Page 59 of Brushed and Buried
“I knew it. You obviously don’t remember me.” She releases my hand but doesn’t step back. “I still remember you two in the art room after school. Adrian was so obvious with his crush back then.”
The memory hits me like a physical blow. The smell of chalk dust and fixative. Afternoon light streaming through those tall windows in the old wing. Adrian’s easy laughs and little glances at me that I didn’t know what to make of at the time.
“Ayaka,” Adrian says quietly, warning in his voice.
But she’s clearly delighted by this unexpected reunion. “Oh man, the stories I could tell about this one.” She gestures at Adrian with her thumb.
My face feels hot. Adrian’s jaw is tight, his professional composure finally showing cracks.
I completely forget we have an audience.
Lance’s eyes widen, understanding hitting him first. “Wait, you knew each other?” His voice is sharp, disbelief cutting through. He looks between me and Adrian, bewilderment and realization warring on his face. “So you’ve actually…known each other this whole time?”
Trevor’s expression shifts from confusion to shock. “That explains the last few fucking days,” he mutters, more to himself than anyone else.
George frowns, confusion flickering across his features. He closes his eyes briefly and shakes his head, pressing his lips together as if to stop himself from saying anything aloud.
My gaze sweeps over them, steady but tense. I can see the shock simmering behind their eyes, the restraint in their posture, and I let it be. I don’t need their words right now, just the quiet, uneasy acknowledgment of what they’ve realized.
Ayaka’s expression shifts to apology. “Oh, wow, I didn’t realize that was…a secret or something. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“That was a long time ago,” Adrian says, voice carefully neutral.
Ayaka’s smile becomes knowing. “I mean, you’re both here now, and you look so good together. I’ve always wondered what happened after graduation, especially after things didn’t work out with the scout.”
The world stops.
“I was so worried when you told me about trying to commission that mural for the football college scout back then,” she continues, oblivious to the way the air has suddenly become unbreathable. “I thought it might be too risky, trying to help Vince by proposing you do some work for him and ask him to reconsider your man’s scholarship. But obviously things have worked out, and you two ended up together.”
The words hit me like a physical blow, but they don’t make sense. Nothing about what Ayaka is saying makes any sense.
What the fuck is she talking about?
My mind reels as I try to reconcile her casual comment with the memory burned into me, the one with Adrian stepping out of that hotel room, disheveled and guilty. Years ago, I swore I wouldn’t forget that moment, and I’d never let that kind of pain touch me again.
“Ayaka.” Adrian’s voice cuts through the moment like a blade, quiet and patient, but firm. “We’re not together. We haven’t been together.” He pauses, and I can see him choosing his words carefully. “I’m here doing coordination work for Trevor’s wedding. Vince is his best man. We haven’t seen each other in years.”
The silence that follows is deafening.
Ayaka’s face drains of color, her hand flying to cover her mouth. “Oh god. I…I’m so sorry. I thought…” She looks between us, horror dawning in her eyes. “I just assumed…you and him here together…”
Trevor stands frozen, his mouth slightly open like he’s been slapped. Lance has gone completely rigid, staring at me with something between disbelief and betrayal written across his face. George just closes his eyes and runs a hand over his face, like he’s trying to process information that doesn’t compute.
“It’s fine,” Adrian says, smiling at her, but his voice is strained. “Just…a misunderstanding.”
But it’s not fine. Nothing about this is fine. The air feels thick, suffocating, and I can feel my friends’ eyes boring into me like accusations.
“We should focus on the ceremony space,” Adrian says, and his voice cuts through the noise in my head. “Shall we go have a look?”
My head’s spinning. None of this adds up.
Later, when we’re finally alone on the terrace, the confrontation I’ve been dreading begins.
“All this fucking time, Holloway.” Lance’s voice is flat, trembling beneath the surface. “You knew him. And you never said anything.”
I lean against the railing, staring out at the water like the answer might float by on the waves.
Trevor steps beside me, his voice tight and raw with hurt. “We’ve been your friends for years. We tell each other everything. Everything. I didn’t even know you liked a guy. I mean, I know that doesn’t matter, mate, but seriously? You just…kept this? Even from me?”
