18. PARIS
PARIS
I’ve been walking around campus with the biggest smile, so it’s no surprise that when I meet up with Danny and Puck at Zuko’s Diner to grab a quick lunch, I can’t wipe it off my face.
Perhaps I should tone it down. It’s not my MO to be this chipper, but hell, I don’t want to.
Not even the knowledge of Lydia’s lies is going to bring me down. I’ll deal with her later.
“What’s up, boys?” I ask as I slide into Puck’s side of the booth seat. “Did you order already?”
“Nah, we just got here,” Puck replies. “We were waiting for you and Rossi.”
“Oh, I didn’t know Andy was coming.” I reach for the menu.
“Yeah, apparently Puck has news he’d like to share with all of us in person.” Danny gives Puck a meaningful glance.
“I hope he’s not late as usual. I’m starving. I could eat everything they have here,” I say.
Someone whacks me upside the head with a menu. “I’m not always late, jackass.”
Andreas sits across from me and pushes his aviator sunglasses onto his head. I rub the spot where he hit me, but not even his antics are going to sour my mood.
I notice his leather jacket, and say, “Tom Cruise called and wants his Top Gun outfit back.”
“Well, he can sit and wait.” Andreas smirks, not falling for my bait. I chuckle nonetheless, making him frown. “Wait. Did I just hear Paris laugh? Did I miss something?”
“If you did, we all did. I have no idea what’s gotten into him,” Puck replies.
“He probably got laid,” Danny chimes in.
The menu becomes very interesting all of a sudden. I keep my gaze down, pretending to scan the offerings when I already know what I want.
“Holy shit! He totally did.” Andreas smacks his hand on the table, rattling the condiments tray. “All right. Spill. We want a name.”
“I’m not going to kiss and tell.”
“That’s right, Paris. Those things should remain private,” Puck pipes up.
As the most religious dude in our group, it makes sense that he believes that. I grew up in a church-going family too, but my folks are only super zealous when it suits their interests. As for me, I just follow along to avoid headaches.
“Of course you believe that.” Andreas shakes his head and glances at the menu. “How’s that chastity vow working out for you?”
“It’s going great. Now can we stop focusing on Andino’s love life for a second so I can tell you why I wanted you here?”
“Hooray to that,” I say.
“You have our undivided attention, Puck,” Danny replies.
“Hold on. I got to make a call first.” He pulls out his phone and presses the video chat button. A moment later, Troy’s face appears on the scream. The former quarterback for the Rebels, he’s been living in London with his girlfriend since he graduated a year ago, and I haven’t seen him since.
“Hey, Puck. What’s up, man. Long time.”
“I know. The whole gang is here.” He turns his camera so Troy can get a visual of all of us.
We all wave at the camera and say hello before Puck sets his phone against the window and Troy has a view of the entire table.
“I’m dying here, man,” Troy says. “What’s going on that you need all of us together?”
“Duh, can’t you guess?” Andreas answers before Puck can. “He’s getting married.”
I kick him under the table. “Dude. Shut up!”
“Ouch,” he complains.
“Never mind Rossi, Paris. He loves to be a dick.” Puck laughs. “But anyway, that’s exactly why I wanted you all here. Mia and I are getting married next month, and I want you guys to be my groomsmen.”
“In a month?” My brows arch. “What’s the hurry?”
“Oh my God, Andino. Are you thick? It’s a shotgun wedding.” Andreas laughs.
Danny scowls. “You don’t know that.”
Puck rubs the back of his neck. “Actually, that’s why. Mia is pregnant.”
That only makes Andreas laughs harder. “Chastity vow my ass.”
“Wow, congratulations, man.” Troy interrupts Andy’s antics. “Count me in.”
“Yeah, me too. And congrats,” I add.
“Same,” Danny says, “And you are happy about it, right?”
Considering he grew up without knowing who his father was and then later found out the man was a total douche, I don’t find it strange that he’s asking.
“I couldn’t be happier. I’ve always known Mia was the one.”
“But what happened to the chastity vow? I thought you were dead serious about that,” Andreas asks without mirth. I guess he’s done making fun of Puck.
“Yes, we were, but after Mia’s cousin passed away unexpectedly, we decided that life was unpredictable.”
A shadow drops over me. I know too well what the sudden death of a loved can do. In my case, I jumped into a toxic relationship. Puck’s outcome is far better than mine was.
“Since you guys are all there, I might as well tell you my news too,” Troy pipes up.
Andreas sits straighter and his brows arch as he says, “Don’t fucking tell me you proposed to Charlie without telling me beforehand.”
Troy rolls his eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of doing that to you.”
Danny and I chuckle. Since I’m sitting across from Andreas, I get the full blast of his glare.
“What’s the news?” Danny brings the conversation on track.
“We’re moving back to California. Charlie and I both got offered jobs in LA.”
We all take turns congratulating Troy on his move, and then he says he needs to run errands. We’re ready to order when the bell chime draws my attention to the diner’s entrance.
Ryan walks in with one of his douchey friends, and my entire body tenses. “That motherfucker,” I say under my breath.
“Who are you talking about?” Andreas turns to look, and so does Danny.
“Who’s that?” Puck asks.
