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What I read in his eyes echoes inside me. I feel my heart clench. It’s so tight, it’s hard to breathe.
I bite my lip, trying to hold back tears. Because I know we both were at fault. I always wanted him, flirted with him that night, despite Archer by my side and Julie by his. I danced for him. And he was watching openly. We were two people lost in that intimate moment with hundreds around us.
But more than anything, there is one thing I admit. Again and again. No matter how much I lie, once in a while, I face the truth in my mind. It only happens when I get tipsy, which is very rare. But when alcohol hums in my veins and my mind drifts back to that semester at Deene, I know one truth.
Kai Droga was my first crush.
My secret obsession.
But he was taken. And I succumbed to Archer.
That night, I wanted to be with Kai. Except I wish I remembered. I wish he’dmade sureI remembered. I wish I was his girlfriend. I wish it wasn’t a mistake. I wish my boyfriend wasn’t cocky, arrogant, vengeful Archer Crone, the king of Deene. I wish Kai and I hadn’t taken such a heavy blow.
That’s certainly more than one truth.
They all hurt the same.
The fire crackles, sending dozens of sparkles like fireflies into the dark air.
I finally peel my eyes off Kai and stare at the bonfire. The heat from it, me being so close, burns my face. It might be the sunburn. Or booze. Or memories.
Loud laughter snaps me back to reality.
“All right, kids, I am off.” Bo rises from his chair, and so do half of the others.
When they leave, it’s Kai, Zach, Ty, Katura, Maddy, Ya-Ya, Kristen, and a couple other people I don’t know yet who stay by the bonfire.
It’s quiet. Peaceful. Reggae hums through the air, the sound of it lacing with the purring of the ocean.
Everyone is tipsy. Especially Katura. She acts like she’s been friends with everyone for years.
It’s only a matter of time until Kristen raises her mug in the air and says, “Well, we do occasionally have fun on this island. So cheers to that! Love conquers all!”
Zach pulls her by her waist and onto his lap. “Oh, yeah? You are in the mood for some fun tonight?”
She slaps him off playfully.
“Kristen”—Maddy points to her with her mug—“used to date Archer Crone from the Westside.”
“Oh!” Katura’s drunk eyes light up with interest.
But my heart skips a bit. I don’t want these conversations. And I keep my eyes down, praying that Ty or Kai don’t say anything about me.
“So what are you doing here then?” Katura asks cockily.
Kristen slaps Zach’s insistent hands off one more time and shifts onto her chair. “Better boys here.” She giggles.
“Hell, yeah,” Zach says, not taking his eyes off her.
“We have naked parties if you are into it.” Kristen looks seductively at Katura, and I have a feeling that with her, anything or anyone goes.
Katura cheers with her cup. “Sign me up!”
The boys cheer. And I don’t like that.
“Maddy joins in occasionally. We all take care of each other here.” Kristen’s drunk gaze shifts to me and doesn’t go away.
Katura snorts when she notices. “Count her out.”
