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you still there?”

Because he loved me. Because I loved him. Because he’d framed our pictures. Because he remembered things no one else did. Because he knew when I was overwhelmed before I said it. Because six months had passed and what started as something shameful had somehow become the happiest part of my day. Because every time I tried to look at Ravenna directly, Caleb gave me another reason to look away.

“Because I love him,” I whispered.

Klair exhaled. “Love isn't supposed to make you stupid, Blair.”

I swallowed. “No.”

“But you’re using it to justify stupid shit.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m your sister. I’m not Gabby. I’m not Mama. I’m not Daddy. I’m not going to tell you some shit is okay just because telling you the truth hurts your feelings.”

“I know.”

“You grew up watching Daddy do this.”