Page 47 of Busted Dreams

“No.” And I still blushed. “It was Beck. He’s the mechanic I know from Tippy’s.”

“And…” he prompted.

“It was a great time. We went to dinner. To a museum. Then he took me home.”

Having finished his cone, he pushed his seat backward and twisted, propping an elbow on the console. “I’m glad writing is not your passion. You’d suck at it.”

“Ryan!” He was right, but I was still offended. The only time words ever seem to come to me so easily was when I worked on an art project. Describing my work and motive behind it was easy. Everything else seemed to evade me.

“I’m right, aren’t I? Now go on. Did you lose your v-card to the sexy mechanic?” he taunted as he batted his eyelashes.

“No.” Damnit. Now my face was on fire. Ryan, the super sleuth detective that he was didn’t let it pass.

“Hold up! What is that look for? Hmm? Has my Ass gone and gotten herself some?”

I wasn’t in the habit of lying, but still, I tried. The result was opening and closing my mouth like a fish looking for food. No appropriate lies came to mind to cover up my blush.

“When?” He bent forward.

“Last night,” I sighed, covering my face with my hands.

“What?!” Then he shrieked and bounced in his seat like he’d just won the boyfriend lottery. “The mechanic?” he yelled.

“No…” I drew the word out, hoping the longer I said it, he would magically forget what we were talking about. No such luck.

“Wha?” His mouth slackened as he processed my words.

“The college hottie?”

“No…”

“The king of geeks?” How did he even know to throw Jonah’s name in there? Wait, there was no reason to throw his name in there. We were just friends, even if he was in my thoughts much too often.

“No…”

“Oh my God. Rhys? You messed around with Rhys? Days after your date with Beck? I’m…I’m floored. Astounded. My entire world has just been turned upside down.” He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead.

“Ryan,” I stated, trying to reel him back in. He was going to enter into a whole other level of dramatics if I didn’t stop him. I wasn’t ready for that yet, maybe I never would be.

“I just can’t believe my preacher’s daughter bestie guy hopped. This must be the beginning of the apocalypse,” he murmured to himself, sounding like he was one strap away from being admitted to the insane asylum.

Biting my lip, I contemplated what I should tell him. Should I blurt out the truth? Would he think worse of a poly relationship than a promiscuous teenager finding herself? Or would the truth make me seem like a heartless bitch? So many questions and too little time to really think it through. This panic was exactly what I told myself I wouldn’t do.

But Ryan was my friend. He was judgmental, sure, but he was steadfast. He would always be there for me no matter what, short of me stealing one of his boyfriends. Or his favorite pair of shoes. I knew that even in the short time I’d known him.

As I stalled, I looked around the inside of his car. The sun blared through the windshield, making every part of my skin feel like it was in danger of second hand sunburn. The edges of his blond hair were white in the light, the stress of his own troubles contrasted by the cheery weather of Colorado. I guessed this was it. This was how the world looked when I told someone else my secrets with the guys.

Reaching across the seats to grab his hands, I mentally counted to five. It did little to prepare me, but it would have to do.

“You have to keep this quiet. Promise me, Ryan.” Not that I thought he would blab my salacious secrets around the school, but part of me needed to hear his promise. Still didn’t fully trust, no matter how much I wanted to.

The whites of Ryan’s eyes showed as he snapped his attention back to my face. His transition into confession mode was so animated, it scared me a little. His severe demeanor could put any old school preacher to shame.

“Absolutely. Spill.”

And like that, I spilled. My kisses with the boys. At least the ones he didn’t already know about. How Beck, Rhys, and Thatcher all wanted to date me. How they all gave me something special in my life. Watching Rhys’ games, doing the videos for Beck. Even down to my conversations about keeping all three of them. Everything.

“You think I’m a slut, don’t you?” I had just finished telling my story, and at some point, I’d turned my gaze out through the front windshield. Tons of people and cars were rushing by in blurs of winning smiles and metallic flashes. I couldn’t have recalled any details if my entrance to Heaven depended on it.

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