“You know what it means, dummy. It means I know everything about you. Even the things you don’t tell me about.”
“Like what?”
“Like that tattoo you’re hiding under your watch. I know you sneaked over to Silvercreek to get it a month ago, and you didn’t tell any of us because you like keeping little secrets from everyone.”
Lindsay flushed. “It’s nothing. I just thought it was cute. No big deal.”
“Right. Sure. I know about all the guys, too, by the way. Jason Breckenridge isn’t the only married one you’ve hooked up with.”
“I can do whatever I want,” Lindsay said, flipping her glossy blonde hair over her shoulder. “It’s none of your fucking business.”
“I know. But the thing is, I know why you’re doing all of it, and that is my business.” There was a brief pause, and then a sigh. “You can’t hide your true self. Not from me.”
“Oh, god. Stop with the drama, puh-lease,” Lindsay replied, stuffing her vape pen back in her pocket. “Honestly, I love you, but you’re such a little bitch sometimes.”
“It’s not drama. It’s serious.” The other person took a step closer. “I know what you need. I know why you’re acting out so much. And I’m willing to help you with all of it, if you just listen to me and try to understand.”
“Oh, yeah? Please, go ahead. Explain my own behavior to me,” Lindsay said in a sarcastic tone, waving one hand in the air.
“You’ve never had proper, loving parents. Not like normal people, anyway. So you try to fix that gaping hole in your life by running around and screwing anyone who gives you a speck of attention. And of course all these older guys want you. You’re beautiful, and you’re also young and naïve enough to act out all their twisted fantasies without realizing that half of them require you to have absolutely zero respect for yourself.”
Lindsay’s eyes shot upward. “Jeez. Tell me how you really feel.”
“You don’t have to do it anymore, Linz. You just have to be with someone who gets it. Someone who can love you the way you really need. Not just someone to fill the void for a few weeks.”
Lindsay scowled. “If you were anyone else, I’d slap the shit out of you for saying all that crap.”
“You know I’m right, though.”
She let out a frustrated huff. “Even if you were, who is this magical person you claim can love me the way I supposedly need?”
“Me.”
A soft hand reached for Lindsay’s shoulder, and she jerked away. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean I want you to be with me.”
“Um… I am with you. Right now.”
“No. Not like that. I mean be with me.”
“Ugh.” Lindsay scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I know you love all your jokes and pranks, but that’s not funny. It’s just fucking dumb.”
“It’s not a joke.”
“Ha-freaking-ha. Stop being an ass.”
“I’m not. I… I want you, Linz. I always have. I want us to be together.”
“God, I said stop!” Lindsay stamped her foot before turning around to face the knee-high balustrade again. “Seriously, please go! I don’t have time for this shit tonight,” she added, turning her head to look back over her shoulder.
“This shit?” A hand darted out to pull Lindsay all the way around again. “Listen. This is real. Not bullshit.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“It is. I’ve always been here for you, and I’ve always listened to all your problems; at least the ones you let me know about. I’d do anything for you, and you know it. So why can’t you believe me when I say I want to be with you?”
Lindsay let out a frustrated groan. “Please stop. I know you’re messing with me, and it’s really not funny at all. It’s just ridiculous.”