Page 37 of Keep Me
“So, wait. Does this mean you’ve taken Olana back?” Tanner couldn’t hide the shock in his voice. I wasn’t surprised. He was the only one home when I came back from finding out about all the things she’d been doing behind my back. About all the guys, and how I immediately booked an appointment to get tested. He was there when I said it was the end between us and meant it.
Banging a fist on the table, I said, “Can we please stop talking about my monumental fuckup?”
Jackson raised his hand, looking between the twins. “I’m nearly done. They haven’t heard the worst bit. So, imagine, we’re all sitting at breakfast with Olana, who’s smiling as though Matty is the best prize in the world, and to be honest, I’ve always wondered why she’s so hell-bent on you. And Britt, for that matter. You’re okay looking when you’ve cut your hair, but youaren’t Aiden’s level of hot. That guy just has look at someone and their clothes fall off.”
“You’re such a pig, and it’s not like you can talk about hair, Mr. Baseball Cap.” Thea crossed her arms and shook her head as she walked over to me with a conciliatory glare. “Don’t listen to him. I think you’re the cutest one of the bunch.”
I mumbled out a “Thank you” because I didn’t want to be rude, but I didn’t care what Thea, Jackson, or anyone thought about me. It was only Britt I cared about. It had always only been Britt.
“Alright, Alright. I get it. I’m sorry. You clearly have some sort of charisma I’ve yet to unlock. But anyway, there we were, eating breakfast, all the while, Adam and Hayden were driving a sobbing Britt to the airport.” Jackson pursed tutted out as he glared at me.
Sobbing Britt?
“What are you talking about?” Had someone hurt her? My mind was racing, replaying the entire night and wondering what she was upset about. I shrugged past Thea, making my way into the living room so I could speak directly to Jackson.
His eyes went wide. “What part needs clarification? The part where you treated the hottest girl on campus like dirt or the part where you chose the girl that treatsyoulike dirt?”
“Britt was sobbing at the airport?”
“Um, yeah. Why are you looking at me like this is news? Didn’t Adam send the message to the group chat?” Jackson lifted his ass to pull his phone out and thumbed through his messages.
“No.” I clenched my fist, wondering what had pissed her off so much. Olana. It was the only explanation, but she hadn’t seen her. Neither had Adam or Hayden, so how had it gotten back to her before she left? None of it made sense.
Unless …
She really did regret it. Maybe she was upset we’d taken it so far and ruined our friendship. Maybe she wasn’t talking to mebecause she didn’t want to give me the wrong idea. Maybe she thoughtIwas acting like a stalker.
“Ah, here it is. Funny. Looks like it was only a message to me. Woops, maybe I was supposed to keep it to myself.”
“What does it say?”
“I really shouldn’t.”
“Come on, Jackson, you’ve done enough,” Thea says from the kitchen. “Just read the damn message.”
“Fine. It says, ‘Got back safely, not that you care. Do you know why Britt was sobbing the entire drive to the airport?’”
“What did you say back?”
Jackson shrugged. “I told him the truth that I thought it had something to do with Olana being at the breakfast table.”
So she hadn’t told Adam why she was upset?
“Guessing that’s why Hayden or Adam haven’t returned my calls since,” I muttered.
“Sounds like it would be a good bet,” Jackson replied.
Well, shit. I’d fucked this all up.
“Imagine doing that to Britt?” Jackson looked between Tanner and Thea before pinning his gaze to me. “I mean, she’s been in love with you since freshman year. Anyone with eyes could see that. Olana tolerates you. Not a place I’d want to be, but hey, it’s your life. You can screw it up however you want. Just, next time, don’t hurt the hot girl who has to interview us for the next year, because things are going to get awkward.”
“That’s not what happened. I want Britt. I’ve only ever wanted her,” I said.
“Aww,” Thea crooned, her hand holding her heart.
“I don’t think she was crying because of Olana,” I said, really thinking about it. How on earth could she think I’d ever pick Olana over her after all the things I said? All the things we did. I wouldn’t do that with just anyone.
“Have you even spoken to Britt since?”
