The Secrets We Keep

“Are you still leaving tonight?” Courtney asks while we lounge on the couch, the television droning on in the background.

  “I don’t know.” I sigh. “I don’t feel like driving now.”

  Her eyes light up. “Really?”

  “Yeah,” I say, not wanting to admit my fear of driving down the highway, alone, in the dark. The only reason why I drove here on Friday night was because my other emotions overshadowed the fear as I bulleted down I-4.

  “Well, what do you feel like doing?”

  “Something fun.”

  “How ’bout dancing?” She raises an eyebrow. “We could go to that party—the one that girl Vicki was talking about.”

  “Yeah, but…” I fall back against the couch. “I don’t want to run into Ryan.”

  “Well, you won’t. He doesn’t do the party scene.”

  “Ever?”

  “Neh-ver.”

  *****