Текст книги "Off the Record"

Автор книги: K. A. Linde

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 26 страниц)

Brady just stared. “You said you saw what I meant; that was enough for me. You don’t have to use my suggestion, but if you didn’t want to, then why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. She didn’t want to upset him. That was why.

“You’re a reporter; aren’t you supposed to be honest and unbiased?” he scoffed. “I thought you would tell me if you thought it was a bad idea.”

“I did think it was a good idea,” she said hastily.

“You write what you want to write, and I’ve always liked that about you. It’s why I thought you were different in the beginning. If you can’t be honest with me…” He trailed off.

Liz didn’t think she could strike a nerve with Brady. He seemed so solid inside and out. He didn’t get irritated that she cut down his political views, or when she freaked out when she thought that he was seeing someone else. He didn’t get irritated about much, aside from whether or not she was seeing someone else. He just wanted her to be up front with him.

It was just a suggestion, but he was taking it so seriously. Did he actually think that she couldn’t be honest with him? He was the only one she was honest with anymore.

Still, she hated upsetting him. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have told you. I didn’t know you would be so mad.”

“Liz, I have to go,” he said, but he didn’t turn away.

“I know. Five minutes. Give me one more. We’re engrossed in conversation.” She didn’t even stop to wait for him to say anything. “I didn’t come to find you in public to argue. I just came to talk to you, because I wanted you to know that you were right.”

He stared down at her with interest. “About what, specifically?”

“You told me once that if I got to know you, I would see you for more than your voting record.”

“At the gala,” he said, a small semblance of a smile appearing on his face at the mention of it.

“You were right,” she whispered. Tears were forming in her eyes, and she was so incredibly pissed at them. Why was she getting emotional like this? It wasn’t as if they could even move forward in their relationship. They only had secrecy to hold on to. “I see your vision. I see you. I was proud of you onstage today.” Her voice was hoarse when she said the last line. “I’m sorry for the tears. They’re stupid,” she said, wiping gently under her eyes. “But…you’ve got me, Brady. I get it now. I get it.”

“Liz…” he whispered.

“No, just one more thing,” she said, trying to muster the courage. “You won my vote today.”

He sighed, as if he had realized how much of an ass he had been earlier. “Baby, do you have plans later?”

She looked up into his face, surprised. Brady was supposed to be leaving for the coast today with his family. She wasn’t going to see him all weekend.

“No plans.”

“Good,” he said softly. “Because I’m going to be spending all night making this up to you.”

Chapter 19
OUT ON THE TOWN

Liz stared at the ground uncomfortably before taking a breath and walking into the coffee shop. She had talked to Justin on the phone a couple times since he had gotten his DUI, but he’d had his disciplinary committee hearing this morning and he’d agreed to meet up with her after. She’d offered to go with him to the meeting, since she was the reason for the DUI in the first place, but no one else was allowed inside.

“Over here,” Justin called. He waved his hand from the corner, and Liz strode in his direction.

“Hey.” He stood when she approached, and she briefly wrapped her arms around him sympathetically before they both took a seat. “How did it go?”

Justin sighed and shrugged despondently. “I wish you’d been there. You could have sweet-talked them for me.” He looked up to meet her blue eyes. “They stripped my scholarship.”

“Oh my God!” she cried. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m thinking about transferring out. My parents can’t afford to pay out-of-state tuition.”

“You can’t just leave.” Liz shook her head. “There has to be something that can be done. Can you appeal the verdict? Maybe you can apply for student loans to help with tuition.”

“My parents are looking into it, but I don’t think there’s much that can be done. Student loans look at your records, so I’m not sure how much I could get…probably not enough to afford it.”

“Ugh,” she groaned. “I wish there was something I could do.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

She felt partially responsible for this. One bad mistake shouldn’t bring a lifetime of turmoil. She knew Justin would bounce back, because he was a genius, but it would be hard.

“It just sucks.”

“It does. But hey, maybe I should use this as my opportunity to try something new. I was always too smart for college anyway,” he said with a wink, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe I’ll open my own business or take over the Internet. I always thought that would be fun.”

“Only you, Justin.”

“Thanks for meeting up with me, Liz.” He reached out and grabbed her hand across the table. “I made a bad choice, but it didn’t turn out as bad as it could have. At least I didn’t hurt anyone. I remember running through that light, and I think about how lucky I was that I didn’t hit anyone. It’s only a scholarship, but it wasn’t my life…or yours.”

“I’m really sorry, you know?”

“I know. Me too.”

They finished their coffee and parted ways. Liz was glad that she had met up with him, at least.

She was supposed to go out with Victoria later and she needed to get home and get ready. Liz walked into the house fifteen minutes later to Victoria yelling at her from down the hallway of their house. “You better fucking get drunk with me tonight!”

