Page 4 of Clandestine

The immediate eye contact that she forces upon me is lethal. I’ve betrayed her, but I can’t help the laugh that escapes me when she hands the card over begrudgingly.

“You cheater. You saw my cards.” Her pouting is the most adorable thing in the world.

“Him,a cheater? You just told me to go fish when you had a seven.” Colby’s voice raises, and Hale’s hands fly up in defense.

“Hey, you two wanted me to play. I don’t recall saying I’d play fair.”

Eventually, she wins the round of Go Fish, but who knows how many times she cheated to do so. I don’t ask. I do, however, absorb every magical moment of her child-like happiness over winning the damn card game.

While Hale shuffles the cards again, I call out to our driver and ask how much farther to Syd’s place.

The bus comes to a stop in front of Syd’s house, and Hale immediately requests out of the bench seat to use the restroom. It isn’t long before Syd is climbing the bus steps.

“Are we ready to fuck this week up or what?” she cheers loudly, wrapping her arms around my torso.

I lean down and kiss my other best friend’s forehead. Syd has been nothing but a blessing since joining the band. She was the perfect buffer that Colby and I needed at the time, and slowly, but surely, Syd and I clicked. But not in the way everyone on the outside looking in seems to think, or maybe, hope.

Syd doesn’t quite swing my direction—she says that sexuality is fluid, but she’ll never willingly choose a man—though if shedid, I probably would have made my move a long time ago. Instead, Syd and I have fun together with whatever girl we agree on during tours. She’s the closest I’ve come to feeling anything for a girl besides Hale.

Hale leaves the bathroom, and her first sight must be Syd and I locked in a tight embrace. She has no idea that Syd is a raging lesbian. I mean, how would she when we’ve barely had the chance to speak to her since Syd joined the band? Hale’s eyes bounce between Colby’s and my own, before one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows shoots up in my direction.

Syd, the outgoing soul she is, releases me and goes right in for a hug with Hale.

“I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you,” Syd says with her arms around Hale. She returns the hug, unsure at first. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t know Jackson had a girlfriend.” The look on her face is curiosity blended with certainty, and I think I’ve read the situation wrong.

“Oh,” Syd laughs out maniacally as she pulls away from Hale’s body. “Definitelynothis girlfriend.” Her laughter continues for longer than I like, and you’d think Hale just made the joke of the century.

“Speaking of, how’s yours?” I ask her.

Syd levels me with a death stare in response.

“Don’t start. I broke things off, and let’s just say, I’ll be single for a while.”

Hale’s face settles as she ingests the new information, and I watch as a different question crosses her features. It’s my turn to raise an eyebrow, but Hale just shrugs back at me and returns her attention to Syd.

“Why’d you break up with her?” Hale immediately hits her with the tough question, as they sit back down at the little table.

I slowly tune them out, letting them get to know each other while I check in with Colby.

“So this is weird.” I wave my hands aimlessly, pointing out the general situation.

“Yeah, I guess,” he says without looking up at me. “When worlds collide.”

“I’m not going to stop wanting her, Colby. It doesn’t matter how many years pass. My feelings for her remain the same.”

“So don’t make her choose.” He finally looks at me, intensity in his gaze.

I swallow roughly. “Who’s to say that’s even what she wants?”

“She wants us both the same way we want her; anyone with eyes could see that,” he says, rolling his eyes.

“But you’re her stepbrother–”

“I don’t give a shit what I am to her on a paper I didn’t sign. Just because our parents got married means very little to me.” His tone is full of certainty. I have no choice but to believe him, yet I’m not sure if Hale will see it the same way. He may think she wants him in return, but will she be able to act on it with the nature of their relationship?

“You’ve pushed her away for years. What’s your plan now?”

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