“All the up at once? Or mix?” Aubrey asks.
The trail starts in the middle. So if we go counter clockwise we go up, down, up. Clockwise is down, all the up, and then down. Both suck.
“I don’t want to go up at the end of the trail. So let’s go clockwise. Get it all done.” I start the path to our left as we descend toward the beach.
“Good. Now you can tell me everything while going down and you can’t use the excuse that you’re out of breath.” She smiles smugly, proud of herself.
“Ugh. I didn’t think of that.” I clip the straw from my backpack’s bladder over my shoulder.
“Nope. You didn’t. So spill it. Have you had sex with Wyatt?”
Well, she’s wasting no time.
“Nope. I honestly can say we haven’t had sex.”
“Really?” She whips her head back, shock on her face.
“Yeah. I mean, everything but, though. He has a great dick. And tongue.”
“Sophia!”
“What? The chemistry between us is off the fucking charts. I will say he tried really hard to stay away from me. Like realllllly hard. For you. He’s a good guy. I think.”
“I need to know how the hell this happened? He’s been an asshole to everyone but you, apparently, since the accident.”
I cringe because I know more about that than even he thinks I do. “Can I tell you a secret that you can’t even tell Cooper?”
“Shit. Not even Cooper?”
“Not. Even. Cooper.” I purse my lips, glaring at her. “No one.”
“Finnneee,” she whines.
“Pinky promise?” I hold my pinky over her shoulder and wait for her to hook it with hers.
She hesitates, but finally caves. “Pinky promise.”
“I met Wyatt on the dating app. But he doesn’t know it’s me. He thinks I’m Giana.”
“No!” She slaps her hand to her mouth. “How did that happen?”
“Remember when Emma accidentally sent him that super star?”
She nods.
“Well, before I could delete my account, he messaged me. And when I got home, I’d had a little too many margaritas. I thought it might be fun to play with him. But then it turned into… I don’tknow. Friendship? We talk everyday as Giana and Wyatt. It’s easier. We tell each other stuff.”
“Stuff like what?” Her eyes grow wide. “He doesn’t talk to anyone about anything. He won’t even go see the therapist that the chief wants him to see.”
“Yeah. I know about it all. He’s told me everything. And I’ve told him nothing. I’m a terrible person. I honestly think he just needs someone to talk to who doesn’t need him for anything. And if I tell him who I am, that goes away for him.”
“Oh, Soph. This is a mess. You need to tell him. Especially if you’re hooking up.”
“I know I do. And I will. I promise. I just don’t know how to yet.”
“I love you, but keeping this from him is a terrible idea. I know he seems like just the goofy playboy, but I think deep down, that’s not him. He’s the brother who cares too deeply. He doesn’t want to bother anyone with his own life, so he just helps everyone else in theirs.”Aubs gives me a weak smile as we start our ascent.
“I got that vibe for sure. But you know what a good judge of character I am.” I shrug, because I’m terrible.