Liz shook her head and dropped her bag in the living room. She grabbed her latest article from Professor Mires and trudged down the hallway. “I already said I would get drunk with you, Vickie. If you ask me one more time, I’m going to call you that all night!”

As she waited for Victoria to relinquish the bathroom, Liz flipped through the paper she had gotten back that morning—the one based on Hayden’s suggestion. It had garnered her an A. The professor said that she could really see her improvement and depth of growth. That if she turned in her final paper with similar quality work, she would be comfortable giving her a B+ or even an A– for the class, despite her earlier work in the semester. Liz knew that meant she had her work cut out for her, but she was up to the challenge.

Her last week of classes was coming up; in just over a week, she would be heading out to D.C. to visit Hayden. She found it hard to believe it was that close already. Soon the fall semester would be upon them, then the primary, and then the general election.

Liz shook her head. She was getting ahead of herself. There was still too much that needed to get done before then. Brady’s big summer gala event, for instance. It was coming up this weekend, and she was pretty much freaking out about it. Would she be noticed? She already knew that she couldn’t go with Brady, but would he take someone else? It didn’t help her to get too antsy about it, because at the end of the night, he was coming back to her one way or another. And she had to be confident in that.

Their argument on the Fourth of July had changed their relationship. Liz didn’t know what exactly had been the tipping point. It could have been her realization that somewhere under Brady’s hard exterior she could hurt him. Or her comprehension of his purpose for running for office, which had softened him to her. Not that Brady was actually any different. He was still gruff, brash, and stubborn, but she wouldn’t have him any different. But one way or another, whatever they had been doing before had turned into something…more.

Brady had actually postponed his trip to Hilton Head with his family to spend the night of the Fourth at the lake house with her. She hadn’t seen the lake that night except through the window of the second-story bedroom, when the fireworks had gone off. She couldn’t help smiling now at the thought.

Victoria completed her hair and makeup and walked into her bedroom to change. Liz took that opportunity to do her own makeup before changing out of her shorts and tank top. While she was changing, Liz received a text message from Brady. Baby, you free tonight?

Liz couldn’t bail on Victoria another time. She had been home for a couple weeks now, and Liz felt like the worst friend in the world. She kept canceling on Victoria to hang out with Brady. She had so little time with him that when he wanted to see her she jumped at the opportunity. But she couldn’t do that tonight. If she did, she was pretty sure Victoria would skin her alive.

Going out with my roommate.

How late will you be out?

Liz smiled. If someone else had posed that question, Liz would have found it irritating, but it was Brady. He was different.

Probably very late. Victoria is kind of an animal.

You’ll be safe? Can I see you after?

Always safe. Don’t worry. Don’t you have to work in the morning?

You can’t expect me not to worry. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I’ll take tomorrow morning off. Call me if you’re done before two a.m.

Liz felt giddy. Who was this person she had become?

Done. But I’ll be wasted, so you’ll have to come get me.

I’ll come get you. You’ll be safe with me.

Debatable.

Don’t make me come get you now.

Empty threat. I’m not alone.

Don’t test me.

Liz bit back her laughter. She liked teasing him like this. It felt comfortable. They had been together for nearly two months. She couldn’t believe it had been that long. They had held on to their secret and nothing had happened. She breathed easier each day that went by.

“Ready, bitch?” Victoria called. Liz opened the door to her room and saw Victoria standing in the hallway.

Liz rolled her eyes at Victoria’s appearance. “You look like a baby prostitute.”

“That quote is, ‘You smell like a baby prostitute.’”

“Boo, you whore!” Liz said with a giggle. She shook her head at her ridiculous best friend. “Seriously, you look like a hooker.”

Victoria shrugged. “And you look…like you.” Somehow she made that sound insulting.

Liz glanced down at her appearance. “I just don’t look like I’m going to be selling my body.”

“Exactly. Use what you got, girl. You’ll only have it for so long. I certainly want to enjoy it.”

Victoria was a curvy girl with a full hourglass figure that she loved to flaunt around in very little clothing. She had on a dark blue, skintight V-cut dress that showed off way more leg and breasts than Liz had ever shown in her entire life. She had on mile-high nude wedges and her signature red lipstick.

Liz felt dressed down next to her best friend. She had on a solid coral skirt with a tan ruffle halter-top and brown sandals. She had actually taken the time to blow her blond hair out into messy beach waves. She didn’t typically wear much makeup, but she had done herself up tonight. If she hadn’t put in some effort, she knew Victoria would have redone her face.

As much as she wanted to see Brady tonight, she knew it was going to be fun to hang out with Victoria. They had known each other a long time, and she always had a good time when they went out.

