Secrets Kept Page 11

  "Yeah. I've already started on the plates. Can you work on the wine glasses?"

  "Yeah, but first I have to call someone."

  I go and find Carol. "Can I use my phone? I need to call my ride. I didn't drive tonight."

  "Another flat tire?" she asks as she gets my phone from the drawer.

  "No. I'm just going out after this so he's picking me up."

  She was about to hand me my phone but holds onto it. "Is this Gavin we're talking about?"

  "Yes. Now can I have the phone?"

  She sighs. "I wish you'd listen to me. You're only going to get hurt."

  "I'll be fine."

  I text Gavin, telling him it'll probably be closer to eight-thirty before he can pick me up. The party ran longer than we thought it would. I should've known. These things always go over the allotted time.

  "Here." I hand Carol the phone.

  "Does your mother know about him?"

  "No. I haven't told her yet."

  "Have you talked to your father?"

  "No. But I will. Soon."

  "Maybe it's best if you don't," she says as she puts my phone away.

  I give her a questioning look. "You don't think I should talk to him?"

  "People don't change, Kate. Personally, I think you're setting yourself up to be disappointed."

  "Maybe. But he's my dad. I'm not going to never speak to him again."

  "Family or not, sometimes it's best to cut people out of our lives." She walks off and I continue cleaning up.

  As I'm putting the wine glasses away, I keep thinking about Carol's comment. Why wouldn't she want me talking to my dad? Did my mom tell her to say that? But my mom is always encouraging me to see my dad. She thinks it's good for me, as long as he's not drunk. So I don't know why Carol said that.

  I smile when I see Gavin waiting for me outside the service entrance. He's standing next to his silver Audi, checking his phone.

  "Who's the hottie?" Mia asks, coming up behind me.

  "Gavin Bishop. We just started dating."

  "You're dating HIM? I'm jealous." She stands next to me, just outside the door. We're both staring at him. "He looks familiar. Maybe I've seen him at a bar."

  "Probably at the party we catered last Sunday. That was his parents' house. He was home that night."

  She turns to me. "He's THAT Bishop? Holy shit, he's loaded."

  "His parents are. He's not."

  "Trust me, he's loaded. Rich parents always share with their kids. I bet he has a huge trust fund."

  "Doesn't matter. I'm not dating him for his money. I'm dating him because he's a nice guy."

  She grins as she turns to look at him. "And smokin' hot."

  "Yeah, that too." I smile, feeling a flutter in my chest. That light, fluttery feeling you get when you really like someone.

  "I've gotta go but have fun with your man." Mia takes off. "See ya later."

  Gavin puts his phone down as I approach him. "Hey!" He gives me that smile. God, I love his smile. It makes me happy.

  "Hi."

  He gives me a kiss. "How was work?"

  "It was fine. Sorry it took so long."

  "Don't worry about it. Gave me time to study for a quiz I have tomorrow."

  "Are you done studying? Because if not I could—"

  "I'm done studying. I'm all yours." He opens the door for me. "So how about dinner? Where do you want to eat?"

  "I'm not sure but I need to go home and change first. It won't take long."

  "Take as long as you want. There's no rush."

  We drive back to my apartment.

  "So this is it," I tell him as we go inside. "It's not much but it's good enough."

  My apartment is a small two-bedroom that hasn't been updated in at least twenty years. Megan and I have tried to make it look good by adding colorful art prints to the plain white walls and covering the ugly metal blinds with curtains, but there's only so much you can do. The place still looks dated.

  "It's better than my dorm room," he says. "I need to put something on the walls or do something else to brighten it up. It's so dark and gray in there."

  "I could help. I'm an expert at finding cheap artwork online. Not that it has to be cheap, but if you don't want to spend a lot, I can help."

  Talking about money is one of the few times when I feel awkward around Gavin. I'm used to being around people who live paycheck to paycheck, like me. I'm guessing Mia's right and Gavin has a trust fund. And if not, I'm sure his parents give him an allowance to help pay for stuff. Likely, a very large allowance.

