Secrets & Lies

16| Past & Present

"Wow, Logan." Amelia put her hand to her forehead as she tried to process everything I just told her. "So, you and Grant have been friends and that was the first time you guys...kissed?"

"Yes," I answered honestly. 

We got back from our trip to the lake house this morning. During the whole ride back to the city, I could tell there was something wrong with her. Every time I asked, she would say she was all right.

Then when I pulled up to her apartment to drop her off, she asked me to come in. She said we needed to talk. That's when she told me that she had witnessed me and Grant kissing at the lake house. My heart had dropped in my stomach and I thought I was going to throw up when she said that.

When she asked me to explain to her what that was about, I was surprised that she didn't sound angry or hateful. She was confused and...curious. So, I told her about the first time Grant and I had given in to those feelings and kissed at the club when we were celebrating my twenty-first birthday.

"That was four years ago," she said. "According to you, that's when you met Rachel. I remember Wyatt mentioning her. He told me you had dated her for a little over a year."

I leaned back on her couch. "Yeah. I met her that night at the club. I was so freaked out and upset about what happened with Grant that I went on one date with her. After that, I needed some time. One year later, I ran into her again and that's when we started dating. That's when Grant was also dating a girl named Jill."

"You guys just ignored the connection you had?"

I laughed a little to myself. Classic Amelia. She always wanted the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. "Yeah," I answered. "We both had our demons, I guess."

"Okay. I know you were with Rachel for about a year. What happened with that?"

I closed my eyes tight and took a deep breath. I needed a minute to prepare myself to tell this story. I promised her the truth, so that's what I was going to give her.

"It was Grant's twenty-third birthday..."

Two Years Ago

"Hey, guys." Grant got to his feet to hug Rachel. When he turned towards me, there was a moment of awkwardness before he held out his hand. "It's good to see you, Logan."

"You, too," I replied as I shook his hand. "It's not everyday someone turns twenty-three."

He laughed and we took out seats. "Yeah, I can't believe it."

Neither could I. The night we kissed on my birthday seemed like yesterday. Hard to believe that was a little over two years ago. Once we sat down and ordered our drinks, we started talking about work, life, and other non-important things. Grant and I still hung out frequently; but ever since that night, it's felt different.

"So, where's Jill?" Rachel asked as she sipped her wine.

Grant nearly choked on his drink as his eyes flicked briefly to mine. "Uh—Jill. Right. It hasn't been working for a while, actually. We broke up a week ago."

Were my hands sweating? They felt like they were sweating. I wiped them on my pants as Rachel said, "Oh, Grant, I'm so sorry. Are you going to be alright?"

Before he could answer, her cell phone went off. "Oh, damn. Its work." She rose from the table. "I'll be right back."

There was a moment of awkward silence after Rachel left the table. Even though Grant and I have hung out multiple times alone since the kiss, birthdays were always a little awkward considering what happened.