Page 34 of Unbidden

“Love you too, Tin Tin.”

They exit the car, but Victoria leans back in, tossing me her keys. “You good?”

I nod, and she and Tinsley head off.

Once we’re alone, Keaton turns in his seat, putting his back to the door.

“I had no idea they were planning to do that to you. I know you have no reason at all to believe me, but it’s the God’s honest truth. As soon as I saw Ingram pour the drink on you, I ran after you. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I left the clothes right inside the door, like I said I would. I should have waited for you outside, but I didn’t think you would appreciate that. Had I been there, I could have stopped them. Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I’m extremely sorry for what my brother and my friends did to you. They know I have a soft spot for you. That’s the only reason I can think of that they didn’t tell me. Shit, I’m fucking this up, aren’t I?”

He runs his hands through his hair, pulling on the damp ends.

I reach out to stop him, pulling his hands down between us in the seat.

“I get it, Keat. I think I was just confused. You said you would bring me the extra clothes they kept in the office, but Tinsley said that’s not a thing. Add that to my clothes coming up missing and all signs pointed to you.”

He looks down at our hands before he starts speaking. “I lied to you,” he whispers, and my heart clenches. “The office doesn’t have spare clothes, but I know Poppy does. She had a feminine accident last year. I helped take care of the issue. She swore to me that she would always keep a spare set of clothes in her locker from that day on. I’d actually seen them in there a couple of times. Her locker is only a couple down from my own. I texted her and asked to borrow them. I figured you would never know. I didn’t count on Tinsley spilling the beans.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. His eyes meet mine, and I take in the truth in them. He really hadn’t been a part of the prank.

“I’m sorry I was such a bitch to you. You didn’t deserve that. I should have listened to you. Hell, I should have listened to Tinsley. She tried telling me, but I shut her down.”

He shakes his head. “Hey, none of that. I do deserve it. In the past, that would have been me. I would have been the one doing that shit with them. Reed thinks you’re a threat to us. He has it in his mind that you’re only around to collect a paycheck and then go. He’s watched you getting closer to Tinsley, and he pounced. It wasn’t right and still isn’t. That’s why I came with you guys tonight. I won’t stand by and watch him make you into the villain anymore.”

I give him a half smile. “Let him make me the villain in his world. In seven and a half months, I’ll be leaving this place—without a paycheck, mind you. He’ll never have to see me again. Hell, if all I wanted was money, I wouldn’t have gotten a job at Momma’s House. Alice basically offered me an open bank account. I declined it. I don’t want shit handed to me. I’ve always worked for everything I’ve had. That didn’t stop because I found out that my mom came from money. There’s a reason she didn’t want me to grow up here. You don’t have to worry about Tinsley either. It’s only been a short time, but I already love that girl to death. She earned my loyalty. I’ll never do anything to hurt her.”

“You know that if you leave, that’ll hurt her.”

I give him a small smile. “I’ll stay in touch.”

“You’ll be leaving me too, you know.” His flirty tone is back.

“I doubt you’ll miss me much. Seems there are plenty of fish in the sea for you.”

He chuckles. “None of them hold my heart though.”

For a moment, I think I catch a glimpse of something inside, but then I blink and it’s gone.

“We good?” he asks after a moment.

I lean over and hug him. “We’re good, Keat.”

“Great. Let’s party, then.”

∞∞∞

An hour later, I sit next to Tinsley on a log, listening to some guy going on and on about the game, Tinsley interjecting when she feels it’s necessary.

Keaton takes a seat next to me, holding out a drink each for me and Tinsley.

“What is it?” I whisper.

“Vodka and cranberry. Seems Tinsley convinced Eric to let her drink out of his parents’ liquor cabinet rather than just the keg.”

This party is not a BA party. Victoria reminded me it was a public school party hosted by their quarterback when I asked why I didn’t see any familiar faces. They also won their game tonight, and since Keaton knows him, we were invited.

“That was nice of him. You’re letting T drink?”

“Experience, remember? Besides, I’ve stayed sober. Victoria is playing beer pong, and they convinced you to do shots as soon as you walked through the door. I can be DD tonight.”

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