Reagan had just begun helping herself to a cocktail when Spencer turned the corner to greet Lynn.

"Thank you for coming." He approached her and hugged her tightly, then kissed her on the cheek. Charm oozing off his biceps and smile. We had barely made it to the kitchen for a drink, as in I didn't have one yet, and he had already found us.

Oh brother. Lynn's dimples were showing, and her eyes were dancing up at him.

"Reagan." Spencer nodded her way, then he looked over at me. "That one hates me. I don't know why. I try so hard to get in her good graces." He put on a show for Lynn while looking at me and speaking loud enough to make his point comedic. "She practically runs the pool, not me. Has free and total reign as your best friend, and she doesn't even thank me with your presence. That's all I ever asked her for."

I rolled my eyes and took the drink Reagan poured me. I tried not to stare when I saw Lynn whisper something in Spencer's ear. I also tried not to throw up.

A drink later, Reagan was nowhere to be found. I walked back over to Lynn, who was holding hands with Spencer and facing him while they flirted.

"Hey."

"Are you having fun July?" Spencer turned his attention to engage me in their conversation.

"Have you guys seen Reagan?"

"She's in the office having a conversation with Kane who just arrived a bit ago with..." Spencer nodded toward a group of girls from Prairie at the door. Great. One of them was the girlfriend. Lynn grabbed at my arm to pull my focus back to she and Spencer.

"Hey, Spencer said you don't have to worry about Devin anymore. Not here at the party or ever." Lynn was confident in her delivery. I looked over at Spencer, skeptical. Who made this guy the fucking Godfather?

"Trust me. She's more afraid of you now than you should ever be of her." Spencer put his hand on my shoulder protectively. What an act! I knew, 'least said best' where Devin was concerned, so I didn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Do you mind if I talk to her?" Spencer asked Lynn sincerely. I was so confused. Talk to who?

"Do you want me to come with?" Lynn was asking in front of me as if I wasn't standing right there.

"No, I've got this one. July? Do you mind stepping over here with me?"

What the fuck was going on?! Was I in the Twilight Zone? Where was Adrian when I needed him? Or "Hey Court... no more Truce, just come throw me in the lake and you're the winner!" I'd rather that than this. Anything than this.

Was he about to take me to the back of his lake house castle and brainwash me into a drug trafficking ring? What was happening?

I looked back at Lynn, silently pleading, and followed him to a secluded bay window off the central kitchen.

"Look, I know what you thought you saw at the twin's party that night. I wasn't sure what or how much you saw or thought you saw until I realized how upset you were with me. Then, with Lynn, when she and I began to spend more time together this summer. I never wanted to conceal that from you, and I didn't want to have to ask her to, but you just wouldn't yield. I wouldn't have either. You're a good friend, July, and you weren't wrong about the awful thing you thought you saw."

"What is this? You want forgiveness?" I was so confused by his audacity.

"No, I'm afraid even you can't give me that. I just wanted you to know the truth about Lynn and me. Unfortunately, I can't explain as well as I would like to, as it is not my secret to tell, and it implicates someone I regretfully promised I would not reveal. Under the circumstances, I do believe you saw this person and can draw your own conclusion by default. I can only say to you that what you thought you saw and what you assumed happened, did. Just not with me."

My face softened, and I listened to him earnestly for the first time.

"I had a buddy that was going to be down for the weekend, a well-known-in Pure Pines buddy. He asked me to drive down and hang out and promised a great time, plus we could pop by the Tomlin party for old time's sake. The good time he had in mind is not something I am or ever will be into."

Spencer paused and looked at me to make sure I heard that part. "He sensed I would disapprove, so when we dropped by the party, he kept his little roofie plan to himself and a few other guys he passed them out to, who he thought would have the night of their life. After not seeing him for a while, I was about ready to leave without him until he found me. His eyes were crazy. He was a sweaty mess. He took me to the twin's parents' room, and I saw what I'm glad you didn't have to...

Presley's little sister passed out, and she was completely naked. It didn't look good. I grabbed her clothes off the floor, thinking I would help her get dressed, but then I heard light breathing and a slight gurgle in her throat. She was unconscious, and she was going to choke on her own vomit. I poured cold water on her face from the sink, slapped some clothes on her as best I could to give her some immediate dignity, and put my fingers down her throat to get her to throw up. The truth is, I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I was horrified. Imagine what you thought, but I was sitting right next to my best friend, the monster who did this trying to save the girl.

