Secrets Kept Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Secrets Kept

  By Allie Everhart

  Secrets Kept

  By Allie Everhart

  Copyright © 2018 Allíe Everhart

  All rights reserved.

  Published by Waltham Publishing, LLC

  Cover Design by Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, things, and events are fictitious, and any similarities to real persons (live or dead), things, or events are coincidental and not intended by the author. Brand names of products mentioned in this book are used for reference only and the author acknowledges that any trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.

  The author holds exclusive rights to this work and unauthorized duplication is prohibited. No part of this book is to be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author.

  Chapter One

  "How about this one?" I appear in Megan's room in yet another outfit.

  "It's good," Megan says, barely glancing away from her laptop.

  "You didn't even look!" I walk up to her bed where she's half lying, half sitting, propped up by a gazillion pillows, all shapes, sizes, and colors. The girl loves pillows.

  "This is the tenth outfit you've tried on. I have things to do. I don't have time for a two-hour fashion show." She types away on her laptop.

  "This is the last one. I promise. Just look."

  She sighs and sets her laptop aside. Her eyes move over my very short, very tight black dress.

  "Is that yours?"

  "A girl at work gave it to me. It was too small on her."

  "Is she a hooker by night?" Megan snickers.

  I look down at the dress. "Is it really that bad?"

  "It's kinda slutty but I'm sure Kurt won't think so. I'm sure he'll love it. Go with that one." She picks up her laptop and gets back to work.

  "I'm trying to look sexy, not slutty." I walk over to her mirror and check out the dress. "I don't think it's slutty."

  "If you're just hanging out at Kurt's apartment having sex, then it's fine." She types really fast on her laptop. She types faster than anyone I know and rarely makes a mistake.

  "We're doing more than that." I walk back over to her. "I don't know what he has planned. He hasn't said. But given that it's our anniversary, I'm sure we'll go someplace nice for dinner. Maybe go out for drinks." I sit down on her bed, causing the dress to slide up so much it nearly exposes the overpriced lacy pink panties I bought just for tonight.

  Quickly standing up, I say, "You're right. This dress is too slutty. I can't even sit down."

  "Told you." She smiles briefly, still furiously typing. She's on deadline for a story. She's a part-time writer for an online magazine based out of New York. She gets paid almost nothing but she took the job so she'd have something to put on her resume. She graduated last May with a journalism degree but can't find a job, or at least not the job she wants, which is to be a reporter for a national newspaper.

  "Then which one did you like?" I ask, frustrated with myself for spending so much time on this. I've wasted the past hour trying to figure out what to wear. That's in addition to the hour I spent doing my hair and makeup. Kurt better appreciate all this effort.

  "Just pick whatever you're most comfortable in." She shoves up her glasses and keeps typing.

  "Megan, would you just focus on this for two seconds? I need your help."

  She looks at me. "White sundress." Her eyes go back to her laptop.

  "Isn't it too summery? Summer's basically over."

  "Kate, I can't talk right now. Just pick something. You're trying way too hard. You're gorgeous and skinny. You look good in anything." She waves me away, one hand still typing.

  Back in my room, I survey the clothes strewn all over my bed. She's right. Why am I trying so hard? Kurt will love whatever I wear. Because he loves me.

  I smile at that. Kurt, the hot, sexy bartender that every girl wants, is all mine. And he loves me.

  Today is our eight month anniversary and I'm going to surprise him by showing up early for our date. I was supposed to meet him at his apartment at seven but my catering job was cancelled, leaving my afternoon free.

  "Okay, I'm going," I yell at Megan just before three. I decided to wear the first outfit I tried on, a bright coral dress that's classy but also short and sexy and shows off my summer tan. My naturally straight hair has been curled into soft waves, just the way Kurt likes it, and I'm wearing the perfume he gave me for our two-month anniversary. I love that he's so romantic, insisting we celebrate each month we're together.

  His apartment is just outside of town. It's old and needs some repairs but it's cheap so he's able to afford it without having a roommate. That's why we usually hang out at his place. Not that Megan minds if I have Kurt over, but there's really no reason to go to our place when we can have privacy at his and not bother Megan while she's trying to work.

  Sneaking up to his apartment, I quietly put the key he gave me in the lock and slowly open the door. I peek inside and see him coming out of his room wearing just a towel, his toned muscles on display. He's so freaking hot. Sometimes I can't believe he's dating me. Not that I'm unattractive. It's just that Kurt could have any girl he wants and he chose me.

  As he walks into the living room, I burst into the room. "Surprise!" I race over to him and kiss him. "Happy anniversary!"

  He puts his hands on my shoulders and gently pushes me back. "What are you doing here? I thought you had to work."

  "The job got cancelled so I decided to come over early and surprise you." I kiss him again.

  He glances over his shoulder. "I just got back from the gym. Why don't you give me an hour to clean up and I'll pick you up at your place?"

  "Clean up?" I let out a laugh and point to his wet hair. "You just showered."