  "That'd be great. I could use the help." His eyes go behind me. "Hey, Megan."

  I turn and see her coming into the living room wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt, her hair wet from the shower.

  "Hey." She comes over to us. "Going to dinner?"

  "Yeah, but I have to change first," I tell her. I turn to Gavin. "I'll be quick."

  "So..." I hear Megan say to Gavin as I go down the hall. "How do you like Moorhurst?"

  Oh, God. Now she's going to quiz him about Moorhurst. Try to get info from him that will prove her theories are correct. I hope he doesn't think she's crazy. And I hope she doesn't scare him off. He better still be out there when I'm done changing.

  Now I'm regretting leaving the two of them out there talking. I love Megan but when she wants to prove one of her theories, she'll stop at nothing.

  Chapter Eleven

  Luckily, when I return to the living room, Megan and Gavin are talking about movies, not Moorhurst. They're smiling and seem to be getting along. Good. I like it when my best friend likes the guy I'm dating. Makes things easier. Maybe going out with Decker has softened Megan's stance against Moorhurst guys.

  "Are you seeing Decker tonight?" I ask Megan as I walk up to the couch.

  "He might come over later to talk about a story I'm working on."

  Talk about a story? Yeah, I'm sure they'll do more than that.

  Gavin stands up, smiling at me. "You look beautiful."

  "Thanks." I'm wearing a white cotton dress that's casual and cute. Another bargain from a thrift store in New York.

  "You guys have fun," Megan says.

  "We will," I say as Gavin offers me his hand.

  "What time will you be back?"

  "Not sure." I raise my brows. "Why do you ask?"

  "No reason," she says nonchalantly.

  "Would you like me to call before I come home?"

  She looks at me, annoyed. She knows I'm teasing her.

  "I'll text you," I tell her. "Have fun tonight!" Gavin and I leave and I say to Gavin, "Talking about a story. As if we'd believe that."

  He laughs. "After what we witnessed on the picnic table, I'm pretty sure they'll be doing more than discussing work."

  "Definitely." I swing our hands as we walk to the car. "So what about dinner? Where are we going?"

  "You like seafood?"

  "Love it."

  "Then I'm taking you to a place along the shoreline. It's got the best lobster."

  "Is it a long drive?"

  "About a half hour. Why? Are you in a hurry to get home?"

  "Nope. It sounds good."

  I'm excited about the restaurant but going there won't leave us much time to do anything later. I was hoping we'd go back to his place after we eat. But maybe we'll still have time. I have to be up early, but I can skip a few hours of sleep.

  "So I talked to Pearce Kensington at the party tonight," I say to Gavin as we're having dinner. The food is amazing. I was going to order salmon but Gavin insisted I get the lobster and I'm glad I did. It's the best lobster I've ever had.

  "What did he say?"

  "Not much. We didn't talk long. But I asked him about his son."

  "And?" Gavin sets his fork down. "Did he tell you anything?"

  "He said Garret's going to some small college in California. He didn't say which one or where it is. He kept it vague. And then he went off and talked to someone else."

  "Did you tel
l him you're dating the guy who has his son's old room?"

  "No. I forgot about that." I want to tell Gavin what I overheard but I don't know if I should. I decide not to. I don't want him thinking I eavesdrop on people.

  "So tomorrow night," he says as we're waiting for the check. "Do I get to take you out?"

  Get to, as if it's a privilege. That's really nice. I keep liking this guy more and more.

  "Yes, you can take me out."

  "I'm thinking a concert would be fun. Are you up for it?"

  "Definitely. Where's it at?"

  "At a park in Fairfield. I know it's a drive but it's something to do and I've heard the band is good. They're just a local band but they're pretty popular. What time do you get off work?"

  "At three."

  "So I'll pick you up at four?"

  "That's kind of early. When's the concert?"

  "At eight, but we need time to grab dinner and drive there." He smiles at me. "Plus, I want to spend time with you. It's the only way I'll get to know you."

  I smile back. "Then four is good with me."

  When we get back to my apartment it's almost midnight.

