“True. You’re right, so go ahead and pick out a slice. Whatever you want.” I crack open the menu. “I’ll order one to go too.”
Park and Diane are gone so long, Dad starts calling both of their cell phones, but there’s no answer. “I refuse to referee their arguments,” he proclaims with a grunt. “I’ve been doing it for too long, and they both know it. I’ve told them before they have to learn how to work out their differences.”
“I’ll go look for them,” Addie volunteers, rising to her feet.
“No, sit down, birthday girl. I’ll go find them.” I leave the table and wander the restaurant, but they’re nowhere to be seen. I go back by the bathrooms, even go into the men’s room, but nothing.
Weird.
I send Park a simple “where are you?” text and head outside, checking out the small groups of people standing around, waiting to get in or chatting before they go their separate ways for the night. Diane and Park aren’t there either, and I’m starting to get worried.
What the hell is going on?
Heading around the side of the building, I find a small alcove, created for smokers, maybe. And that’s where I spot them. Park.
And Diane.
In each other’s arms.
Their mouths fused together.
I stand there completely frozen for I don’t know how long. It feels like hours, but was probably only a few seconds, and Diane is the first one to open her eyes.
Diane is the first one to actually see me.
“Rhett!” she shrieks, causing Park to spring away from her. “What are you doing here?”
I can’t find my voice. I’m in too much shock.
“Hey.” Park whirls around, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, a rueful smile on his face. The fucker got caught, and he knows it. So how’s he going to get out of this? What’s his excuse, his explanation? I think he can tell by the expression on my face that I’ve seen a lot more than they ever wanted me to witness. “This isn’t what you think.”
“What is it then?” My voice is so calm, I surprise myself. Inside, I’m a jumble of nerves. Shock. Disbelief.
Park freaking hates Diane. Like, hates her with all he’s got. And Diane has been our so-called mother since Park was nine and I was five.
So what they’re doing right now is totally fucking crazy.
And an absolute betrayal.
Deciding I’m not going to wait any longer to hear his bullshit answer, I turn around and
head back for the restaurant.
Instead of going straight to our table, I return to the men’s room, where I can wash my hands and splash water on my face, like that will help me unsee my big brother kissing our stepmother.
Like, what the actual fuck is happening right now? Is this for real? Because it’s just too crazy to comprehend.
Park enters the bathroom minutes later, slamming open the door with a loud bang when he strides inside. “Let me explain,” he starts, stopping directly in front of me.
I dry my hands, crumple the paper towel into a ball and toss it into the wastebasket. “How the hell are you going to explain what I saw, Park?”
“It was a one shot deal.”
“My ass. You two were gone for a long time. You were kissing her. God knows what else you were doing while you were gone.” I step closer to him, my gaze never leaving his. His eyes are a dark brown, just like mine. And they are deceptive, I’m realizing. He’s a liar.
I’m surrounded by liars.
“It’s nothing.”