“She’s sleeping with Cameron.” Emma picks her fork back up and aggressively stabs a strawberry.
Jake shrugs. “I could’ve told you that. They’ve been doing it since Kami’s birthday.”
My head whips so hard that my neck cracks. “How the hell did you know that?”
Emma smacks the table. “So I was right!”
Jake chuckles. “I saw you sneaking out the back door at the party, and Cameron came down the same stairs three minutes later. Doesn’t take a genius to put the pieces together. You guys really should’ve tried harder at hiding it.” He bites back into his apple and wiggles his eyebrows. “So, how was he?”
Slapping his shoulder, I can’t help but laugh. “That is so not the point. Why didn’t you tell me you knew?”
Em leans forward, a worried expression lining her face. “The more important question is, why didn’tyoutell us?”
“Yeah, Kami, we’re your best friends. Why didn’t you tell us you were dating him?” Levi looks at me with a hurt expression.
Jake grabs my shoulder. “You’re dating him? I thought you two were just hooking up.” He grits his teeth together. “Is he treating you right? Has he hurt you?”
My head drops to the table with a thunk and I groan much louder than intended.
“We aren’t dating!” I’m tired of this back and forth, tired of the questions, and tired of them having to know everything. I can’t help but yell in frustration. “We promised to keep what we’re doing a secret. I don’t need to tell you guys everything about my personal life, but I am sorry that I’ve been lying to you.” Pulling my head back up, I look at each of them. They all stare, patiently waiting for me to continue. “I know it’s wrong, but it happened. We have this raw attraction to each other, there’s no other way to describe it. Hatred and anger turned into sex and I’m not sure what changed, it just did. Please don’t judge me, I already feel guilty enough as it is.”
Tears threaten to fall. This is exactly what I didn’t want. Now that I’ve told them the truth, it feels too real, and all of the guilt and emotions I’ve been holding back are taking control.
“Shit, please don’t cry.” Levi takes a clean napkin and wipes away the lone tear that’s gliding down my cheek. His touch is sweet and delicate and reminds me why he’s one of my go-to people to talk to about these things.
“Who are we to judge you?” Jake states and points to Levi. “Not over his ex, but deeply desires to find his person and always chooses the wrong ones.”
“Hey,” Levi answers angrily. Jake ignores him and points to Em next. “Interested in everyone’s dating life, but refuses to talk about her own. Seriously, what is up with that?”
She slams her fork down again. “Hey! You have more issues than all of us combined.”
He smirks and gestures to himself. “Endless daddy issues, secretive to a fault, and has a huge fear of commitment.”
My tears halt at his unexpected use of the moment to expose everyone’s insecurities.
Jake takes a sip of his black coffee and shrugs. “She was pushed into talking about her private life and current vulnerabilities, it’s only fair to do the same.” He glances at Em and Levi, whose faces are a disturbing shade of beet red. “Don’t give me those looks. I exposed myself the most, and if it wasn’t for your nosiness,” he waves his spoon at Em, then Levi, “and your endless stream of questions and unnecessary curiosity, then Kami wouldn’t have felt attacked. Try talking to her like a normal person next time. Just look at how you two are reacting to your own personal issues being aired out. Doesn’t feel too good, does it?”
Levi and Em side-eye each other, having what seems to be a silent conversation. Finally, they both nod and their faces return to their regular color.
“We’re sorry,” Levi says sincerely.
I’m still too dumbfounded to speak. Jake deserves a massive round of applause for what he did. He said everything we’ve all been thinking, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s as if a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
A laugh slips out. Em and Levi look at me in confusion, but Jake smiles. Another giggle escapes my lips until I’m clenching my stomach and tears are streaming down my face with laughter. Jake is the first to join, and my two other best friends jump in not too far behind.
After a minute or two of everyone in the dining hall staring at us, all apologies are accepted and we go back to normal, recalling last night.
“So this girl takes the body shot and slips a piece of paper with her number on it under my pants—” Jake is cut off by his phone ringing with an incoming call. The screen readsJ.Greymoore.Everyone of us seems to have caught the name because we all go silent.
Jake’s face goes from goofy to his stern business look. He clicks the green button as he stands. “Good morning, Sir.”
The three of us swap glances as he walks away, and we eat in silence, waiting for his return, knowing better than to talk about what might be happening between father and son. Whenever he calls, it’s either about the family business or to scold Jake about…well, about anything.
After a couple of minutes, Jake sits back down and takes a sip of juice. We respect his silence and finish our meals. He doesn’t bother touching his food again. When all of us have finished, he speaks up.
“For the first time in months, a tabloid got a hold of a scandalous picture of me.”
We go wide eyed. That means the picture was taken here.
