“What’s wrong?”
His shoulders jerk, eyes going wide. “What?”
“You look…” I hesitate, not wanting to sound like an ass. It’s barely been five minutes and it’s as though he just stepped through a hurricane. “Disheveled. Did something happen in the bathroom?”
He shakes his head. “No… Are you ready to go?”
I don’t need to have some weird sense to tell he’s lying. Or, maybe he isn’t and it’s the liquor that’s making me overthink just simply being tired.
After a second of a silent standoff between us, I turn and shout, “See you guys.”
“Bye, Keoni! Byeeee, Aydennn!”
“See ya.”
“Text us when you’re home.”
“Ayden, come back out with Keoni!”
When I look back at him, he’s already making his way out of the bar. Somethinghadto have happened.
A little wobbly, I follow him out. The game’s still on inside, though people are already filtering out—it’s a blowout, no suspense in who will win.
The cool night slaps my face, sobering me faster than I’d like to admit. I tug the tie from my bun and shake my hair out, only then realizing how much I’d been sweating. When I throw it back up, the cold air bites at the nape of my neck, sharp enough to make me shiver.
“Come on, the Uber is here.”
Ayden?Is he talking to me?
I look to my right to see him standing beside a car, and I cock an eyebrow. Sure as shit, he opens the back door, and gestures for me to get in.
With a laugh that’s far from humorous, I scoff. “Oh man, Sun—” I shake my head at him but also myself because the fact I nearly called him that isstupid. “You can drive my truck. We don’t need this.” I gesture toward the damn Prius idling beside him.
His throat bobs. “I’ve never driven it, and it’sreallydark. I don’t want to accidentally hit something. It’s fine, I’ll pay for it.”
“I’m not concerned about that.” I’m honestly not even concerned about the truck. I’m more confused than anything. “I think you’re lying. Just like that smile you keep giving me and everyone else. It’s a lie. It’s fucking weird. What’s going on?”
He takes an unsteady breath and looks down at the inside of the vehicle. The driver doesn’t say anything, which I guess I appreciate because I don’t really want to get pissy with someone else.
When his hazel eyes return to mine, heonce againplasters on a fake-ass smile.
“Nothing is going on. I’m serious, Keo.”Keo…My goddamn heart.“I’ll call the bar when we get home and let them know your truck has to stay overnight. It’ll be fine. I’d feel terrible if I crashed it…”
I know this isn’t real, this façade he’s putting on. I should know because I watched him for two years straight, nearly every single day. Something happened in the bathroom, and the fact he just won’t tell me, actually pisses me off.
What have you done to let him in, for him to tell you shit?
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you an Uber back tomorrow, and?—”
“Shut up,” I grit out before pushing past him to the passenger side. “I don’t give a fuck about the truck, Ayden.”
Circling to the opposite side of the car, I open the back door, slip in, and slam it closed. I thrust my seatbelt on and rest my head against the top of the headrest.
It takes a few seconds, but he finally slides in. Only after the door closes, I shut everything out and disappear into that dark room with no windows or doors.
I’m done.
13