  "Yeah, I know, but I need to get dressed. Do my hair. Just give me some time. I want to look good for you." He seems tense and keeps checking behind him. As if someone's here. In his bedroom.

  My stomach knots and my throat goes dry. He wouldn't dare. He loves me. And it's our anniversary. There's no way he would do that.

  "Kate, just go," he says, taking my arm and trying to turn me toward the door.

  "I think I'll stay," I say, yanking my arm back. "You go ahead and get ready. I'll just wait on the couch."

  "Kate." He stares at me, as if willing me to go, but I remain there, that knot in my stomach getting even tighter. "This really isn't a good time."

  "And why is that?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

  He glances back at his room again.

  Oh God, is this really happening? Is he really cheating on me?

  Maybe I'm wrong.
Maybe he's telling the truth. Maybe he really does want me to leave so he can get ready for tonight.

  It's such a lie. He's definitely cheating. I could feel it the moment I walked in the door. That shocked look on his face said it all. He assumed I was at work so he had some girl over and...

  "Hey, babe." And there she is, coming up behind Kurt, wrapping her pink-tipped manicured hands around my boyfriend's bare chest.

  I just stand there watching it like it's not really happening. Like it's a movie and not my life.

  "Kate, this is Angela," Kurt says, stepping away from her to the side. "She's a friend from work. She just started."

  Is he seriously trying to play this off like it's nothing? Like the overly tan, petite brunette in the skin-tight red dress standing next to him is just a friend?

  "A FRIEND?" I hear my shrill tone and clear my throat before calmly saying, "Do you normally have FRIENDS in your BEDROOM?" I yell.

  So much for being calm. I was trying to keep the upper hand but I'm too damn pissed off.

  "She was waxing my chest." Kurt rushes the words out.

  "What?" Angela's perky nose scrunches up as she turns to him. "I wasn't—"

  "She used to do waxing," he blurts out. "Before she was a waitress."

  "Wait." Angela points to me, her eyes on Kurt. "Is she your girlfriend?" When he doesn't answer, she smacks him. "You didn't say you had a girlfriend!"

  "He doesn't," I say, glaring at him. "Not anymore."

  "You jackass!" Angela smacks him again, so hard he rubs his shoulder, then she picks up her stiletto heels from the floor and storms past me out the door.

  I'm left standing in front of Kurt, who's doing the sad eye, pouty mouth thing he does when he screws up and wants me to forgive him. But this screw-up is beyond forgivable.

  "We're done." I jab my finger into his chest and get in his face. "And don't you dare call me. I never want to see or hear from you ever again!" I turn to leave.

  He hurries over and grabs me around the waist. "Babe, wait. We can work this out. It was just a stupid mistake."

  "Stupid mistake?" I shove him away. "Forgetting to pay your rent is a stupid mistake. Having sex with a girl who isn't your girlfriend is MORE than a stupid mistake!"

  "Babe, she means nothing to me. I swear." He goes to grab me again but I back away and hold my hands up.

  "Do NOT touch me. We are OVER! Done! Finished!"

  "Kate, you don't mean that. You're just upset. Why don't you go home and calm down? I'll be there at seven to pick you up. I got us reservations at Trolley's."

  "Trolley's?" I huff. "That was where you were going to take me for our anniversary?"

  Trolley's is a train car that was converted into a diner. It serves burgers and ice cream and is always full of kids and families. Not a place you'd go for a romantic dinner.

  "I thought you liked that place," he says.

  "Not for our anniversary!" I point to my dress. "Does this look like something I'd wear to Trolley's?"

  He smiles, his eyes moving down my dress. "You look nice. Hot." He nods toward his room. "You wanna..."

  "Are you freaking kidding me? You seriously think I'd have sex with you? After you just had sex with—never mind." I storm to the door, then whip around. "For the record, I never loved you. I loved your body but that's it." And then I walk out the door, racing down the hall.

  "You don't mean that, Kate. This is all just a misunderstanding."

  I glance back and see he's still at the door. He doesn't even bother to come after me. What an ass. A complete and total ass.

  "Why the hell did I date that guy?" I say to myself as I'm driving home. I'm so angry my hands are shaking as I grip the steering wheel. He's probably been cheating this whole time. "Asshole!" I slam my hand on the wheel as I come to a stop at the light.

  Glancing to my right, I notice the guys in the car next to me. They're about my age, with pretty boy faces and polo shirts. Driving a shiny black Mercedes SUV.

  Moorhurst College guys. With the fall semester about to begin, they're all back in town. Privileged rich boys who've probably never worked a day in their lives.

  Moorhurst is a very exclusive, very expensive private college attended by kids from rich, powerful families. Why they put an elite school like Moorhurst in this tiny town in the middle-of-nowhere Connecticut is beyond me.

  The light turns and the guys take off. I'm sure they're assholes like Kurt. From here on out, I'm deciding that all guys are assholes. I'll just have to learn to like being single.

  When I get back to my apartment, I go straight to my room, pick up the photo of Kurt and me that's on my dresser, and toss it in the trash.

