Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“Who was supposed to tell me, Kira?” The hurt in Em’s voice was raw, threaded with disbelief. “Kira and I aren’t close like that, and you know it.”
Shae knitted her brows in concern. “Em?”
“Why would you keep that from me?” Em’s voice cracked, a mix of sorrow and anger.
Shae’s face tightened for a moment, guilt and frustration warring on her features.
“Wait,” Shae said. “Why are you so mad about this? You and Elliot weren’t even really together!”
“That’s not the point, Shae! You and your best friend have been lying to me as she sneaks around behind my back, dating my—”
“Your what?” Shae demanded. “What was he to you, Em? Really… are you being honest?”
“Of course I’m being honest, Shae!”
“No, I knew there was more to this. I knew it, and now I can see it all over your face. Did you have a thing for Elliot, but he didn’t want you, is that it?”
“What? No! Shae, I told you everything. This is on you; you can’t project it on me. You were hiding this. You didn’t even let me decide how I’d feel about it.”
“Why would you have feelings about it, Em? If he was nothing to you, then why would it matter?”
“It just does, Shae. It matters, ok?”
“Because of everyone’s ‘straight girl’ image of you?”
“What? Shae.” Em’s chest burned. The truth of the betrayal beginning to settle in.
“I couldn’t care less about what anyone thinks of me anymore, and Elliot is allowed to date who he wants.
But we promised no more secrets, and Shae, I love you, but you—” Her words caught in her throat, and her hand darted to her mouth.
Shae’s face went carefully blank, panic flickering there. She took a step backward, her mouth opening then closing again. “Em, I don’t...” she paused, as if not knowing exactly how or what words to form.
“You don’t?” Em said, finding Shae’s eyes, hoping for answers, but there was an apology there and something else—confusion, concern maybe. Nausea twisted in Em’s gut, and she wrapped her arms across her waist. Had she not considered that maybe Shae wouldn’t feel the same?
“Got it,” Em said, turning in place, hurrying to the house.
Shae stood behind, watching her go, with no attempt to follow her.
The fireworks started over the water, bright bursts of light painting the sky, oblivious to the storm unfolding below.
Em could hear her friends laughing and cheering, and glanced back to see Shae heading back toward Kira.
A ball formed in her throat as she neared the house, feeling a chasm open between herself and Shae.
Em stood next to the door, her forehead pressed against it, attempting to regulate herself before entering. Inside, Lennon, ever the hostess, was collapsed in a heap against the arm of the couch.
“Hey,” Em sniffled. “Why aren’t you down watching the fireworks?” Em’s voice was trembling, and she swiped at her cheeks, trying to hide the mess of tears streaming down her face.
Lennon sat up, eyes red and glassy. “Brodie and I got in a fight. He thinks I’ve been uptight and bossy all day.” She sniffled, “I ruined the vibe.”
“Oh, Len!” Em hurried over, wrapping her arms around her. “Everything has been perfect!”
“Clearly not,” Lennon sniffled. “He doesn’t seem to think so!” Lennon wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, straightening up to look at Em.
“Wait, why are you crying?” She threw her face into her hands. “This night sucks, doesn’t it?”
“No. No, Len. It was great. Everything was great, it’s not that.”
“What then? Is it Shae?”
Em nodded, her heart squeezing. Her fingers twisted at the ring on her finger. “I don’t even know what to say.”
Em cleared her throat before she spoke. “Kira and Elliot are together, did you know?”
“What? No!” Lennon reached for Em. “Oh, Em. And Shae?”
“She knew.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and Em swiped it with her tongue. “She said it wasn’t her place to tell me.”
“Ugh. What a crock of shit!” Lennon said.
“It gets worse,” she said, tucking her hair back behind her ear. “I blurted out to Shae that I loved her.” Em’s eyes dimmed. “She didn’t say it back. I mean, technically she said, ‘I don’t.’”
“I don’t what?” Lennon asked. “I don’t know what I feel. I don’t know if I can say the same. What?”
“Just, I don’t.” Em shrugged. She curled up against Lennon, dropping her head onto her shoulder.
“We are quite the pair, aren’t we?” Lennon said, bumping her lightly.
The door behind them opened, slamming closed behind them.
“Fuck this night!” Seth’s voice boomed across the living room as he marched over.
“Julian said he doesn’t do long distance and would rather be friends.” Seth collapsed onto the beanbag chair, flinging his arm over his eyes. “I’d cry, but I’m not going to let some bitch of a man bring me down.”
“Well, that’s the spirit!” Lennon agreed, sitting up straighter. “You know what, let’s go watch these fireworks. Screw it!”
“Yass, girl!” Seth agreed, popping up. “We are three independent bitches, we don’t need anyone else to have fun on a day literally named after us.”
Lennon stood, extending a hand out to Em. They all headed to the upstairs balcony, Seth stopping at the Island to grab a bottle of Champagne. The show would be even more spectacular up there, where they could see the water reflecting the fireworks’ chaotic beauty.
“Is that Claire?” Seth asked as a figure wearing all red approached the house. Claire had her shoes hiked over her shoulders, and her once perfectly done hair was falling out, locks flying in the wind.
“Where’s Natalie?” Lennon called over the balcony.
“She took off with that girl she came with, Ainsley. Apparently, they’re a thing now.”
“Wow! This is turning out to be quite the night,” Lennon said in a hushed voice. “Come up here with us.”
The fireworks faded, leaving streaks of smoke and the subtle crashing of the waves in the distance. The four of them sat together mostly in silence, passing around the bottle of champagne.
“So,” Seth said. “What happens now, like what are everyone’s plans for when summer ends?”
It was the question nobody had asked yet, maybe because asking it made the end feel too real.
Claire gently kicked at the railing, “I’m moving to Austin. I already signed a lease.” She pointed over to Seth. “So I hope you’re prepared.”
“I have a strict no drama policy,” Seth warned.
“I’m sure you’ll survive.”
Lennon was quiet for a moment. “Brodie got offered a job,” she said cautiously, like she was afraid of how much to put out into the open. “In California.”
Nobody said anything; they knew what that might mean for Lennon and Brodie. Em reached over, resting her hand on Lennon’s leg.
“I’m not moving with him,” she continued. “I've been applying to places here on the coast. “I’m thinking maybe New York, if I can land a job.”
“I’m still deciding what I want to do,” Em said. “Probably just go back to my parents’ place in Colorado. Decide from there. I just want to be in a position that matters. Somewhere I can make a difference, even if it’s a small one.”
“I’m staying put in Austin. I’m having far too much fun playing the scene,” Seth said.
“Well, whatever happens, everyone has to promise to come back here for New Year's,” Lennon said. “We need a do-over of this shitty Fourth of July party that everyone on this deck has to swear to never talk about.”
“Count me in,” Claire said.
“And me,” Seth added.
“Me too,” Em said.
Seth passed the bottle over to her, and she took a long swig, handing it to Claire.
Em’s phone buzzed at her feet, but she didn’t move to check it.