“A frat-boy asshole,” Andreas replies.
My tight grip on the edge of the table is the only thing keeping my ass on the booth seat. Ryan doesn’t glance in our direction, and he should thank his lucky stars that he doesn’t get assigned a booth on our side of the diner.
“What did he ever do to you?” Danny asks.
I’m seething as I try to control my rage, so I don’t answer right away.
“Shit. He must have done something awful. Paris is about to blow,” Andreas replies.
My appetite is gone, and I know that if stay a moment longer, I won’t be able to contain myself. I’ll march to that fuckwad and do what I should have done the night he attacked Vanessa.
I get up suddenly. “I can’t be here.”
“Bro, wait up,” Andreas says, but I don’t listen.
I stride toward the exit, trying my best to not look toward Ryan. My hand is on the knob when I hear his laughter. I turn and see he’s at the farthest booth from the front. My body is already moving to head that way when a hand on my shoulder stops me.
“Whatever he did, you’re in no condition to confront him now,” Andreas tells me.
“Bullshit,” I say, even though he’s right.
“Bullshit my ass. You have murder in your eyes, Andino. Come on, let’s get out of here.” He opens the door and practically has to shove me out, because I’m rooted to the floor.
My rage doesn’t simmer down once I’m in the parking lot. I’m filled to the max with it. Puck and Danny also followed and are crowding me now. They’re blocking me from running back inside.
“Are you going to tell us why seeing Ryan Watergate made you go berserk?” Andreas asks.
“I can’t tell you.” I begin to pace. “Fuck! I want to kill that asshole.”
“Let’s get out of here then, before you have the chance,” Andreas says.
“I came with Puck, so I’ll ride with Paris,” Danny says, as if I’m not there.
I turn around to glare at the trio. “I don’t need a fucking babysitter.”
“No offense, bro, but you do,” Puck replies. “Go on, Danny. Take Paris away before he explodes.”
Danny presses his hand against my back and nudges me toward my truck. He wouldn’t be able to move me if I put up a fight, but the sane part of my brain is slowly regaining control. I get behind the steering wheel and take a couple of deep breaths while I wait for Danny to get in.
“Are you okay to drive?” he asks as soon as he shuts the door.
“Yep.” I put the car in gear and accelerate too fast, burning rubber.
“Jesus, take it easy, man.”
I ease off the gas pedal, managing to maintain the speed limit.
Danny lets me stew for a few minutes before he opens his mouth. “You don’t need to tell me why you wanted to pummel Ryan, but is it something you can get over, or do I need to worry about it?”
I clutch the steering wheel tighter, clenching my jaw. “I’m not sure I can get over it.”
Danny rubs his face and curses. “What can we do then, to avoid you getting in trouble if you decide to punish the bastard?”
“Keep him away from me.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna work. We aren’t attached to your hip, or his. Maybe if you told me why you hate his guts, then it’d be easier to help you fight the urge to annihilate him.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but unfortunately, I’d be betraying someone’s trust if I told you.”
“Can’t you tell me what he’s done without revealing your friend’s name?”
I’m fucking torn. I’m bound to cross paths with Ryan again, and if today was any indication, I will end him. Then what? Get kicked off the team, expulsion, arrest? Maybe telling Danny would help, but even if I don’t reveal Vanessa’s name, I still feel like I’m betraying her trust.
“This stays between us, all right? No one can know, not even Andy or Sadie.”
“Bro, you can trust me.”
“I caught Ryan sexually assaulting someone outside of Tailgaters one night. I stopped him, but the victim didn’t want to press charges. Which… I get it. But I’m still fucking mad that the motherfucker did that and wasn’t punished for it.”
“Man, that’s fucked up. Now I get why you wanted to go savage on him. I’d probably have the same reaction.”
I laugh without humor. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re the most chill guy I know.”
“Not when someone I care about is involved. Sadie was attacked in London before she moved to LA. I can tell you now because she’s fine with people knowing.”
“No shit. I’m sorry, man.”
“Yeah, she got stabbed trying to protect a friend from some drunks. Sometimes when I see her scar, I get a burst of anger. If the guy who did that to her crossed my path, I’d probably destroy him.”
“Thanks for telling me, man. I don’t know if it will help contain my anger, but I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s protective of the ones they love.”
“So, this is about Lydia, then?”
Shit. I can’t believe I let that fucking comment slip. I can’t let Danny believe Lydia was attacked. That wouldn’t be right.
“No, Lydia wasn’t the victim.”
It takes a couple of beats for the coin to drop. “Oh shit. It was the girl who put that smile on your face earlier. I didn’t know it was already that serious. I thought it was just a hookup.”
“It wasn’t just a hookup, and that’s all I’m going to say.”
“Fair. I’m done prying.”
Vanessa’s identity is a secret, but for how long? We don’t plan to hide that we’re dating forever. When we come out, Danny will know she was the girl Ryan attacked. Then my betrayal will be complete.
I’m so fucking consumed by my guilt that it’s not until I drop Danny off that it dawns on me… I not only gave him too many clues about Vanessa, but I also confessed that I love her. I knew before last night that my feelings for her were deep, but I didn’t think I was already in love with her.
I guess now I know.