Liam laughs. "The Erin I remember would snitch on us for every little thing."
Kennedy glares at Liam. I ignore him and squeeze Kennedy's hand. "I'm excited."
She hesitates before smiling. I'm about to ask what's wrong when Liam speaks.
"So am I. Excited as hell. I think the last time I went was years ago."
I freeze, keeping my eyes on Kennedy. Her smile fades and her eyes flick away before returning to me.
Slowly, I turn to Liam. "What are you talking about?" I ask in a low voice.
Liam looks at me like I'm stupid. "Lonsdale Bay, obviously."
I stare at him, my stomach sinking. "What?"
"I'm going too," Liam explains.
2
Liam: The Promise
Curtis's cornflower blue eyes stare at me, unblinking. Curtis looks as basic as you can expect — blue eyes, burnished golden hair, tan skin. Straight nose, square jaw. Boring. I don't know what possessed Kennedy to date him. She claimed he was a gentleman. Yeah right. No teenage boy is a gentleman.
"Curtis…" Kennedy begins.
Curtis drops her hand. "What… what?"
"Oh shit," I say, a smile spreading across my lips. "Don't tell me you didn't know." Curtis acts like he knows everything. It's nice to see him like this.
"I meant to tell you," Kennedy says.
He shakes his head. I'd say I'm surprised at how devastated he looks, but this is Curtis. His hatred for me almost rivals mine for him.
"They said he had to come," Kennedy says, her voice pleading. Kennedy almost never pleads — look what Curtis has done to her. "Either that, or you couldn't come. It's not that bad, Curtis."
"I'm a delight," I say.
He glares at me. "How long did you know?" he asks Kennedy.
"A week," she admits. "I'm sorry. I should have told you."
Curtis narrows his eyes at me, as if to say, I know this is all your fault.
He's wrong, of course. Kennedy's parents begged me to go with them to Lonsdale Bay and keep another eye on Kennedy and Curtis. I wouldn't let them down, not when I love the beach, when I want to see Kennedy's cousins again, when I want to stop Kennedy from being screwed over by Curtis.
Kennedy touches Curtis's leg. "Are you upset?" she asks.
For a moment, I think he's going to lose it. Crack his perfect exterior with his ironed uniform and neat tie and combed hair.
His eyes shift over to me, and I pout.
His jaw tightens for a moment before relaxing, and Curtis takes Kennedy's hand. "Sorry. I didn't mean to freak out so much. This is fine."
I pretend to retch.
As always, Kennedy ignores me and shifts closer to Curtis. "Okay," she whispers.
Ew, ew, ew.
