Page 55 of Keep Me Safe

I’d be lying if I said part of me wasn’t excited to go home and see Noah, but I feel like last night changed things. I don’t think I’m ready to face the rejection I know is waiting for me.

“You know what? Sure. Want to get pizza at that place down the street?”

“That place down the street” is the best pizza place in the Bay Area. I’ve been going there with Jared and Noah for what feels like forever. Their wood-firedpepperoni pizza is to die for.

Maddie looks over at me, mischief in her eyes. “Perfect. We’ve got plenty to discuss.”

I tilt my head in confusion, and then it hits me. She’s talking about Noah. There’s no way she knows what happened last night, but I can’t shake the feeling that she knowssomething.

It’s tourist season, so when we get to the restaurant, it’s busy. There are people filling all of the tables. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long before we are seated at a two-person table on the rooftop. The view from up here never gets old. In front of me, the bay is visible in all of its glory.

“Okay, spill,” Maddie says, a childish grin covering her face as our waitress brings us our drinks.

“Spill what?” I feign ignorance. I know what she’s getting at. She saw the way Noah was looking at me last night.

“Hmmm, I don’t know, what was it?” She raises an eyebrow as if in deep thought, “Oh, yeah. Maybe how you want to fuck yourotherbest friend’s dad and how he wants to fuck you too?”

I choke on my water. There’s no malice in her tone, and I know she would never judge me, but I still don’t know how to respond. There’s no point in denying it. She’ll see right through it.

“Oh, that.”

She nods at me, waiting for me to elaborate.

“Fine. I’ve always had a crush on him but never thought it would go anywhere.”

“Until…?”

“We kissed. It was the night I ran into Zach, and I told Noah everything. He made me feel so safe, Maddie. I know I shouldn’t be doing this. I know it’s a bad idea, and it’s bound to hurt Jared, but—”

“Woah, slow down, it’s okay.” She takes my hand in hers from across the table. “You know that I would never think less of you for something like this. Besides, I’m all for it. He’s like, Greek god-level hot, and I don’t even like men.”

I let out a breath, relaxing my shoulders.

“There’s more...”

“Do tell.”

“Last night…We may have kissed again, and he may have eaten me out.”

A shriek erupts from Maddie’s mouth.

“Shhh,” I say, raising my finger to my lips.

“Sorry, just, wow. Lucky you!” she says with a giggle.

I let myself smile with her.

“Listen, girl, I support you in doing whatever makes you happy. If and when Jared finds out, it will hurt him, but it will only be temporary. I know he’ll forgive you.”

I nod, letting her words sink in. It doesn’t make me feel much better, but it is the reminder I need.

We leave the topic there, and our discussion moves toward the girl she’s been talking to.

“Her name is Lucy. She’s the one I was telling you about that day you canceled on me,” she teases, but the knowing look on her face tells me she isn’t serious.

She knows now what happened that day. And what happenedwhen I was fifteen.

“Are you two a thing, then?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.

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