Victoria chose a bar on the west side of Franklin Street downtown that served beer in giant plastic cups. It was all right on the inside, but everyone went there for the huge patio with benches and live outdoor music. The place was as full all summer as if it were the only bar in town.

Liz didn’t recognize anyone, but Victoria waved at a few people. They made their way through to the bar, and Victoria ordered them both beers. Liz wasn’t a big fan of beer, but this was the kind of place for it. Victoria handed the fratty-looking bartender her credit card, and they walked back outside with their drinks.

It was a swelteringly hot mid-July evening, and the humidity in the air was thick enough that Liz felt more like she was drinking the air rather than breathing it. She was glad she hadn’t straightened her hair, because by the end of the night she would have had waves anyway. Some Jamaican-style band with steel drums was set up on the stage playing music. It reminded Liz of the tacky Hawaiian party she had gone to with Justin, and she sighed as they found a seat at one of the picnic tables.

After a few moments, Victoria spoke up again. “So, what’s been up with you?”

“What do you mean?” Liz asked, fidgeting.

“You’re different. You’re not around that much, and I know you’re not working all the time. You normally freak out about your work and obsess. There hasn’t been as much obsessing. So tell me, what’s up?” Victoria asked, tipping back the absurdly large cup.

“Same old, same old,” Liz told her.

Victoria narrowed her eyes. “Don’t bullshit me. I know something is going on.”

“What’s going on, Vic?” Liz asked, deflecting.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But something.”

Liz shrugged. She wanted to tell Victoria about Brady, but she couldn’t. They had gotten through two months without being caught. She wasn’t about to jeopardize that by telling anyone what was happening.

“Does this have to do with Hayden?” Victoria asked, taking a shot in the dark. “I mean, I know that you’ve liked him for a long time. You’re going to see him soon, right?”

“Yeah, next weekend I’m going up there. I’m kind of nervous about it. I mean, he was so strange around me before he left, but he still wants me to come visit. I can’t read him. I don’t think he has feelings for me, but then sometimes he says things and I think he does. I’m just not on the same page with him.”

“Well, then it’s good that you’re going up there. I can tell he likes you. I think you guys have just been apart all summer, and then when you’re together again it’ll all come back,” Victoria told her.

Liz’s stomach twisted at the thought. She didn’t want everything with Hayden to suddenly come back. She didn’t know what that would be like. With her feelings for Brady swirling around in her head, she couldn’t imagine going to see Hayden and dealing with that. Then why was she going to visit him? She didn’t have a good answer for that except that she had agreed to…and she still wanted to see him.

“Maybe,” Liz said, not wanting to concede.

“I think you should just fuck him and stop worrying about it,” Victoria said flippantly.

Liz shook her head. There was no way she was going there with this conversation. Not that she and Brady were open about their relationship, but she couldn’t sleep with someone else. “No way. He’s not that kind of guy, Victoria.”

“What kind of guy? Every guy wants that.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it! I mean, I’m not going to sleep with him to get it out of my system or whatever you said. Hayden didn’t make his move at the end of the semester when he could have. I doubt he’d do it now.”

“Then why don’t you make the move? I swear I’ve told you this before,” Victoria said.

“If he’s not interested, then I’m not going to put myself out there like that. Can we drop this?” Talking about Hayden was too confusing with Brady on her mind.

They were friends. Just friends. Hayden had made that perfectly clear last semester. They couldn’t do anything because of the paper, and it was even a stretch to say he wanted to do anything with her. All she got from him was mixed signals. She much preferred to have it all out on the table, like with Brady. Hayden was too confusing.

“Fine. We’ll drop it, but I still think you should consider walking around naked. You’ll find out real quick what he thinks of you,” Victoria said with a shrug.

“Thanks for those enlightening words,” Liz said with an eye roll. “Anyway, I have a big gala event this weekend that I have to go to.”

“Work?” Victoria asked.

“Yeah.” It wasn’t exactly work, but she couldn’t tell Victoria about Brady. Her friend would probably be ecstatic for her, but it was too scary to have people know. The more people with the knowledge of their secret, the more people who could spill it. Even if by accident.

“Do you get to at least wear a rocking dress? Oh my God, have you picked it out already? Can I go with you?” Victoria asked, perking up at the thought of shopping.

Liz shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t know how to answer the questions. “I, uh…was going to go in something I already had. That’s what I did for the last one.”

Victoria leveled a gaze at her that was equal parts how are we friends and are you sure you’re female? “If this thing is a big deal, we need to get you something new!”

“There’s really not time,” Liz told her.