Someone else had barged in before you. Luckily, it was one of our guys. I demanded they get her sister, and that's where what you saw ended."

I was stunned, silent.

"He never told me exactly what happened, but I do know one of the reasons he came and got me was he realized she was a virgin, and I think all that did was register to him that he might be in more trouble should something happen to her. I wanted to kill him. Later, he put his hand on my shoulder to thank me and I punched him so hard he flew. Still, it doesn't make me a hero in the least. I got him to promise to turn himself in or whatever you do in these cases, and he lied and told me he had spoken to her and her parents, and they came to an agreement."

"I'm so sorry, Spencer."

"Yeah, well, I knew you must be feeling the way I did if you couldn't help that girl, and when I realized you thought it was me who did it, I wasn't in a hurry to let myself off the hook. Again, it's not my secret to tell, and I guess I felt I deserved your judgment for not doing anything more about it."

As I searched the sincerity in Spencer's eyes, I realized the saddest part was, I don't think he could have done anything about it. He would have just ended up in trouble himself for it. There is no way a Childress would have gone down, and even though Spencer never divulged that part, we both know that his Pure Pines "buddy" was his best friend I saw looking pathetic on the side of the jacuzzi, none other than Trent Childress.

Spencer cleared his throat and continued.

"The Lynn of it... well, I couldn't say much because it was so new. I wasn't sure how she felt about me. You do know her older sister, Mel was in my class, right?"

"Yeah, I remember."

"Mel and I were kind of friends the way Adrian and Lynn are, back in the day. A few nights after the party before I went back to UT, I stopped by to see if I couldn't find her or happen to catch her home. She'd spent the weekend at school, but Lynn came out and talked to me. We went for a drive, and I told her the whole story. I don't know why I broke my promise to tell her, but I needed to. She's been a friend to me this whole time, and I came back this summer, partly to check on the situation my former buddy did not resolve, and partly for Lynn, because..."

"She's beautiful, and smarter than you and compassionate, and the best thing that's happened to you this year." I said it for him.

"Does it show on my face?" His eyebrow raised, and he looked down at the floor and laughed.

"I'm sorry I had the wrong guy."

"Don't be. The worst part is, for Presley's little sister's sake—"

"Robyn." I corrected him.

"I wish I could say that you should've walked in on them sooner before anything happened to Robyn, but the truth is, with me not there and it being him, it could have been way worse for you. Not even the unthinkable, but you would have been in the position of knowing what I know, and he may have threatened you."

"Has he threatened you?"

"Not yet, but he senses I'm down here working for the summer to hold him to his promise. So, it could get worse before it gets better." I shook my head in dismay of the hateful, diseased place that raised us, and I reached up and hugged him. He bear-hugged me back and whispered Thank you in my ear. When we broke away, I punched him hard in his massive bicep.

"Ouch! What was that for?!"

"Now I have to eat humble pie with Lynn!" I smiled and laughed as he walked back toward Lynn. I knew she and I would need to talk, but then she winked at me as he walked over and threw his arms around her. Good. We were good for now.

I grabbed a drink and moved toward the other room when I noticed Kane's girlfriend had separated from her little entourage and seemed to be looking for Kane.

I walked around in the opposite direction of her, hoping I would find the office. I did, and Reagan was engaged in far more than a conversation with Kane. At least, that's what I heard through the locked door. So there was that. Thank God they had the sense to lock the door.

I downed the last bit of my drink and headed toward the kitchen. I don't know what was wrong. I was happy. Happy things worked out for Lynn, and Spencer wasn't bad after all, but I had still gotten the wrong guy.

Or, what if I hadn't? Everything Spencer said made sense, but I still felt unsettled about him. Maybe it was because I had been so wrong and couldn't trust my gut.

Robyn endured what would shape the rest of her life alone, and with no resolve. The remote happy ending was a small high that could not override the sinking feeling in my stomach.

And then there was Reagan. She is purposefully careless with her actions and has so many secrets between all of us. I hated that.

Speaking of secrets, mine still hadn't shown up. I guessed he wasn't going to.

I headed back to the kitchen to grab another drink. For the first time in my life, I felt like I needed one. I never really drank or desired to, but that night felt like a runaway train going nowhere. I figured I'd grab another to be sociable and try and find some of my guard friends hanging out. I would let someone else worry about our DD who didn't show up.

I was relieved to find the kitchen empty of people. There was a pan of Jello shots one of the guards had contributed. I slurped one down. Then, I took my time to consider what libation I wanted to fill my red solo cup with next.

