Austin fists her hands in her lap. “Why didn’t you say anything?” she snaps at me. “You guys let the entire town believe he killed three friends!”
“Austin—”
“No, Cole!” she interrupts him. “Why wouldn’t you stand up for him?” she demands.
I look at my best friend when I answer her. “Because I know Cole, and if he didn’t want anyone to know the truth, then I wasn’t going to out him.”
Cole sighs and sits back in his seat.
“I don’t understand why all of you would cover for Eli like that,” she growls.
“I didn’t cover for Eli,” Cole tells her.
Interesting. That’s also who I thought he was covering for.
“Yes, you did. You told me that day up in the loft that you took the fall for him.”
He shakes his head. “You assumed, and I never corrected you.”
A long silence fills the clubhouse. She opens and closes her mouth a few times.
I frown. “Then who was it?”
He takes in a deep breath and lets it out. I stiffen, knowing I’m not gonna like whatever his answer is.
“It was Becky.”
Austin stares at him wide-eyed while I shift in my seat. “What …?” I shake my head. I must have heard him wrong. “Becky? My Becky was driving?”
“Yes.”
He doesn’t correct me that she wasn’t mine then or now. “I don’t understand. Why was she with you?” They didn’t hang out. As far as I know, they didn’t even talk. He knew how I felt about her. All the guys knew. Why would he keep this a secret from me? Why not just tell me? Unless he … My eyes narrow on him. “Were you sleeping with her?” I demand, and my heart begins to pound in my chest.
“No,” he answers immediately.
I stand and so does he. My hands are already fisted ready for a fight. “Why was she with you?”
“I wasn’t sleeping with her, but she was sleeping with someone.”
“Who the fuck was it?” I shout.
“Eli.”
Austin remains on the couch, looking back and forth between us. I run a hand through my hair. Why hasn’t she told me this? It’s not that I don’t believe Cole. I do. One hundred percent. He has never lied to me. Well, maybe he has. He’s kept this secret from me for a year now.
I’m breathing heavy, and I fist my hands by my side. I wanna punch his fucking face in. I don’t care if he wasn’t sleeping with her or not. “Why would you not tell me this?” I demand.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
COLE
DEKE HAS ALWAYS HAD my back no matter what. That’s why I hate what I’m about to tell him. It’s going to hurt him, and he’s gonna kill me, but he deserves to know. Austin deserves to know. I’m going into our new life leaving every fucking secret here in this fucking town. And at the time, it was the only rational thought I had. I realize now it wasn’t the best one.
We stumble out of the house party, kids littering the yard. Some passed out. Some rolling around in the manicured grass ’cause they are high on Mollys. Cars parked all along the circular and long drive.
“Fuck, those shots are hitting me,” Maddox calls out as he almost trips over his own feet, but he manages to keep a hold of his beer. “What about you, Eli?”
“Not yet,” he answers, chuckling.
“Give it another five minutes.” Maddox hiccups, making me laugh.
We make our way down the driveway, heading to my car. We got here late ’cause we had a swim meet in another town. Pressing the key fob to unlock my white Porsche Cayenne, it lights up, and I see a figure leaning up against my hood.
“Who the fuck is that?” I ask.
Eli looks up from his phone. “Babe.” And then he runs over to my car. Babe stands up straight and jumps into his arms once he reaches her. He spins her around and kisses her.
I look at Landen and Maddox. They just shrug and take a drink of their beers. I didn’t know he was seeing anyone. Well, he sees several girls a week, but I didn’t know any of them were serious enough to meet us out tonight. We come up to the car, and I come to a quick stop. “Abso-fucking-lutely not!” I snap when I see the girl’s face.
I blink a few times. I had way more alcohol than I should have, but I wanna make sure I’m really seeing what I think I’m seeing.
The girl giggles, and Eli drops her to her feet. “Come on, man …”
I grab his shirt and yank him over to another car parked on the opposite side of the street. “You can’t be serious?” I hiss.
“What?”
“You know damn well what!” I snap. “That is Becky Holt! There are two things wrong with that.” He rolls his bloodshot eyes. “One, she’s dating David. And two, your best friend Deke is in love with her!”