: Chapter 35

The we’ll tell everyone the week after Thanksgiving deadline has officially left the building, and guilt over not telling Avery about Beau and me is starting to eat a hole in my stomach. I’m either going to have to stock up on Pepcid and Tums or find a way to bite the I’m-with-your-brother bullet and tell her the truth soon, but facing the reality of how long I’ve been carrying this lie is easier said than done.

Tonight, I’ve gone with being medicated.

Avery slams down into the seat next to mine, a huge smile on her face as she leans into hug me. “I’m so glad you’re out with me tonight, Juni. I feel like I’ve barely seen you lately!”

I laugh. “Avery, we live and work together.”

“No, no, I know, but I mean quality time.”

Green velvet covering the walls, strobe lights, and go-go dancers in cages wafting sage into the air as they shake their asses for everyone in the club on a Saturday night isn’t generally my idea of quality time, but for Avery, having me out for a booze-filled party with her is the pinnacle. She’s always down for a mani-pedi too, but seeing as she usually goes for those during work hours, coming to Sage was the only option.

I can’t help but laugh again as she screams over the obnoxious level of noise around us, lights strobing across our faces as the DJ builds a beat. “Oh yeah. The quality of this time is unmatched.”

When she gives me a thumbs-up and stands up to dance, her drink in hand, I know she didn’t even hear me.

I sip on the signature green-colored cocktail that I’ve been nursing for the past hour and pull my phone out of my purse when it buzzes. A Midnight notification on the screen makes me smile, and I open the chat to a message from Beau.

ThunderStruck: How’s the club?

I look up to see that Avery is currently busy grinding on that guy Fester and type out a response.

ElizaBeth: Pretty much as expected, I’d say. But Avery sure is enjoying herself.

ThunderStruck: I bet. What did you say the name of it is again?

ElizaBeth: Sage. It’s got a whole witchcraft vibe going.

ThunderStruck: Lol. Appropriate, I suppose, for feeling like you’re being burned at the stake.

ElizaBeth: It’s not that bad. Just not my vibe, you know. It’d be better if you were here.

I smile to myself as I picture him getting all flirty back but startle when Avery snatches my phone out of my hand and hides it behind her back.

My heart thrums, hoping she won’t decide to look at the screen. Flirting with Beau in secret was a good time—but the good time is gone. And in its place, pure panic.

“Juniper freaking Perry, put your phone away this instant! I need a partner in crime.”

Using the path of least resistance, I agree, grabbing the phone back from her and tucking it in my purse before she can decide to take a look at it. She smiles and drags me onto the dance floor, and the two of us flail around like a couple of happy wackos.

It is fun, I’ll admit, especially since none of Avery’s male suitors are with us at the moment. I sing along to the song and bounce up and down, my hair springing as I bob my head back and forth. The lights go into an intense show as the DJ kicks the song up a notch, and everyone on the dance floor jumps up and down, shouting at the top of their lungs.

I join in until my lungs feel sore and my feet start to ache.

I point to the VIP booth and Avery nods, and the two of us hold hands as we make our way off the dance floor and fall onto the green velvet bench seat. Sweat sticks to my chest, and I blot at it with a napkin while Avery downs another glass of vodka cran.

I want to pull out my phone and check it, but I know it’ll end in disaster if Avery gets a hold of it again. Instead, I survey the writhing room of bodies, my ears perking up when I notice Seth and Bethany about ten feet away.

I elbow Avery to draw her attention to them, and I instantly regret it when she starts waving her arms wildly to get their attention.

Shit.

Bethany’s wearing a skintight blue dress, and Seth trails behind her like a puppy as they make their way over to us.

Seth’s expression is stalwart, and I know it’s because he’s still a little mad at me for failing to get his envelope to the courier by five on Tuesday. I played it off innocently enough, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s holding a grudge. Which, whatever, because fuck that guy.

“Hey, girls,” Bethany greets, a smile as fake as her tits on her face. “Having a fun night out?”

“Just getting started,” Avery tells her on a hoot that makes me roll my eyes.

“Speak for yourself.”

Bethany’s expression is cunning as she smiles directly at me. “I know this isn’t quite your scene, huh, Juniper?” She laughs out loud and at me. “Oh my God, you were so awkward as a teenager! All arms and legs and unsure of yourself.” Her nose wrinkles up before she leans in close to make sure both Avery and I can hear her. “Did you ever get over your crush on Beau? You used to be so obsessed with him.”

My ears run hot and my lips dry as I try not to freak out right then and there. I knew she was around a lot, but I had no freaking clue she had any idea I was mooning over her boyfriend. Her sharing it with the room is a real asshole move.

“What?” Avery explodes, laughing so hard I have to suck my lips into my mouth. “Juniper did not like my brother!”

I swallow hard, trying my best to smile like I agree with the joke.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” Avery shakes her head at Bethany. “Next time Seth’s done banging you, close your legs before the air gets to your brain.”

Bethany’s eyes narrow in anger, and an even more dangerous tone settles over our powwow than before. I don’t know exactly what this bitch would like to do, but it’s a good time to shut it all down before she has a chance.

