Kylie Cantrall's Arc

Chapter 69 of 78

Kylie held the phone and said nothing. Her mother waited on the line. Outside, Arianna stood by the pool with the puppy in her arms, watching through the glass. Kylie had made a promise weeks ago. They decided everything together now. But she had turned off her cell without asking. She had heard about the boat photo last night and said nothing to her wife. She had let Arianna dance and sleep while a threat sat between them, hidden. Her mother's voice pushed through. "The label wants an answer. Why is there a boat? What are you doing out there?" Kylie looked at Arianna. The old habit pulled at her. Handle it alone. Fix it before Arianna worried. That was exactly the thing she swore she would stop doing. "Hold on," Kylie told her mother. She set the receiver down on the counter. She walked out to the pool deck, where the fountain still poured into the dark water. "I have to tell you something," Kylie said. "There was a boat photo last night. My mother told me before we danced. I didn't say a word. And I shut off my phone without asking you first." Arianna set the puppy down. Her face went still. "You knew last night." "I knew," Kylie said. "I wanted one clean night. So I hid it. I broke the promise." Arianna was quiet. The fountain filled the space between them. Kylie waited for the anger she felt she had earned. "I'm not mad you wanted the night," Arianna said finally. "I wanted it too. I'm mad you decided that for both of us." She crossed her arms. "We face the label together. Even the ugly parts. Especially those." "You're right," Kylie said. "Come with me. We answer her now, together." They walked inside. Kylie picked up the phone and pressed the speaker button so Arianna could hear. "Mom, Arianna's here. We're both on now." Her mother paused. "Both of you. Fine. So what is the boat?" Kylie glanced at Arianna. Arianna nodded. This was the moment they had put off for a week. "There's no story about a boat," Kylie said. "Tell the label we're resting, like we said. That part is true." She kept her voice steady. "But you need to hear something before they push again. Arianna and I aren't just resting out here." The line went silent. Kylie felt Arianna's hand find hers. "Mom," Kylie said. "We got married yesterday. On the island. It's done." Her mother did not speak for a long moment. Then, low: "You did what?" Kylie did not let go of Arianna's hand. The secret was out of the house now. It belonged to her mother too. Whatever came next, they would meet it as wives, together, the way Kylie had promised. "We'll explain everything," Kylie said. "But you needed to hear it from me first."