  I text Megan from the parking lot. If Decker's there and you two are going at it, put your clothes on because I'm coming up any minute now.

  She texts back. You're hilarious. Clothes are on. Decker just left. You need me to hide in my room so you can be with Gavin?

  I glance at him, wondering if I should invite him up. But it's late and I'll see him tomorrow so I decide not to. I text her back. No need to hide. I'll be up soon.

  "Is Decker there?" Gavin asks.

  "No, he just left. I'd invite you up but it's kind of late."

  "That's fine. I have to get back and study anyway."

  "Then I'll see you tomorrow." I open the door to leave.

  "Hey," I hear him say.

  "What?" I turn to face him.

  "No goodbye kiss? This is the second time this has happened. You don't like them or what?"

  "I like them too much. That's the problem. Once we start we can't stop and I'll end up being here another hour."

  "I promise. It'll be quick."

  I lean over and kiss him, which of course turns into another kiss, and another after that. A half hour later, I'm finally upstairs.

  Megan is on the couch with her laptop.

  "Why are you still up?" I ask.

  "Decker gave me an idea for a different angle for the story I'm working on so now I'm rewriting it."

  "So he's intellectually stimulating as well as stimulating in other—"

  "Okay, enough with the teasing."

  "Are you kidding? I'm just getting started."

  She laughs. "You keep it up and I'll give it right back."

  "You can tease me about Gavin. I don't mind."

  "So how was your date?"

  "Awesome. It was the best dinner I've had in a long time."

  "And how was Gavin? You still like him?"

  "Too much. I'm starting to get worried."

  "Why?"

  "Because I shouldn't like him this much this early in our relationship."

  "Again. Why?"

  "Because I can't think clearly when I like someone this much, and then I end up getting hurt."

  "That's the risk you take when you date someone."

  "I never liked Kurt this much. Even after months of dating him. Come to think of it, I've never liked any guy this much."

  "I'm starting to feel the same way about Decker," she says, sounding annoyed with herself.

  "See? You're worried too."

  "Only because I don't want to get involved with anyone right now. I don't plan to stay here. When I finally get a real job, I'm moving."

  "Then just hang out with Decker until you move. It doesn't have to be serious."

  She sighs. "It's that damn bow tie. I find it charming." She grins. "And sexy."

  I don't find it either one of those things but to each their own.

  The TV is on and my eye catches a story scrolling across the bottom the reads Suspect arrested for landscaper's murder.

  "Did you hear about that?" Megan asks, pointing to the TV.

  "The murder? No."

  "Some guy was doing landscaping work at an office building and ended up getting killed. In broad daylight. And yet nobody saw anything."

  "The TV just said they arrested someone."

  "Exactly. So it's obviously a cover-up and the poor guy they arrested is the scapegoat."

  Megan and her stories. She should write fiction instead of news articles.

  "It's really sad," she says. "The guy who got killed had a family. Wife and two kids. Teenagers."

  My breath catches. Wife and two kids. Teenagers. It's the same words I heard at the Kensington mansion. But those men had to have been talking about something else.

  "Something wrong?" Megan asks.

  I shake my head. "No. It's nothing."

  She rises from the couch, holding her laptop. "I'm going to bed. I'll finish this in the morning."

  We both go to our rooms but I can't sleep. I keep thinking about that news story. I'm sure it had no connection to what those men were talking about and yet I feel like it did. I swear I'm becoming just like Megan. Living with her is making me suspicious of everything, even when there's no reason for it. I turn my thoughts to Gavin and that kiss he gave me and eventually fall asleep.

  ***

  Friday night, Gavin and I go to dinner followed by the concert at the park. It's another great date.

  Then on Saturday, he takes me to brunch at some fancy restaurant I'd never been to, where I have the best French toast ever made.

  In the afternoon, he goes back to his dorm to work on a paper. Our plan is to meet up for dinner later but I have another idea.

  I call him around four. "How's the paper coming?"

  "Good. We're still on for dinner, right?"

  "Yeah, but I want to have dinner here instead of going out. Are you good with that?"

  "Sure. I can pick something up and bring it over."

