Page 55 of The Promises We Were Never Meant To Keep

As my eyes drift in the direction she’s looking, I find the source of her pain. Kevin and Jenna are making out by the pool. She’s in his lap, clearly grinding into him for all to see.

I look away, flushed.

I wish Holt were here.

Pushing the thought away, I move closer to Shyanne. “Forget them.”

“I shouldn’t have come here.” I hate how she clings to things, to boys. She falls fast and she falls hard. And when it’s time to let go, it’s not easy for her.

It sucks.

“Everyone is here, Shy.” I offer a small smile. She hasn’t spoken to Jenna since it happened. If there’s anyone who could teach a masterclass on holding a grudge, it’s Shyanne.

“I can’t even drink,” she pouts.

I frown down at the drink in my hands, wincing. “Sorry.”

“I don’t mean it like that.” She brushes my apology off. “Just that I wish I could get wasted so that I don’t have to think about them.”

She looks at Kevin and Jenna again. My eyes follow. Kevin’s hands are up the back of Jenna’s shirt and it seriously looks like they might go even further.

Shyanne spins away. “Fuck it. We can sleep in my car.”

I glance down at the drink in my hand and back up at Shyanne. She’s already cracked a can, and she’s doing a damn good job of working to catch up to me and Andy.

So much for being the DD.

“We are not sleeping in your car!”

“Too bad.” Shyanne giggles. “I’m loaded.”

We’re all loaded. And my parents expect us home some time tonight. It’s almost eleven at night, so I know if we don’t get home soon, they’re going to start calling.

I should just call them. They’d come pick us up, but they probably wouldn’t be happy about it. Especially because we’re not legally supposed to drink, even though I know they know I’ve done it.

Still, they’d be disappointed. In me and in Shyanne. I don’t want them to be disappointed in either of us.

Saying nothing, I slip away from my friends. Kevin took Jenna up to his room forever ago, but I see them coming down the stairs as I pass the massive patio doors to a quieter corner of the deck. Her hair is messy even though I’m sure she’s tried to smooth it.

I’m pretty sure they had sex.

Turning my back to them, I look out to the picture of mountains under the dark spread of night sky. I press the contact and lift my phone to my ear.

It only rings once before I hear, “Faye?”

“Hi, Tate.” I wince.

He must hear it because he demands, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Um—well—I do need help.”

He sounds so alert; I instantly regret calling him. “What do you need?”

“I’m at Kevin’s party.”

“Did someone hurt you?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. Shyanne was supposed to stay sober but—well, she didn’t. We have no way to get home. Everyone is loaded and staying the night, or they don’t have room for us in their cars.” I tip my head back and sigh. “I don’t want to sleep here, Tate. Will you please come get us?”