Page 102 of When Love Is Unexpected

"I am," he said. "I'm taking Kim and Jim home."

As soon as he walked in the door, I was on him like white on bread.

"What the heck happened, Jim?"

"Hey, man," he began when he saw me, "you're barking up the wrong tree. I only gave her a ride. She was pretty upset."

When I headed for the door, Jim followed me.

"I gotta go, man," I said, walking away.

"Wait," he said. "This is important."

"What?" I asked, feeling frustrated and angry.

"I'm sorry," he said, raising his hands in surrender.

"Talk fast," I said, taking long strides to my car. "I gotta go."

"I tried my best to explain to Laila what a snake Patricia is."

"What do you know about Patricia?" I asked, thinking he had no business interfering.

"I know you two had a huge fight our junior year," he said. "You wanted to go to Guatemala for the summer, but she didn't. You were broken up for nine days during spring vacation."

"How could you possibly know that?" I asked.

"I know that because she spent them with me."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, balling my hands into fists.

"I know this is hard to hear," he said, taking a step back, "but Patricia and I hooked up every night that spring, even after you got back together."

"That's impossible," I said, "and if you don't shut your mouth, you will regret it."

"Look, man," he said, "don't threaten me. It's the truth, and I can prove it."

I stopped dead in my tracks and glared at him.

"Patricia has a small tattoo of her zodiac sign on her hip," he said. "She got it when she was sixteen using a fake ID."

"What are you saying?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"No one can see that tattoo unless—." He stopped talking when my posture changed to that of a coiled snake ready to strike.

"I'm sorry, man. I really am. I thought you two were broken up for good."

"And after?" I asked. "You said you were with her even after we got back together."

"She'd come over in the middle of the night," he said. "I'd sneak her into my room using the stairs in the back of the house. You've been to my parents' house, so you know it's around the corner from her parents. I'm telling you the truth."

"Why tell me after all these years?" I asked, slowly realizing that the only thing this revelation was wounding was my pride.

"Because Patricia doesn't love anyone but herself," he said. "She ruins everything she touches. She planned and timed that kiss perfectly so Laila would see it."

"Goodbye, Jim," I said before climbing into the car.

"The kiss is one thing," I thought out loud. "My lies are another. Laila is never going to forgive me."

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