Easier to Lie

Chapter Fourteen

"So, I have some news," Leah was acting cautiously, taking slow steps towards the kitchen.

I opened the fridge for a soda as she continued. "I'm staying here!" She held a smile like she feared my response.

"You got in?" I wasn't surprised, Leah always got what she wanted. "That's awesome! Have you told your parents?"

"Yeah, and they are furious, but I told them I wasn't changing my mind. I'm staying, aren't you happy for me?"

Happy for her? Sure. Disappointed that she bailed on our plans? Absolutely. I put the soda in the fridge and grabbed the whiskey instead.

"Yeah, of course. Celebratory shots?" I poured two shots and swallowed them both. The burn in my throat was comforting and calming.

We changed into our swimsuits and went down to the beach with the whiskey. The rest of the day was about the two of us. It felt like it had been forever since the two of us had the chance to talk.

She tied her hair into a bun and laid on her stomach. I did, too, but I was drinking straight from the Evan Williams bottle.

"I got a job today," she told me, taking the whiskey from me. "I start next week."

"Cool. Where?"

"At a psychologist's office. Or therapist office, I forget the actual term, but my boss is this super nice woman. Kacee something."

"Kacee Rogers?"

"You know her?"

"Kind of," the whiskey calmed me enough to tell Leah about my day without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Leah promised to keep it a secret, and I knew she would.

Over the next few hours we talked about everything. Her parents were going to let her stay in the condo as long as she worked while attending classes. Her mom wanted me to stay with her, to keep her out of trouble, but I refused. I wanted to go home. I couldn't get Leah to understand that.

I was homesick. I wanted to keep my plans on track the best I could. When plans changed, I couldn't function properly. Leah staying in Myrtle Beach meant that I would be assigned a new roommate. I wanted Leah to stick with our plans, but she was letting a boy come first.

"I love him," she told me for about the hundredth time. "He's the one, Reggie."

"You'll come back to Sedona to visit, right?"

"Of course! Just like you'll visit me here at the beach. We'll Skype all the time and you can tell me about all the hearts you're breaking."

I wanted to tell her about Eric and that kiss, but I didn't know what it meant or if Eric had told anyone. Maybe it was something special, something that only belonged to him and me.

"You haven't said anything in at least two minutes. You okay?"

What was I going to say? To put off answering right away, I took a very long drink of the whiskey. "Yeah, I just can't believe summer is almost over."

"Almost over? There's like, four or five weeks left. It's not even July yet."

"Really? It feels like time has gone by fast."

"I know what you mean, but we have a long vacation left. How was your day with Eric?" She had this look in her eyes like she was expecting a certain kind of answer. Typical Leah.

I could feel my face turning red. Leah knew me too well; I couldn't lie. She would see right through me.

"He kissed me."

"What?!" she sat up so fast the she knocked over the sunscreen bottle. "And? Did you kiss him back? Are you guys together?"

"Yes, I kissed him back. And no, we're not together. I don't think we are. We didn't talk about it."