“We’ll make time for this. You’ll be less nervous about the event in a brand-new dress! Scientific fact. I would know,” she said, then finished off her drink. “Drink up, bitch. I’m getting you another.”

Liz stared down into her half-full drink and sighed. It was going to be a rough night.

As the night wore on, Liz felt her intoxication gradually sneak up on her. It wasn’t like at Justin’s frat party, where the hunch punch had hit her instantly and she had just been gone. This was the best kind of drunk. She and Victoria were barhopping up and down Franklin Street, following friends to new places, and enjoying the company of total strangers in ways that only Victoria could.

She had been trying to convince Liz quite loudly for the past twenty minutes to go home with this guy who had been allegedly hitting on her. Liz tried to tell her that the guy was only interested in her to get to Victoria, but she didn’t believe her. When he and Victoria started molesting each other at the bar thirty minutes later, Liz just had to laugh. So much for Victoria being a good judge of those kinds of things.

The guy and his friends followed them to the next bar and one of them actually did try to hit on Liz. He wasn’t her type, if she ever had one, and Liz repeatedly had to remove his arm from around her shoulders, touching the small of her back, and stroking her arm. Brady could smash this guy’s face in in two seconds. It made her smile to think about it, and the guy leaned in, taking it as encouragement.

“No, really. No, thanks,” Liz said, and walked away. She giggled the whole way to the bathroom to locate her roommate. Only two months ago, she would have stayed and been miserable enduring his unwanted attention. It was liberating to feel comfortable enough to stand up for herself. She didn’t need to spare his drunk feelings just because he couldn’t take a hint.

Victoria materialized a few minutes later, straightening her dress. “Can we get out of here?” she asked.

“Sure. What happened?” Liz asked, following on her heels.

“Too drunk, I guess,” Victoria said, “if you know what I mean.”

Liz’s eyes bulged. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” They were back out in the open air, wandering Franklin Street for another bar.

“Couldn’t get it up. Not my problem. He wasn’t very big anyway.”

Liz laughed and shook her head. “You astound me.”

Victoria walked through a doorway and took the stairs to a rooftop bar. “What was I supposed to do with that, Liz?” Victoria shuddered. “The answer is nothing. I can always call Kirk.”

“Who is Kirk?” Liz asked, never able to catch up to Victoria’s love life.

“That TA I was telling you about. Remember?”

“The one from England?”

“No, I can’t touch the History department for a while. This guy is in Geography,” Victoria told her, heading toward the bar.

Liz’s head was so heavy and she was having trouble feeling her legs. She didn’t know how she didn’t stumble or slur or anything. The whole thing was making her want to tell Victoria about Brady. It would be so much nicer to talk to her about him. Then she wouldn’t feel so torn about keeping him a secret. If Victoria could so easily tell her about Kirk, why couldn’t she talk to Victoria about Brady?

“Anyway,” Victoria said before Liz could spill her guts, “Kirk is a bit older and has his own house. Went to get his PhD after spending four years abroad in Somalia or South Africa or something.”

“Those aren’t exactly close, Victoria. For sleeping with someone in the Geography department, you really don’t know your geography very well.”

“We don’t talk about that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Hold on.” Victoria motioned the bartender over and ordered them another round of drinks. Liz’s head spun at the thought of another cocktail. She didn’t want to feel sick again like last time. At least she had staggered her drinks.

Victoria handed her a bright blue cocktail and smiled. “You’re going to like this.”

“Why does that scare me?” Liz looked skeptically at the glass.

“Cheers to you, bitch,” she said, clinking her glass against Liz’s and taking a long swig. Liz shook her head, but followed suit. The drink was beyond fruity, way too sweet for her taste, and, as far as she could tell, straight liquor.

“This is such a terrible idea,” Liz muttered, but drank it nonetheless.

Victoria launched into the full details of how she had met Geography Kirk, and Liz tried to concentrate on the story, but she was having difficulty. Victoria’s phone went off about halfway through the story and she paused to answer it. Liz wasn’t surprised when it was Geography Kirk calling, asking to see her.

“You don’t mind, do you?” Victoria asked, batting her eyelashes. Liz glanced down at her watch and saw that it was only one o’clock. She still had an hour in her window of opportunity to see Brady. Perfect!

“Of course not. Go see him!” Liz said enthusiastically. She itched to get her phone out to give his office a ring. It always sent a thrill of excitement through her body when she got to use her fake name. She had hated that name so much, and now it was exhilarating.

Who am I?

“I love you!” Victoria said, smacking a kiss on Liz’s cheek. “Take a cab. No DUIs tonight!”

“I’ll be careful!” Liz said as she stood with Victoria and exited the bar. Victoria took the first cab that came by, leaving Liz alone on the street.