“If this is about Talon, I don’t have anything to say. I still can’t believe you’re related.”
“Please?” he begged. “It’ll only take a minute or two.”
Reluctantly, she agreed. What did she have to lose? She followed him to an empty classroom and sat down in one of the seats.
Gavin clasped his hands together, almost like he was getting ready to make a speech. “I know you don’t want to hear about JT, but I think you should know he really cares about you.”
“That’s not the issue.” She knew his feelings for her were real. That’s what made it so hard.
“He still carries around a lot of guilt for what he did to Claire. He doesn’t talk about it, but he’s different now.”
That caught her attention. “What do you mean?”
“When he found out about Claire and Zach, he was angry, even volatile, but after he sent those photos …” His face tightened as if in pain. “He became resigned, as if being an asshole was his lot in life. There’s a huge difference between the guy who moved here and the guy he is now. When you guys started dating, it was like having the old Talon back. Don’t judge him based off one mistake that’s in the past.”
Keeley knew what it was like to try to change. But still ... “You can’t just sweep things under the rug and pretend they’re not there. He did what he did. And it’s not just that. The fact that he sent those pictures in the first place makes me worried. I know he was upset but it doesn’t make it okay.”
“Haven’t you ever been so angry you did things you didn’t mean?” Gavin argued, his eyes flashing.
“But I didn’t act upon it. There’s a huge difference.” She couldn’t keep arguing about this with him. She did enough of that by herself. “Gavin, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it’s over.”
“But he tried to fix it! He tried to get people to stop sending them around. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
It did count; but, it didn’t take away what he did, either. Those pictures were still out there. That girl’s life was still ruined.
“Just think about what I said, okay?” Gavin was almost out the door when he stopped. Turning around, he gave a sheepish expression. “One last question — are you going to tell Zach about me? Being related to Talon and helping him with the prank?”
That was a good question. One she didn’t have an answer for. She realized how much hell Gavin would be put through if the football team found out, but at the same time, she made that promise with Zach. No more secrets. She weighed her options. At the end of the day, her relationship with Zach was more important. “I’m going to have to tell him. I’m sorry, Gavin.”
His shoulders slumped. “I figured. Oh well.”
When Keeley sat back down at the table, Nicky asked, “What did he want?”
“Trying to get me back together with Talon.”
“I hope you told him no.”
“Of course.” But some of Gavin’s words had struck a chord with her. At what point does a person get forgiven? Can they be forgiven? And even if she was to forgive Talon, how could she ever trust him again?
It was the night of Homecoming. Keeley was on the couch eating ice cream when the doorbell rang. It was probably Zach and his hands were too full to open the door. He’d gone to pick up their food at the Chinese restaurant around the block. When he found out she was staying home by herself, he’d canceled his date and insisted on spending the night with her. She quickly paused the show to answer the door.
“Claire,” she whispered, recognizing the girl in Zach’s picture. Same delicate features and silky straight hair.
Surprise registered on her face. “You know who I am.”
“I’ve heard about you.”
Claire flinched, and Keeley would have missed it if she hadn’t been watching closely. “I see,” she murmured. And Keeley had a sense she did see. She saw the whole complicated picture. A few uncomfortable moments passed before she asked, “Can I come in?”
Keeley’s hand tightened around the doorknob. “Zach’s not here.”
There was nothing small about the flinch this time. Claire’s whole body reared back as if struck by a two-by-four. “I know. I saw him leave.”
That must mean she’s here to talk to me, Keeley thought. She studied Claire. There was no doubt she was pretty, but she wasn’t gorgeous like so many of the girls her brother dated. However, there was something about her that made a person stop and stare. Keeley couldn’t put her finger on it, but whatever it was, it radiated from within.
Keeley stepped aside. “Can I get you anything? Water? Soda? Juice?” she asked as she ushered her to the living room. Tucker followed hot on their heels.
Claire ran a hand over her sweater, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. “No, thank you. I had some water on the drive over.”
It struck Keeley as funny that they were acting like a couple of adults. Clearly, they were both nervous and trying to cover it up with good manners. She sat down on the couch and Claire picked the chair across the way. She smoothed her sweater again as her eyes darted around the room. Keeley patiently sat there, determined to let Claire speak first and set the tone of the conversation. After all, she was the one who had shown up unexpectedly. It was her show.
“You know, I’ve always wondered what the inside of your house looked like,” Claire finally said.
“Zach never brought you here?”
A wistful look entered her eyes. “He always wanted to meet somewhere else. I asked one time if we could come here so I could meet you, and he told me he wasn’t ready to share me yet.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Keeley replied, rubbing her sweaty hands against the back of her shirt. “He’s never been good about sharing his things.”
“I see,” Claire said softly.
When she didn’t go on, Keeley asked, “So you wanted to meet me when you guys were …” What exactly did she call what they did? Dating? Two-timing?
Claire’s eyes, the shade of dark honey, flashed. “He was always talking about you. I wanted to be friends.” She looked away, her body tense. “But I guess there’s no chance of that happening now.”
This conversation was every bit as awkward as Keeley thought it would be. She fiddled with the tassels of a pillow, wondering what to say. Conscious choice, she told herself. Be bold. “Claire, why did you come here? Is this about Zach? Talon? Or both?”
She didn’t answer for a long time. Keeley wondered if she was going to talk at all, but then she jetted out a breath and swallowed. “I’m sure you know what happened between your brother, JT and I. It’s not exactly a big secret around here.”