Secrets Look Different in the Light

Chapter 10

Jackie's POV

Avery stares at us confused.
"I threw him in a cold shower to sober him up." I state, starting to shiver.
"And what, he took you with him?" She asks. Dylan walks out between us, leaving a trail of water through his room.

"Can I borrow some dry clothes?" I ask Avery.
"Yeah just stay there while I get them, I don't want to try and explain why the carpet is soaking wet." She says and turns on her heel and heads back to her room. 

Dylan emerges from his closet, now in slacks and button-up shirt- only halfway buttoned. He doesn't speak but walks past me again, hanging his soaked clothes on the shower rack. He fumbles at his buttons, clearly struggling.

"Can I help?" I ask softly.

He exhales and drops his hands to his sides. I cross the room and begin doing up his buttons. We say nothing. The silence between us swells as I finish, then take a step back.

He stares at me a beat longer.

"Why did you kiss me?" I ask.

He hesitates, blinking like he's trying to steady his thoughts. "I-uh..." he exhales, clearly torn. "I don't know. I mean-I do know, I just... wasn't expecting you to ask that."

I fold my arms. "Well, I am. So?"

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier. I'm not trying to be a douche. I just... I don't wanna talk or think about May right now. That whole relationship drained me for so long." He takes a breath, collecting himself.

"But the last couple days? With you? I've actually enjoyed it. I know the circumstances are a mess, but you're fun to be around. You make it easier to forget everything. And yeah, I'm not sober right now—but that doesn't mean this is just drunken bullshit. I'm not gonna wake up and regret saying any of this."

His voice softens." I'm not trying to push you into anything. I just... I wanted you to know where I stand. I'm just looking to have fun. Since you asked. And if you're not interested, I promise I'll back off. No weirdness. I'll be on my best behavior- scouts honor."

Silence fills between us after that. I don't know what to say, this is all such new territory. He's my best friend's brother. It freaks me out. 

How can he go from being in over a year-long relationship with May to wanting... this? With me? How does he not see the complication? Doesn't he get the spot that puts me in- the risk I'd be taking even entertaining the idea?

 I've already royally screwed up by kissing him in the shower. The first kiss, I could've laughed off. A weird story for later. But twice in one day? That's not gonna be much of a funny story anymore.

   But he's hurting. Fragile. And I don't want to be the one who hurts him more. So I stay quiet, until Avery comes back into the room.

"Here." She says handing me a black cocktail dress.

"Do you not own jeans?" I sarcastically ask.

"My mom invited you to dinner. We leave in ten. Change, then meet me in my room and I'll do my best to fix your hair." 

"Dylan out. It's crunch time." She demands. He rolls his eyes and trudges out of his own bathroom. She shuts the door behind him, leaving me to change.

Avery's POV

     As I walk back to my room I overhear Jayden's voice drifting up the stairs. He's chatting with my parents—great, that'll keep him busy for a few minutes. They really like him. They always ask me to invite him to family stuff. I'm happy they like him, it makes my life a lot easier. It helps that he's great with parents, I mean seriously he's a poster child: straight A student, scholarships lined up, star athlete, and the charm of a serpent. He really has a way with them, and me.