After a long pour of the clear Russian spirit I started the night with, I added a splash of soda and raised the glass to myself. As I brought it down the hatch, I felt a firm hand grip my wrist.

I flipped around, my brow furrowed, to see none other than Court standing in front of me.

"I think maybe you're cut off. How much have you had tonight?"

"I thought we called a truce." I said that a little dryer than intended.

"We did."

"Then "F" off and hand me back my cup."

"Woah, that's a big negative on the cup return. What's wrong with you?"

"What's. Wrong. With. Me? Hmmm. Do you know? Cause it would be great if someone else knew. I give up." I left him with my cup and grabbed another Jello shot on my way out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?"

"Does it matter? Out. Away. I'm walking away." No sooner did I turn the corner than I was hoisted up and carried by the six-foot-three-well-meaning coworker giant.

"Stop bouncing me up and down you psycho. We called a truce." My head fell to his chest, and I could smell his cologne. I started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I've never seen you in a shirt before. Can you put me down now please?"

"Can you tell me where you are headed?"

"Oh God, Court, not to a car with keys to put in an ignition. What are you Smokey the fucking Bear? Or whatever." Okay, I may have, in fact, been tipsy, as that reference was totally lost on me as well. "I may be a walking after-school special, but I'm not a bad one. I don't even have a car here to drive under the influence, and if you're worried, I'll go skinny dipping in the lake and drown; well, I can't promise anything."

"Alright. Upsy daisy." Court placed me on the pool table again. I squinted toward the great room to see the few people meandering inside were headed outside. Most everyone had taken the party to the dock by the lake.

I looked around. Me sitting on the pool table. "Why am I here again?"

"You're drunk."

"Let's go with buzzed."

"Three sheets."

"One and a half."

"Fine." Court settled. He leaned in toward me, his hands on the pool table beside my hips and his face studying mine closely.

"Court Townsend, are you trying to smell my breath? Are you giving me a breath-o-later' test?"

His eyes widened at me in surprise, and his mischievous smile rose. "First of all, it's a breathalyzer." He stood tall and stepped forward between my dangling legs. "Second, if I was giving you one, you'd know." He gingerly pulled a piece of hair out of my face and placed it behind my ear.

I may have been buzzed, but the way he was looking at me told me it was more than a joke. More than our usual banter. His face was so close I could feel his warmth next to me. I could have misgauged the moment in my inebriated state, but I knew he was attracted to me.

"I'm sure your girlfriend would know too."

"I'm sure you're right, which is why I refrained from that, but you're still not walking out of here by yourself. You can walk that way to your friends, or I can take you out there to them or..."

"Or what? Stay in here with you Court? Is it my lucky day? What's your deal?"

"My deal is I had a buddy my first year of college who walked away from a party only— what was that—one and a half sheets to the wind? Let's just say he never came back the same. I'd hate for that to happen to you, just because somebody got under your skin tonight."

"Under my skin? Interesting choice of words. Well, I'm real sorry about your friend, and I'm real happy for your girlfriend as it turns out she's got a darn good Samaritan on her hands." I pushed him away and slid off the pool table. I started walking toward the front door. Court followed close behind me until he grabbed me and pinned me to the wall in the entry way. He bent down to my level. "Stop it." He insisted.

"Why?"

"You know why." He brought his face closer to mine again.

"Why?"

"Because you make me crazy." Court locked eyes with mine and watched for my reaction. I said nothing in response. He had greenish-brownish eyes, which were sincere, but I could tell he'd also had a drink or two too many.

He was innocuous in that regard, as I always felt safe with him. Safe, comfortable, and I could say anything I wanted. I didn't mean to be glib, but after the night I'd had, I don't think I had room for more shocking news.

It was funny if you thought about how private Adrian and I were, yet we were both single. Court and I had a natural flirtation with our displays that was fun and oddly public. But I think that was because we had the safety net of him being involved in a serious long-distance relationship with a girl back home.

Court and I were seldom alone together at work. However, those few one-on-one moments in the guard room or parties we ended up working together were always full of a certain unexplored energy.

I was comfortable with it and even welcomed it that summer because it distracted me from losing my mind over Adrian... wanting or needing more time with him. Wondering what he thought or if he wanted me at all.

Court would never act on our attraction, nor would I. I told myself it was because of his girlfriend, and he was loyal to a fault. Loyal, yes, but also mischievous. Court was full of life and the kind of trustworthy you wanted to get into trouble with. He made me laugh. He challenged my outgoing, playful side to come out and dance and kept me from being an introvert all summer.

