Page 50 of Secrets and Lies
Interesting. Did West tell Damon what happened? I can’t see Damon scolding West like that if he knew his friend was going through something.
Rath catches my eye as he takes a pull of his beer and gives me a knowing look. I shrug one shoulder in a move that could mean anything.
I texted Damon when West started beer number five and the twins were off doing whatever they were up to before they came over to talk to us, but he doesn’t rat me out.
“Bro’s got some shit going on,” Connor says as Damon holds out his hand and West dutifully gives him his drink.
“It’s definitely woman trouble,” Hazen says as West falls into step with Damon and they leave the room together.
“How do you know that?” Connor asks.
Hazen leans a little closer to us and drops his voice. “McKenna was at Christian’s last night. And she wasn’t wearing a certain accessory she’s been flashing around for the past three months.”
Connor glances at the door West and Damon disappeared through. “This is why I say dating is stupid and relationships are a trap that should be avoided at all costs.”
Hazen holds his beer out to his brother, and Connor clinks the necks of the bottles together. “Well said.”
“Hear, hear,” Rath adds and tips his beer at the twins.
There’s a loud crash, then cheers erupt from the other side of the room.
Rath and the twins look toward the source of the commotion, our conversation effectively derailed, but I just swirl my beer around in my bottle, my attention on West and not on whatever is going on.
Hanging out in another guy’s dorm room without your ring on is a bold move for someone who’s supposed to be happily engaged, and I’m assuming the only reason it hasn’t been spread all over school is that it was a small gathering. And knowing the people Christian hangs around with, there’s a high chance there was something going on that they don’t want people to gossip about, so that’s also kept everyone quiet.
“That’s going to be expensive,” Rath comments.
I’m just turning to see what happened when my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to check my notifications.
A smile tugs at my lips when I see the messaging app I’ve been using with West is active, and I open my texts as the guys keep talking about whatever is going on in the corner.
West: I hate you
Another text appears in the thread, then three more in rapid succession.
West: no I don’t
West: I shouldnt’ve answered you that night
West: is that a word? It doesn’t look like a word
West: I forgot what I was going to say
Tucking my drink under my arm, I quickly type out an answer
Anthony: do you hate me or do you hate what I showed you?
West: both
West: but also neither
Anthony: you don’t hate me
West: I want to and it pmo that I don’t
West: will you be honest if I ask you something
Anthony: depends what you ask
