“What’s wrong with you? She was my date. You just had to come in and flaunt your money to get her to suck your dick, huh?”
I freeze, waiting for Keaton to deny it. Once again, I’m disappointed.
“It doesn’t matter what I did. Now go run off before I punch that smirk right off your ugly fucking face. Better yet, why don’t you leave.”
I step between them, giving each a hard look. “You both are disgusting pigs. I want nothing to do with either of you.” I turn to Wayland. “Learn to keep your hands to yourself and maybe you could keep a date. As for you, Yates.” I turn back to Keaton. “I have never and will never suck your dick, nor will I ever do any other sexual activities with you, money or not. Stop playing games and grow the fuck up. Women aren’t pawns for you to have a dick-measuring contest with.”
I don’t wait for a response. I turn, wading further into the party, hoping to find someone to give me a ride back to my car.
✽✽✽
Keaton
“I don’t get what your problem is.” Sage’s voice behind me startles me.
For the past hour, I’ve been sitting here, trying not to let my gaze stay on Morgan for too long. I’ve been keeping my distance since our altercation after the movie. For Tinsley. I wouldn’t mind another verbal sparring session with Morgan, but Tinsley would get her panties in a twist; then I would never hear the end of it.
“I don’t have a problem, dear sister.”
“Sure you do. It’s that attitude of yours.” She takes the seat next to me and stares at the party before us.
“What are you talking about? I’m the playful and fun Yates, always up for a party and a nice piece of ass. Didn’t you know?” Even I can hear the bite in my tone of voice.
“That’s who you were when I met you—or at least that’s who you wanted everyone to believe you were. That’s not who you are.”
“Really? What makes you so sure?”
“I know you. As much as you like to present this unaffected, macho male demeanor, I know it's a facade. You are so much more than that.”
“Whatever you say,” I mumble, not wanting to get into it.
Wayland Maze makes his way over to Morgan and Tinsley, joining their conversation easily. My hand tightens on the beer bottle clenched in my hand. Undeniable jealousy sparks inside me as he places his hand on Morgan’s lower back. She smiles up at him as they continue to talk.
“Hide all you want, but I know the emergence of this new side of you has something to do with that Morgan girl.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Then enlighten me.”
Feeling like a bottle about to burst open, I finally tell someone about that day.
“She left me, Sage. We were best friends. I spoke with her every single day. She was the sixth member of our group. She was more than a friend. She was family. Freshman year of high school, she was socially awkward, but in a cute, quirky way, and I was the outgoing one. I still spent all my time with her and stuck up for her whenever anyone would comment on her weird quirks. I loved her unconditionally, just as I do Reed or Tinsley. Then, one day, she just disappeared, left for some dance academy and never looked back. She never even told me goodbye. Now she shows back up here like she belongs, like she has a right to be in my world after disappearing three years ago without a trace.” I jump up and pace. “Well, not without a trace. I went looking for her once. When I found her, I was working up the courage to approach her when two girls joined her. They started laughing and talking, and that’s when I realized she didn’t need me anymore. She abandoned me and moved on.” I rub my hands over my face.
Sage’s tone softens. “That’s when you decided to put on the facade. Easygoing, fun Keaton was born. That’s why you don’t let anyone in. She abandoned you like your parents did.”
I shoot a glare her way, but she holds up her hands in defense.
After a moment of silence, she speaks up. “What made you trust me? Let me in?”
I shrug and sit back down before answering. “You’re different. I won’t lie. At first, I only talked to you because you’re hot. Then I saw the way Reed reacted to you, so I took a second look. I saw what he saw. You were dangerous, but not for the reasons he thought. You were dangerous because you had nothing to lose. You needed us just as much as we needed you. Plus, you were going to be banging Reed, so it’s different. Not like with Morgan. She was….” I trail off, unable to put into words how she used to make me feel.
“She was your first love.”
I choke on the drag of beer I just took, coughing as she slaps me on my back. I look up and find many eyes on me, one of which is Morgan’s. She quickly looks away when my gaze meets hers.
“I didn’t love her. Not like that. Even if I did, it can’t change what she did. It doesn’t change that she’s unapologetic for it now.”
“Keaton, you’re being an idiot. Even I can see that the girl has a lot going on inside that head of hers. She’s hurt and closed off. I don’t know why, and it’s obvious you don’t either, otherwise why would you be being such an asshole? I expect this behavior from Reed, but not from you. If you care about her even a little, then prove it. Be her peace. She already has warring voices inside her head reminding her of every little thing that has caused this negativity to set in