The real reason he toed the fine line was most likely my age. I wasn't quite eighteen yet, and I knew the twenty-one-year-old knew that. I also felt he was conscious of my innocence. Apart from my private lessons with Adrian, I was still very naïve about the opposite sex and sex in general. Part of me assumed that's what kept him at bay, but another part of me knew full well that was what fueled his attraction to me. That guy wanted to corrupt me every way to Sunday and have me for breakfast the morning after.

Little did he know Adrian had beat him to it, maybe not entirely, but enough to keep me from barking up anyone else's tree. I was curious, sure, and with Court... in more ways than I'd ever been with anyone other than Adrian.

But I was also loyal to a fault. My heart was on my sleeve as if it had Adrian's name monogrammed on it. I think Court sensed that, too, even though he never asked or brought it up. I don't think he wanted the answer.

I also didn't have a response for him because I knew it was the alcohol talking or possibly some rouse to keep me from going outside by myself tipsy. However, I think it challenged him slightly that I didn't take him seriously enough to have a reaction.

"July, if I didn't have a girlfriend—if I wasn't –"

"You'd what?" I yelled in his face. He looked angry at me for pushing the issue, and then his face changed to something between fear and wanting as he leaned in even closer. I couldn't be one hundred percent certain, but I'm pretty sure his lips were aiming for mine. I pushed him away and headed out the front.

I opened the front door with Court following behind me just in time to see a blue Mustang pull up and park. Adrain turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car.

"Nope," I said to Adrian and did an about-face that turned me smackdab into Court's chest. He caught me and whispered down into my hair. "This is the one under your skin. Why was he so late?"

"Exactly!" I spun around and away from Court, facing Adrian.

"July." Adrian stood in front of me and said my name.

"What?" I shot back at him as if I was angry he ever knew my name. "The party's out there if you're interested, I was just leaving."

"Stop it July!" Court's voice rang from behind me. Oh, now I had two bosses.

"What's going on?" Adrain looked to Court.

The answer came from me. "Let's see. Lynn is totally in love with Spencer and he... her, and it's absolutely fine because it turns out he's not so horrible and I was totally wrong. Just literally keeping my best friend from happiness for sport. Reagan is either still upstairs fucking Kane while his girlfriend searches for him somewhere out there through the party, or she has found them by now and is beating Reagan's ass. Court here is Smokey the Bandit and was worried I had one too many much and was headed out to watch me drive a fictitious car, but that's okay... He has a girlfriend, and he would never..." I rolled my head back to Court's direction. "And don't worry Court, Adrain here doesn't have a girlfriend at the moment, but he would never..." I looked back and forth between the two of them. "Does that pretty much cover it?"

Neither responded. "Oh yeah, and Devin's out there too; maybe she's got an idea to set you up with someone else, or maybe she's waiting for us to join the party so she can trip me into the lake in front of all my friends!" I took a sideways step off the sidewalk and stumbled. I saw Court take a half step toward me, but Adrian had already scooped me up bridal style. My neck and hair dangled down as limp as my legs did as he carried me to his car. I didn't say a word as Adrian buckled the seat belt around me, and I saw his jaw clench again.

He walked up to Court, and I heard him dryly ask him to watch me. Then Adrian disappeared toward the deck where everyone was partying.

Court took a few steps closer down the sidewalk but kept his distance. When he looked my way, I gave him an over-exaggerated wave. Not long after that, Adrian was at the driver's side. He looked back at Court for a moment, and Court stared him down. This time, they didn't nod at each other.

"Aren't we going back for Reagan and Lynn?" I finally asked.

Adrian did not respond.

"I'll ask again..."

"They're fine. Lynn only had one, and if she feels like she can't drive, they plan to crash at the lake house. She's going to call and let me know either way.

"Great, then take me back and I'll stay with them."

"You're not staying there. You're drunk and I'm taking you home."

We drove in silence a little longer. My hand lay loosely by my leg, and Adrian grazed it by accident as he switched gears. A jolt of electricity rang through us both, and I made a point to move out of his way.

"Why are you drunk?" he asked.

"Why weren't you here?"

Neither of us answered the question.

"Why was Court waiting with you?" This time, he demanded.

"Where's Natalie? I always thought she was such a pretty little blonde." I turned my body away from him to lean against the window.

"I hate you," I whispered as my eyes drifted to sleep.