“It was nice seeing you, Bethany, but Avery and I have more dancing to do,” I say in dismissal, adding a little wave to make it as friendly-chic as possible. When she backs out of our immediate space, I stand up and grab Avery’s hand, dragging her back to the dance floor without looking back at Bethany or Seth. We find a hole in the center and start our head-rolling moves yet again, but Avery isn’t quite on the same let’s not talk about this page as me.

“I swear she’s still in love with Beau even though she’s the one who broke that shit up. She’s one of those have your cake and eat it too twats, and it shows.”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters if she’s going to spew blatant lies about you for no reason!”

I keep my mouth shut and dance, startling only when a large set of hands settles on my hips from behind. They leave just as quick as they arrive, but when Avery shouts her brother’s name in my face, I understand why.

I turn around and come face-to-face with Beau’s gorgeous eyes and perfect smile directed at me.

I’m so glad he’s here, but the timing is not impeccable. If Bethany sees us together, we’re cooked for real. It already seemed like she was on quite the warpath—with me being the target. My mind can’t fathom what else she’d say in front of Avery if given the motivation and chance.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe you dragged your ass out of your hole too!” Avery exclaims, slapping a hand down onto Beau’s chest. “Both of you in one night! Is it the apocalypse?”

Beau keeps smiling, and I have to look away to keep myself from staring. “Just thought it’d been a while since I’d done a night out with you guys.”

“I’m glad you’re here, actually,” Avery says, her energy still way up from the bitchy-ex encounter. “We just ran into Seth and Bethany, and she was…” She pauses to regain her composure as she laughs. “She was trying to start shit, talking about June having some crush on you when we were younger like it isn’t the most ridiculous thing in the world!” She shakes her head, yelling directly at him over the music. “I swear, you could have her back if you really wanted her. She’s so preoccupied with you, still.”

Beau glances to me before shaking his head. “I’d rather eat fucking nails than go down that road again. Time for new paths.”

“Yay!” Avery claps her hands excitedly. “Oooh, maybe I should find someone to hook you up with tonight.”

My eyes widen, ready to snap in panic, but Beau is much more composed than me. “Thanks for the offer, but that won’t be necessary. I can find my own pussy.”

Avery cackles, but I can’t find a single ounce of energy to pretend to enjoy the path of this conversation.

Overwhelmed, I beg off, citing, “I need to go sit down for a minute, you guys. I’ll meet you at the booth.”

I can feel Beau searching my face, but Avery just nods and holds him captive, starting a conversation about some old high school buddy of his she saw on the dance floor.

As quick as I can, I walk away from them, fishing my way through the crowd to make it back to our spot in VIP. I’m almost there when the stress and embarrassment and anxiety of it all feels like maybe I need to splash a little water on my face.

Rerouting, I head for the bathroom and duck inside, taking solace in the immediate change in noise and atmosphere. There are several women in here, cycling in and out of the stalls, so I make my way to the sink and wash my hands, splashing just a tiny drop of water on my cheeks in an attempt to calm myself down without ruining my makeup.

I lean into the porcelain and take a long, hard look at myself, wondering how much longer I can keep this shit up.

Not only is Bethany far more observant than I thought she was, she’s also just catty enough to use it. With the amount of time she spends in the office feeling up Seth, and with her still out there somewhere, lurking in the club, how in the hell am I supposed to know for sure she’s not watching me?

Am I being paranoid? I don’t know. But my intuition tells me I’m treading shark-infested waters the longer I stay at this club now that Beau has arrived.

What if Beau and I get lost in the moment, like we always tend to do, and Avery manages to notice? What if Bethany or Seth witness something that they would gladly use against us?

Suddenly, it feels like I’m being tracked by the damn FBI. Maybe I’m better off just going home. Getting out of here and climbing into bed to smother myself in a pint of ice cream sure feels a hell of a lot safer than this clusterfuck of a situation.

The bathroom door shoves open, and through the reflection in the mirror, one of the last people I want to see steps inside. Son of a bitch. I stand up to my full height, trying to act as nonchalant as possible, while my gaze discreetly tracks Bethany through the mirror. She notices me right away, of course, and saunters over in my direction with a smile on her face as I start the process of washing my hands again.

It’s the easiest mode of distraction as she comes to a stop beside me and starts to talk. “Your secret is safe with me, you know?” she says, making me lick my lips.

I turn to look at her, doing my damnedest to steel my features against anything that’ll give me away. “My secret?”

“Yeah. About your crush on Beau.” She narrows her eyes, and her mouth quirks up into a sneaky smile. “I wouldn’t have brought it up if I’d known you didn’t want Avery to know. Honestly, I thought she knew.” She laughs and waves a dramatic hand in the air. “I mean, God, it was so painfully obvious with the way you were always staring at him.”

“What can I say?” I play off her words by smiling, even as I feel my stomach churn. “He was cute.”

Bethany’s returning smile is big and confident, her victory of getting me to admit the truth clearly making her happy. “He was. Still is, really.” She sighs and shakes her head. “Anyway, have fun out there.”

“Yeah.” I lift my cheeks, my smile the equivalent of peanut brittle. “Yeah. You too.”

She pops into a stall, and I don’t waste any time leaving the bathroom. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this shit up, but how in the hell am I supposed to tell Avery now?

Beau and me. The most ridiculous thing in the world, my best friend said.

The insecure girl inside me rears her evil head.

Maybe, just maybe, Avery’s right.