“Holy shit,” Sawyer said through more laughter.“No wonder you two always wanted to be accountability partners.Aiden never let me fuck him.”
“You never asked!”Aiden’s outrage transformed into horror as he realized what he’d said.
But before he could take it back, everyone started laughing.Tean was even surprised to find himself laughing—in part because of the ludicrousness of the moment, but also out of relief as the tension that had been running through the weekend suddenly snapped.
“Oh my gosh,” Quinn was saying through his laughter.He was running one hand through his hair.“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I said that.”
“I can’t believeAidensaid that,” Beckett said.Without making a big deal about it, he took Quinn’s arm and pulled it around his waist.The surprise on Quinn’s face was barely a flicker, and then he settled into the new position, hugging Beckett against him.
“I don’t see what’s so funny.”That was when Tean realized that not everyone had been laughing.Nora’s cheeks and forehead were mottled with red, and her nostrils were white as she breathed harshly through her nose.“I don’t know why everyone’s laughing.We all made sacred covenants to keep the commandments.That’s why we’re here.We’re here so you can get better!”
Pain etched lines on Quinn’s face, and he turned his head away.
“Maybe we don’t want to get better,” Beckett said.“Maybe we’re fine the way we are.God, you people.”
“You can’t say, ‘You people.’”Nora’s voice pitched sharply.“You wanted to change!You wanted him to make you better!”
“He’s not making us better.He’s making us crazy!”
“Okay,” Jem said.“That’s enough.”
“You should be grateful.”Nora’s voice was so unsteady she was almost impossible to understand.“You cried when President Fitzpatrick gave you a blessing!You told him he was saving your life!”
“That’s enough,” Jem said.
“You’re all glad that he’s dead,” Nora said, turning to take them all in.“And you can pretend you don’t remember.ButIremember.You all wanted him to help you.You were all desperate for anyone who could make you normal.So, you can laugh and act like now you’re free.But I remember you crying, I remember you praying, I remember you sharing your testimonies of how President Fitzpatrick brought the power of the Atonement into your life.”
Jem opened his mouth like he might say something, but before he could, Nora stalked into the bedroom and slammed the door.
Mckell blinked rapidly and turned her head down.Dean grabbed the back of the couch with both hands.Aiden stopped pacing and simply stood there, arms wrapped around his stomach.
Sawyer said, “She’s just mad because her mom and dad are going to throw a fit.”
“Wow,” Quinn said.“Come on, Sawyer.”
But Sawyer only shrugged.
“What about you?”Jem said.“You met with him Friday morning.”
“Oh yeah,” Sawyer said.“And I really pissed him off.”
“You’re such a fucking tool,” Beckett said.
“You want my tool?”Sawyer said.He spread his legs and cupped himself.“I get it.Quinn doesn’t exactly fill out his joggers.”
“Grow up,” Quinn said, but from the grip he had on Beckett’s waistband, it wasn’t clear which one he was talking to.
“What did you and Gerald talk about?”Tean asked.
“Stephen,” Sawyer said.“He’s a fake.I tried telling President Fitzpatrick, but he didn’t want to hear it.He started yelling, and I figured whatever, it’s his problem, not mine.If he’d listened to me, he probably would still be alive.”
“Oh my gosh,” Beckett said.“You aresuchan asshole.”
“What?Stephen killed him.I tried to warn him.He didn’t listen.It’s pretty obvious.”
“What did you try to tell him about Stephen?”Tean asked.
And at the same time, Jem said, “What do you mean he’s a fake?”
