“Let’s get to somewhere we can all be alone,” Caleb whispers.
“I know just the place.” I lead the four of us past Neva’s shindig, over to the quiet side of the lake where the boathouses sit unassuming, watchful, as the party rages on in the distance.
“I got a key, if you want to head in,” Keith offers.
“No.” Caleb leans against the railing with me snuggled warm in his arms. “I think we should stand out here for a while, visible yet secluded. We don’t want to make it seem like we went our separate ways.”
“Would you look at all the stars? You don’t see these at Yeats. The city hides the stars with its bad breath.” Brylee wraps her arms around his waist as they mimic Caleb and me. “So what went down with you guys anyway?”
“I cheated. We broke up. The end.” Keith’s eyes glow like fireflies in this dim light.
“That about sums it up.”
“Something must have happened to make you upload those videos.” She looks to Keith with innocence.
The truth bubbles up the back of my throat like acid, about as controllable as vomit. Here we go.
“I didn’t upload those videos,” Keith says it low while staring me down as if wanting me, of all people, to admit it.
“I don’t know how we ever got here.” A mean wind blows past us, and we all huddle a little bit closer. “But I did do something I’m not proud to admit.” The whites of their eyes glint back at me as if the three of them are expecting some spectacular confession. “I lied about the videos. I told Caleb I didn’t know you were filming. The truth is, I was ashamed. It’s not something I ever aspired to do. And since I’m in a confessing mood, I really cared about you Keith, but there’s something you should know. Those summer breakups you seemed to plan regularly? Caleb was there for me. This isn’t anything new. Caleb has had my heart from the beginning.”
Keith blows out a breath. I can tell he’s trying to process this all—pissed by my last admission.
“I’m sorry.” I shudder. “I just want to get it all out in the open. No more secrets. I’m done with it.” I take a deep breath, fighting the tears begging to come to the pity party. No, thank you. This is about being a stronger person not a blubbering nitwit. “There’s something else I’d like to share. Keith already knows this but—you see, years ago, I lied for my mom. She and my dad were getting a divorce, and she basically gave me a script. It read like the white trash diaries. She made me tell the court all kinds of terrible things—that he abused us—that he brought women over into my mother’s bed in broad daylight.” My lips quiver, and I take a moment to quell the tears. “She made me tell the court that I saw him doing a line of coke in our bathroom with some whore. It was a load of bullcrap, but my mother was so hurt. She was so terribly hurt that my father would bang this twenty-year-old girl who was interning for him. She was desperate to get him back. Anyway, my sister didn’t side with her—I did.”
“That’s pretty screwed up.” Brylee clutches her chest like she might be sick.
Keith takes a step in. “I should have made you go to therapy the first time you said anything. You went through a lot, and you kept it all from the world. You were cold and distant, and it’s because this has been eating away at you ever since.”
“Sorry. I liked my walls.” I strangle Caleb with my grip as if confessing to him in code. “You think we should get going?”
Caleb nods. His eyes glow a brilliant blue even in the dull moonlight—the color of protection, the color of love. We head back toward the party, content with our little show.
“Hey, Ken?” Keith comes over just as Caleb and I head for the cabin. “I just want to say I forgive you. No hard feelings. Tonight wasn’t just an act. I didn’t mind hanging with you.” He pulls me into a solid embrace, and it feels like we’ve just shed a lead coat.
“I forgive you, too. No hard feelings.”
Caleb and I head into the house and quietly make our way to my bedroom. I’ve never had Keith spend the night here, and for that I’m grateful. I open the door, and just as I’m about to switch on the lights, he glides his hand over it.
“We won’t be needing that.”
“Oh? Are you about to cross-examine me?”
“I’m about to investigate an entire body of evidence.” He runs his finger over my hips. “A beautiful body that belongs to a beautiful soul. I’m proud of you, Kennedy. You did good out there.”
A wicked laugh gurgles from me, low and quiet. “I’m about to do even better in here.” I pull him in by the collar. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of having you in my bed? Of course, there’s not much room. I’ll have to be on top all night.”
A dark growl comes from his chest. “Sounds like the perfect bed to me.”
I stiffen a moment as Brylee’s words come back to me. “Can I ask you something point blank?” It’s going to be awkward, but I’m done with skirting any big issues only to find out later down the line that there was more than a shred of truth to it.
“Shoot.”
“Are you—how do I put this?” I steady my eyes over his. The eyes are the only ones I really trust. The mouth, I’ve found, is simply a puppet of a wicked, wicked, brain. “Are you fucking Zoey?”
“What?” His head inches back, his face locked in horror. His eyes shouthell no,and I can tell it’s the truth. “Not now, not ever.”
“Just wanted to be clear. I didn’t think so, but someone mentioned they saw you two at the lake—that Zoey wasn’t dressed.” I wave the ludicrous idea away. “I trust you completely, Caleb. And if you ever did cheat on me, I think I really would lose my mind. Anyway, I’m sorry I had to drag you here.” I pepper the rough stubble on his cheek with kisses. “But I couldn’t stand another night without you.”
