Page 121 of Faux Real
“Because...” She shrugs, shame plastered on her face. “Because I wanted to feel good, I guess. I don’t know. I don’t—” She closes her eyes. “I was drunk and mad and... I don’t even remember if we used a condom.” She chuckles. “Guess I’ll find out soon.”
“Are you gonna tell Sawyer?”
She jerks her head up. “Areyou?”
“No,” I say honestly. “It’s not my place.” I bite my lip, adding, “I won’t tell anyone either, I promise.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Why would you do that for me? You don’t owe me anything. We’re not friends, Kennedy.”
“I know,” I say, a nostalgic ache in my belly. “But we were... at one point.”
“Yeah,” she scoffs. “Until you and Max abandoned me.”
“What?” I ask, my forehead creasing. “When?”
Corrine blinks. “The summer you went to Italy without me? You guys just left me alone for two months. No calls, no texts. Nothing. You dropped me.” She snaps. “Like that.”
“We didn’t drop you,” I state, “We just went on vacation. You said you didn’t want to go, you said—”
“Whatever,” Corrine sighs, waving me off. “I don’t care anymore. It doesn’t matter.”
“Were you mad at us? I ask, completely shocked. “Why didn’t you—”
“I don’t know, Ken!” she whines, clicking her tongue. “Maybe because my parentsjusttold me they were getting divorced, and I was a mess. I needed you guys and you weren’t there for me. You were in fucking Italy while my entire life was falling apart. You weren’t there.”
“I didn’t know...” I place my hand over Corrine’s. “We thought you were fine. You said you were fine.”
Corrine’s eyes water. “You should’ve known I wasn’t fine, Kenny. You and Max should’ve known.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Yeah,” she sighs, pushing herself up to her feet. “Me too.”
Were Max and I that oblivious? That self-centered? How did we not see? Corrine is right. We should’ve known. We should’ve stayed.
I stand up, joining Corrine by the sinks. “I know that we’re not tight but if you need anything, I’m here for you.”
“Just don’t say anything,” she says, fixing her makeup. “Okay?”
“I promise, I won’t.”
“Good,” she says, clicking her tongue as she checks out her reflection. “Do you have make-up wipes in your bag? I look fucked.”
“Yeah,” I say, removing a few items from my purse and handing Corrine some baby wipes. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Corrine’s eyes float down to the counter briefly as she takes the wipe from my hands. “Areyouokay?”
I snort, shaking my head as I shove all my shit back into my purse. “I’m fine.”
I might have problems.
But right now... they don’t seem nearly as big.
thirty-eight
One Last Shot
OLIVER
