Page 56 of My Vows Are Sealed

She cracked a smile. “Why are you so awesome?”

“Because that’s how God made me,” I quipped.

That made her laugh. “So, what didyouneed to tellme?”

I took a deep breath, then told her everything. About my dad and what he did the night of the dance and why I couldn’t get the police or child protective services involved. About how Brendan and I got together and how amazing and supportive and sweet he’d been. About everything that went down with Ethan and how Brendan and I found out about his smoking and drinking, but we had to keep it to ourselves because it was the only way he wouldn’t tell my dad about us. And about my first kiss – both of the “practice” ones and the “real” one. Kate and Ashton had both made me tell them everything and gushed about it with me as soon as they had me alone after they found out Brendan and I were a couple, but Naomi didn’t know about any of it yet.

“Oh, my gosh,” she said, letting out a shocked chuckle, as we walked back out of the bathroom before someone came looking. “I check out for a couple of weeks because I’m lost in my own head and I misseverything.”

“How about not doing that anymore?” I teased. “I know it’s been kind of a crazy couple of weeks, but I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she sighed. “I won’t shut you out again. I promise.”

“Look, it probably goes without saying, but my parents don’t know about Brendan,” I told her. “I’m worried that your mom might—”

“I figured. I asked her not to say anything while we were on the bus. She’s not a fan of how your parents treat you anyway, and she doesn’t even know how bad it is. If they find out, it won’t be from her.”

“Thanks,” I sighed in relief. “I know I’m probably being paranoid, but…”

“You’ve got a reason to be. You can tell Brendan, by the way. About me. If you noticed I was being weird, he probably did too, and I don’t want him thinking he’s making me uncomfortable by being a good boyfriend to you.”

“If he asks me what’s going on, I’ll tell him, but I’m not going to volunteer the information,” I told her. “It’s not my place.”

She smiled and hugged my arm. “Hey, do you want to come to the merchandise booth with me since we’re out here? I want to get a t-shirt.”

“Sure,” I said. “Not like I can buy anything, though. My dad didn’t give me any money for merchandise. Which sucks, because I really wanted a shirt to commemorate my first concert. But I’m just glad he let me come at all after the disaster at homecoming.”

“I’ve got enough for both of us,” she said. “I’ll get you a shirt.”

“No, I can’t let you spend any money on me,” I told her.

I knew her parents had been struggling to keep their store afloat, and I didn’t feel right letting her get me an overpriced t-shirt just because I couldn’t get it myself. I could live without it. I’d have my memories from tonight, and that was more than enough.

“It’smyallowance money. I can spend it how I want, and I want to get us matching Jars of Clay t-shirts. Just call it an early Christmas present,” she insisted. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“If you’re sure,” I said hesitantly.

“I’m sure. Come on,” she said, dragging me by my good arm toward the booth.

* * *

When we walked back into the concert hall, one of Jars of Clay’s most popular songs, “Flood,” was playing over the loudspeaker, and it made me laugh.

“They couldn’t play something else?” I giggled. “Not like we’re about to spend two hours listening to them live or anything.”

“Right?” she agreed. “I’m not complaining, though.”

We started to slide back into our row, and a few people got up to let us past. When I sat back down next to Brendan, he wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned into his side. He took a quick glance around before tilting my chin up for a quick peck on the lips.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. We’re good now.”

“Thought you guys were going to miss the show,” he chuckled. “The opening act is about to start in a few minutes.”

“I’d have lived,” I told him. “Some things are more important.”

Before he even had a chance to respond, someone came over the loudspeakers and thanked us for not using flash photography. Then the lights went down as the opening act, which was some new band I’d never heard of, started to play.

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