  "Actually, I was planning to make dinner."

  "You cook?" he asks, sounding shocked.

  I laugh. "Yes. I cook. I'm actually pretty good at it."

  "Why haven't I heard about this until now?"

  "I like to slowly dole out information about myself rather than dump it all on you at once."

  "So you're saying you have more to share?"

  "Lots more." It's not really true but it sounds fun and flirty so I go with it.

  "I can't wait to find out what these things are." He says it in a low, sexy voice. "Maybe I should come over right now and find out."

  "You can't. I have to go get groceries."

  "What are we having?"

  "Chicken cacciatore, a salad, and cheesecake for dessert."

  "And you're making all that? Even the cheesecake?"

  "I already made the cheesecake. I made it this afternoon."

  "Can I bring some wine? Or anything else?"

  "Wine would be good. Nothing else. Except you."

  "What time should I be over?"

  "Six. Oh, and Megan's out with Decker tonight so it's just you and me."

  "Great. I'll see you soon."

  It's hard to believe that just a week ago I was walking in on Kurt and that girl. I was so upset, thinking it'd take weeks to get over him. And now, a week later, I've barely thought about him.

  My mom always says something good comes from something bad and in this case she's right. Finding Kurt cheating on me was horrible, but if I hadn't found him with that girl, I'd still be with him and wouldn't be with Gavin right now.

  He arrives just before six, holding two bottles of wine.

  "I assumed red would be best with the cacciatore." He holds up the wine. "I got two different kinds. Wasn't sure what you liked but these are both excellent."

  I step aside, letting him in. "You know about wine?"

  "My dad's a wine snob so he taught me a thing
or two. He has a wine cellar at the house that has wines that cost more than...well, let's just say they're expensive."

  I wonder why he didn't finish his thought. Does he not want me knowing how wealthy his parents are? After seeing their mansion I already know they're worth millions, which I'm sure is mostly his mom's money. He still hasn't told me much about her.

  "What about your mom?" I ask as I return to the stove. "Does she like wine?"

  "Wine. Vodka. Gin." His voice trails off and then he mutters under his breath, "She'll drink any kind of alcohol."

  "Are you saying she has a drinking problem?"

  "No," he says in a harsh tone I haven't heard him use before. "She's not an alcoholic. She just has too much sometimes." He yanks open a drawer. "Do you have a bottle opener?"

  "Yeah." I point to the drawer next to him. "It's in that one."

  He finds it, then shuts the drawer harder than he should.

  I stir the sauce around the chicken. "I didn't mean to upset you about your mom. I only asked because my dad's an alcoholic. He says he's not but then I keep finding him drinking. So I just wondered if your mom was the same way."

  "She's not. I already told you that." He's still using that harsh tone. He's got the corkscrew in the wine bottle and he forcefully yanks it out, then sets it on the counter. His head drops and he scrubs his hand through his hair, breathing heavy. I obviously hit a nerve.

  I set the spoon on the spoon rest and cover the bubbling sauce. "You want to talk about it?"

  "Honestly? No. I'd rather keep pretending it's not an issue."

  "Me too. I mean, with my dad."

  "It's not the same. I don't know your dad but...it's not like that. My mom's not an alcoholic. She just...she just drinks more than she should, but not all the time."

  "But how do you know? Most alcoholics try to hide it. When I'm at my dad's house he—"

  "She's not a fucking alcoholic, okay?" He yells it at me.

  I nod. "Okay."

  He sighs. "Sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I just don't like labeling her like that. She's not...that's not what she is."

  He's in denial. If he's this upset about it, he's clearly concerned she has a problem. He just doesn't want to admit it.

  "Sorry I interrupted you," he says. "You were saying? About your dad?"

  "My dad will promise me he's not drinking anymore but then I'll search the house and find bottles of liquor hidden all over the place. In his closet. In the laundry room behind the detergent. In the garage. When I confront him about it, he says he has no plans to drink it. That it's been there forever. That's what really hurts. The lying. He thinks he's protecting me but he's not. I'd rather know the truth."