Page 74 of Keeper
I knew I should let it go and just walk out that door, but—
“And what’s that?” I asked, taking the bait against my butter judgment.
“Not to ever trust you around a boy again, because you’re a sneaky bitch.”
Her hypocrisy was so appalling, my jaw worked back and forth. I knew this was my last chance to let it go before wereallygot into it, but I couldn’t help myself.
“That’s rich,” I muttered, “coming from you.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Oh yeah? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
There was no stopping us now—this fight was going to happen.
“Are you seriously going to keep pretending like nothing happened between you and Brendan?” I asked, my voice dripping with disdain.
“I knew it. IKNEWit!” She triumphantly pumped her fist in the air. “I knew that’s the real reason you called me up out of the blue. Youstillbelieve that stupid-ass rumor is true, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“That issosad, Ainsley.”
“And I think it’s sad that you still refuse to come clean.”
“Do you really expect me to cop to something I didn’t do? For the millionth time,I never fucked Brendan.”
“Whether or not you fucked him, something happened between you two that night. Iknowit did.”
“How do you ‘KNOW’?” Marta asked in a mocking tone, putting air quotes around the word.
“Because Katie toldme she caught you with him. Why would she lie about something like that?”
“Uh, because Katie’s a bitch and we alwayshated each other. Don’t even try to act like that fact is news to you. Did anyone else claim to catch us screwing?”
“No, but—”
She interrupted. “No. The answer is no. So your star witness is someone who had a vendetta against me since day one.” She huffed. “Y’know, when you reached out to me, I thought maybe you’d grown up. But it’s obvious you haven’t. Three years later, you’re still bringing up this lame-ass boy-drama.”
“Lame-ass boy-drama?” I repeated, my blood boiling. “I wasin lovewith him—”
“Brendan was a piece of shit who cheated on youmultipletimes. Stop living in the past, Ainsley.”
“Iknowhe sucks, and I’m not living in the past. I’m not even mad about him anymore—I just wish you’d stop gaslighting me and tell me the truth so I can stop feeling like I’m crazy.”
“I’m not gaslighting you,” she insisted. “You feel crazy because youare.”
I sighed.
“Forget it.” With a defeated shake of my head, I stepped through the open door. “I’m leaving.”
“Maybeyoushould come clean and admit that you knew exactly who Tanner Vaughn was when you fucked him.”
“I didn’t,” I said as I hurried down the hall. “Bye.”
She popped out into the hall and called after me. “You’re going to Tanner’s, aren’t you? Can’t you at least admitthat?”
I turned, facing her as I walked backwards down the hall. “Yes, I’m going to Tanner’s. Happy?”
“I knew it.” Her mouth twisted into a cruel smile.“Iwillget you back for this.”
