“How’d you know?”
“I’m not even dignifying that with an answer.”
“Right.” I grimaced. “Best friend.”
She harrumphed. “Since fifth grade.”
“Yeah.”
“So who is it? And please don’t say it’s Kevin.”
“How’d you know?”
“It is Kevin?!”
“What?” Oh! “No, but how’d you know about Kevin?”
“You mean how’d I know you used to like him?”
“Yeah.”
She sighed this time. “Summer, every girl in school liked him. Trust me. You weren’t alone.”
“You too?”
“I’m human.”
“And May?”
“Her too. She slept with him. Did you know that?”
“Shut up.” I kicked against the desk, pushing my chair back on its hind legs again. “When?”
“Our senior year. He came back for a visit.”
“Where was I?” Wait. “Didn’t he have a girlfriend then?”
“He always had a girlfriend.”
I groaned, smacking my hand to my forehead. “I really feel dumb now. Please tell me you didn’t sleep with him.”
“I didn’t.” She got quiet. “Wait, did you?”
I switched to chewing the inside of my cheek. This was so fucked up.
“When?” she demanded.
My cheeks were flaming red. “Graduation night.”
“Summer! You told me you were going to kiss him, but I didn’t think it would happen.”
“I did? When?”
“At the party, but you were drunk. We were all drunk.”
“Matthews doesn’t get drunk.”
“Was Kevin?” I asked.
“Was he what? Drunk?”
“Yeah.” My word came out raspy.
“I don’t know. He’d been drinking, but now that you ask, I can’t remember if he was drunk or not. I don’t think he was.” She paused. “Does that matter?”
Yes. So much yes.
“He took advantage of you.”
I couldn’t get Caden out of my head. I murmured into the phone, “Not anymore.”
“Oh, Sum.”
There was the best friend doing the best friend thing. She heard the hurt in my voice. “Did he hurt you? Is he coming that weekend? I’ll rip off his balls.”
I laughed. “I’ve missed you so much. You know that?”
“I’ve missed you too. We’ve all been so busy, but we need to talk twice a month.”
“Agreed.” My chest felt lighter. I could breathe easier. “Or once a week.”
“Yes. Daily emails.”
“Group chats.”
“Hangout chats.”
“Yes!”
“No more of this not keeping in touch. It’s bullshit.”
“Agreed.” I wanted to thrust my fist in the air. I was getting inspired. “Friends make the world go round.”
“Damn straight.” She cursed. “My roommate just got back. I have to go. You’ll like her when you come.”
“Okay.” I was back to chewing my bottom lip. “Oh hey, before you go, the guys have rented some house for us, I think. But it might be full. If I needed to, could I stay with you guys in your dorm room?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah, but only if there’s room—”
“We were hoping to crash at the house. It’s a big deal here that Alpha Mu is opening up their second house for you guys. It’s given us major cred.”
I cursed. “Really?” I couldn’t hold back my disappointment. “I mean, yay! That’s awesome.”
“Kevin’s in that fraternity. Is he coming? Is he the guy? You never answered me.”
“What guy?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“I’m not.” I was.
“I know there’s a guy thing going on. I just haven’t figured out if it’s Kevin or not. Is it him?”
“No. That ship sailed, then kinda returned to dock. He’s in a different marina now.”
“I’m sorry.”
She meant it. “I’m fine with it.”
“But I’m assuming the guy is coming?”
“Can I plead the fifth?”
“Oh, Sum. I’m sorry.”
Pesky tears. I kept blinking. I did not want them to fall.
“Asswipe, let’s go,” I heard in the background on her end. Clarissa said something back, but it was muffled.
“Look, I have to go,” she said, coming back on. “We have something happening, and my usually amazing roommate is being bossy right now.”
“I heard that,” a voice piped up again.
Clarissa pulled away from the phone. “I meant for you to hear that. I’m comforting one of my best friends here.”