Never Been Kissed by Molly O'Keefe

Ashley asked.
    “Five … I think five days ago.”
    “Same …”
    “I saw … I saw him hit you with the rifle. I saw you fall and … there was blood. He was kicking you, Ashley. I swear, I thought he was going to kill you.” Kate stopped and Ashley could hear her breathing. Not crying. Kate wasn’t a crier, even when kidnapped by Somali pirates. But she did this thing, this deep panicky breathing thing, and Ashley just couldn’t stand to listen to her distress.
    “I’m fine. I am. I have a concussion and some bruises. But I’m fine. My brother got me out.”
    There was movement out of the corner of her eye and she saw Brody in the kitchen, putting the futon back. Cleaning up the small mess. He could hear her, she was sure of it, but he pretended like he couldn’t. And she had to look away, her body too full of everything to cram in any more gratitude.
    “Where are you?” she asked Kate.
    “London. With my parents. They … they were able to pay the ransom.”
    Ashley knew she shouldn’t ask, that Kate with her pride, her tough background, she wouldn’t want to be asked. But for three weeks, three torturous weeks Kate had been sure there was no way her parents would get the money.
    And there had been no way for Ashley to tell her own family to ransom Kate with her. Ashley had thought she’d have to first get free herself and then turn around and ransom Kate, leaving her in that camp for who knows how long.
    “How did they get the money?” she asked and there was a long pause.
    “They sold the house. The car. Mom’s parents’ land up in Scotland.”
    “I’ll pay them back,” Ashley said in a rush, ashamed and grateful for her wealth all at the same time. “Just tell me how much and I will—”
    “It’s … it’s okay, Ashley. We’ve got it sorted. I’m being paid a lot of money to do … to do this press conference and there’s talk of a book.”
    “Kate,” she sighed, trying not to sound like she was judging her friend when her back was against the wall, but she was. And it was awful.
    “I don’t have a choice, Ash,” she snapped. “They sold everything, the house, furniture, all Mum’s jewelry. Theyemptied their pensions, asked Aunt Norma for money. They … we … have nothing. Those pirates—”
    “I get it,” Ashley rushed in to say, to relieve her friend of the extra guilt she’d just saddled her with. “You need to take care of your family. It’s the right thing to do.”
    “I’m sorry. I am.”
    “Can you …” Ashley stared over at the corner, at the heart of cracks, knowing the answer before she even asked the question. “Can you not mention me?”
    Kate exhaled on a loud sigh and then Ashley heard a hitch. And then another one.
    Kate was crying.
    “Shhh,” Ashley whispered as tears ran down her cheeks and over her lips. “Shhh, Kate, it’s okay. You do what you have to, honey. You do what you have to.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ashley, but the money, it’s more than you can pay me. And my parents … they’re so proud. My aunt—I have to take care of them all now.”
    “I know. I get it. Go ahead.” Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, she thought. Or, more likely, her mother would handle the fallout, make it all disappear in that way she had. Ashley chose to believe that instead of the other options. “When is the press conference?”
    “Monday morning. Nine-thirty.”
    Monday morning. That would mean it would be on at three-thirty local time.
    Ashley was suddenly drained. Exhausted, and the pain medication made the world wobble. “I … I’m hanging up now, but I’ll call you again. After.”
    “Don’t watch, Ashley. Please don’t watch. Don’t relive it. Yeri. All of it. Don’t watch.”
    “And not see your face?” she asked, and a sob tore up from her throat. “I need to see your face, Kate. I need to see you.”
    “Okay. Okay.” And again, Kate was calming her down.
    Ashley whispered goodbye, feeling herself