“A lot of fun,” I said, feeling uncomfortable with the lie.
So fitting. I’d just started opening up and being honest with him, and suddenly there was something I had to deceive him about. It would have been funny if it hadn’t seemed so cruel.
“I’m glad you stayed a bit. Keeping Liam in line, are you?”
“Doing my best.”
That he even mentioned Liam made me wonder if he sensed anything more was going on. It didn’t sound that way, and how could he have known anything when even I wasn’t sure what was happening between us.
“But seriously, hope you’ve been able to make some time for him,” Eric added. “I worry about him. He’s kind of a recluse. Needs to get out more.”
Oh, if only you knew…
“I don’t think you have to worry too much about him. It’s been good. It’s been nice to get away for a minute.”
“But you’re keeping on top of your work and studying?”
That was a much more difficult question to answer. If anything, all that had transpired had led me to an awareness that maybe my dreams had changed, that they weren’t what they once were. And yet, I felt like an ass for saying that was the case when I was so lost and confused, not just in my life, but in the current predicament I found myself in.
“Yeah.” My voice cracked as I replied, and I couldn’t have sounded less sincere if I’d tried.
“Good, I guess,” he said in a way that made it clear he didn’t believe me. “Have you called Tricia today? She’s starting to get a little worried.”
“What? Why?”
“Ah, your mom. She says you’ve beenoffrecently. Do you feel like you’ve beenoffwith your mother?”
If anybody would know, it was her.
“Maybe a little bit.”
“Is everything okay, Ty? You sound on edge.”
I opened my mouth, knowing I wouldn’t say anything to compromise Liam or the others, but wanting to say so much. It reminded me of when I had that secret about my sexuality to keep to myself, how I just wanted to blurt it out.
However, I bit my tongue.
It nearly killed me as I forced out, “Ah, maybe just a little hungover, Eric.”
My chin quivered.
Living a lie all over again, but now for such a different reason.
Eric laughed. “Fair enough. I think you deserve some party nights, considering you’ve been working so hard. Well, it’s been good talking. You want to talk to Jesse? He’s here.”
“Oh, yes. Please,” I said, surprised by the desperation in my tone—grasping at some semblance of normalcy.
It was strange to think how when all this shit hit the fan with Liam, the cabin had felt like a fantasy, but now it was my real life that was starting to seem like the fantasy…one I feared I might never be able to get back to.
Jesse came on the line. “Ooh, look who it is! Mr. Private Number again. What’s up?”
I chuckled at his remark, and he gave me a hard time about getting my phone fixed and losing the disposable—working off the lie I’d conjured up to head off any questions about why I was calling from the unfamiliar number. Then we chatted a little bit. I tried to steer the conversation to what was going on inhislife.
“Everything okay, man?” he finally asked. “You sound a little shaken about something.”
Damn him and Eric knowing me well enough to call me out on this.
“No, it’s fine. I was telling Eric I’m a little hungover.”