  Megan appears at my door. "What are you doing here? He wasn't home?"

  "Oh, he was home all right." I walk to my desk, grab the photo of Kurt on his motorcycle, and rip it up into pieces. "He just wasn't alone."

  She races over to me. "He was with a girl?"

  "Yep." I say, popping the 'p' as I search my desk drawer for any other Kurt photos. When I don't find any, I slam the drawer shut.

  "You caught them...um..." She bites her lip.

  "They were done by the time I got there." I pace my room, trying to burn off my anger. "Kurt came out of his room wearing a towel. Stupid me. I thought he had just taken a shower to get ready for our date. But no. He took a shower to wash off the smell of another girl on him." I throw my hands up. "Ugh! I can't believe I trusted him! How could I be so stupid?"

  "Okay, calm down." Megan gets in front of me and holds both my arms, keeping me in place. "First of all, you're not stupid. Kurt is the stupid one. He's an ass and a liar and you deserve so much better."

  "Yeah, that all sounds great but right now, it doesn't make me feel any better."

  She frowns. "I know. I'm sorry. What can I do?"

  "Cut off his balls with a steak knife," I mutter.

  She rears back. "Wow. I never took you as the violent type." She slowly backs away.

  I crack a smile. "I'm kidding. Geez."

  She laughs, then covers her mouth. "Sorry. It's not funny. Well, the image of that is a little funny, given the steak knife. Why a steak knife? Is it because—"

  "Forget it. I shouldn't have said it." I take a deep breath. "I can't believe he did this. And today! On our anniversary!"

  "Did you know her?"

  "No." I collapse face first on my bed. "He said she works at the bar." I sit up. "Oh, and get this. He tried to tell me she was there to wax his chest. Can you believe that?" I shake my head. "I see a girl coming out of his room, catch him red-handed, and he's STILL trying to lie! And then, after she's gone, he tries to get me to have sex with him!" I shudder and lie back on my bed. "I HATE him! Hate, hate, hate him!"

  "Do you want to talk about it?" She sits beside me on the bed. "Or should I just bring you a pint of ice cream and leave you alone?"

  "Neither." I burst up from the bed and go to my dresser and yank out a pair of running shorts and a tank.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Going for a run. I'm not going to sit around crying, eating ice cream, getting fat, all because of some stupid guy."

  "But you're all dressed up. Why don't we go out? We'll go have a drink. Sit at the bar. Maybe you'll meet someone else."

  "Another asshole who'll break my heart? No. Forget it. I'm done with men. I'm just going to be single the rest of my life." I yank my shorts on under my dress, then feel my fancy underwear riding up my butt. I sigh. "I need to change. I don't feel like talking right now. You can go back to your article."

  She comes over to me. "You gonna be okay?"

  "Yes." I straighten up, shoulders back. "I'm fine. I didn't like him that much, anyway."

  She eyes me, knowing I'm lying, but she doesn't call me on it. Instead, she walks to the door. "Make sure you bring your phone. If you get tired on your run, or lost, or..." she smiles, "need an adult beverage...call me. I'll pick you up."

  "I will."

  She leaves and my phon
e dings with a text. It's from the asshole. Don't be mad. She means nothing to me. You're it for me, babe.

  "Ugh!" I toss the phone on my bed and finish changing my clothes.

  While I'm in the bathroom, washing all the makeup off my face, my phone dings again.

  Another text from the a-hole. Be there at seven to pick you up. Where do you want to go?

  I text back. We're done! OVER! Stop texting me!!!!

  He texts back. I thought you were joking.

  Are you serious? You cheated on me! We're OVER!

  He doesn't respond. A minute goes by. And then I see the dots. Another text appears. You sure??

  YES!!!!

  Ok. It was fun while it lasted. He follows that with a winking smiley face.

  What. An. Ass!!!

  "I hate him!" I yell.

  Megan appears again. "What happened? What's wrong?"

  "Forget it." I walk around her to the hall. "I can't talk about it. I'm going out. Be back later."

  She follows me to the door. "Kate, why don't you stay? We could watch a movie. A comedy. Nothing romantic. Or we'll watch a horror movie. One where all the guys get killed."

  I half-smile. Megan's been my friend since high school and she always knows how to make me smile. "I'm pretty sure that movie doesn't exist."

  She shrugs. "Well, I tried. You sure you want to go running? Seems like a strange thing to do after a break-up. Or anytime. I don't get running."

  Megan hates exercise of any kind. Even walking. She'd much rather be typing away on her laptop or binge-watching whatever show got her attention on Netflix.

  She's a little overweight but she's always been that way and loves her body the way it is. She embraces her curves and doesn't try to hide them.

  I give her a quick hug. "Get back to work. I'll be back soon."

  After a five-mile run, I go home, take a long, hot shower, then get into bed. I try not to think of him but he's all I can think about.

  He said he loved me. He said it every day for the past six months. But it was all a lie. The asshole lied about loving me.

  And the worst part? I didn't. Lie, that is. I told him I loved him and meant it.