I leave them behind to do whatever goodbye it is they need to do. The best I can do is try not to picture it and get sick. When I get to my truck, I turn on the music and tip my head back, closing my eyes. Less than a minute later, the passenger door opens. My eyes open and Brady climbs in, tossing his bag in the back. Lennon’s car is already gone.
Without a word to Brady, I put the truck in drive and pull away from the curb.
* * *
“How long areyou going to sit there stewing? You could just ask.”
“Ask about what?”
Brady sighs and shakes his head, and I get it. I’m acting like a child. Why can’t I just acknowledge the giant fucking elephant in the room?
“Fine, Finn. Since you won’t ask, I’ll tell you. Nothing happened with Lennon last night.”
“TMI, friend. I don’t need to know if she prefers the mornings.” I wince as the words leave my mouth. I can’t believe I’ve just said that aboutLennon. I don’t mean to disrespect her; my hurt feelings are taking the form of a sharp tongue.
“Fuck, man. Would you knock it off?”
I spare a glance at Brady, then settle my gaze back on the road. “Congratulations.”
“Nothing happened, Finn.”
“She stayed the night with you for no reason?”
“She found something in her mom’s desk. She was upset.”
I look over sharply, and Brady shakes his head disbelievingly. “It’s fucking nuts, man. Her mom’s not her mom. She’s her aunt.”
Brady spends the next few minutes filling me in, and by the time he’s finished, my mind is reeling.
“Holy shit.” I almost don’t believe it.
“I know. She was a mess. So upset. I listened to her talk and we ended up falling asleep.”
I’m no detective, but this part of the story doesn’t ring true.
“In the pool house?”
“Yeah.”
Since we’re stuck in this truck together for another ninety minutes, it’d probably be a good idea to let him off the hook. But then, I wouldn’t be acting like myself if I did that.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Sorry, Brady, but I’m not buying it. I’ve known you for as long as I can remember, and the Brady I know would have given up his bedroom for Lennon and slept in the pool house alone, or on the couch.” I put on my turn signal and get into the next lane. “I don’t need any of the dirty details, but you don’t have to lie to me.”
“I already told you nothing happened. That’s not a lie.”
“But you ended up falling asleep together?”
“Yes,” Brady grits out.
He’s annoyed, so I press him further. “After?”
“We kissed, okay?” Brady’s voice gets louder. “Is that what you want me to tell you?”
No, not really. I don’t want any of this to be happening.
But the more I think about it, the more I see a sliver of shiny hope nestled among the darkness. “Is that all?”
If all they shared was a kiss, then she hasn’t chosen.
