He finds my hand and gives it a squeeze. It’s a short drive to his high school, but once we park, he hesitates, fidgeting with his keys and makes no move to get out. “I have something to tell you before we go in.”

My stomach lurches. He looks so nervous, I’m desperate to know what it is he wants to get off his chest. I pray it doesn’t have anything to do with Colt. I can’t handle hearing from Reis that Colt’s done with me. I won’t make it out of this Jeep if that’s the case.

He swallows. “I sort of told everyone you’re my girlfriend.”

I slug him in the arm, which ends up hurting my hand and has no effect on his arm whatsoever. I frown and rub my knuckles. “Why on earth did you do that?”

“Because. I’m new here, I don’t have many friends. They’ve all gone to school together since forever.” He waves a hand absently toward the school. “And I’m always spending time with you and when someone assumed you were a girlfriend, I just never corrected anyone.”

I stare out the smeared windshield and watch as a group of guys escort a group of girls in dresses of every color. I don’t like that Reis has felt so alone here. I guess for one night, if people think I’m his girlfriend, so what? “Well then you better come around and open my door to help me out, because I have very high expectations of my boyfriend.”

He grins. “You’re the best, Shrimp.” He hops out of the Jeep and jogs around to help me out.

The school is much like my old school, smelling of disinfectant and plastic with chipped tiles and germ-infested drinking fountains. The decorations in the gym are subtle, but the low lighting and disco ball send little sparkles and stars skittering across the shiny wood floor. It’s nice. Sort of comforting, in a regular high school kind of way. I’m glad Reis brought me. Being here with him beats lying on my bed worrying over Colt. And I’ve never seen Reis so excited or proud. He keeps his hand on the small of my back and introduces me as we mingle in the gym. He seems to know everyone. A few of the guys give him fist bumps and nods of approval when they meet me. Apparently, some of them thought I didn’t exist.

His claim that he doesn’t have many friends here is clearly a farce. But then I realize he’s spent every weekend since school started with me. He probably hasn’t developed any true friendships because I’ve monopolized his time. But he seemed to like spending time with me too, so I didn’t dwell on it too much.

Reis leads me to the center of the gym. He pulls me into his chest, nestling my head under his chin. He’s really making the most of this girlfriend experience. But somehow I don’t think it’s for show. His heart thuds against mine as we sway to the music.

We stay in the center of the crowd, moving at our own pace regardless of the song changes. It’s nice having him hold me.  After several songs, he’s ditched his jacket, and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, and I’ve slipped off my shoes, evoking a whole new round of comments on my height as if Reis had forgotten in the last few hours what my true height was.

The song changes, this one is slow and sweet. The lights drop even lower to set the mood. Reis wraps his arms around my waist, pressing me close. His fingertips massage my lower back and he drops his head down to my ear. “How’s that feel?” he whispers.

“I like it,” I say back.

He moves with me, holding me against him. I’m very aware of our nearness. And the fact that I make no move to set any boundaries between us. Just his presence comforts me. Even though it probably shouldn’t.

“I want to kiss you,” he whispers against my temple, giving me time to decide, time to say no, pull away, something. But I freeze in his arms, waiting in anticipation. He lowers his mouth flush with mine and gently presses forward. His lips are soft and slightly damp. A thrill runs through me settling in the base of my spine. His hands press into my lower back, urging me even closer and deepening the kiss. His kisses are different than Colt’s. He’s more eager, less controlled and not as precise as he tries to find the right angle to bring us together. But it’s nice. His tongue sweeps against mine and I turn off my brain, letting myself enjoy his kiss.

After our kiss on the dance floor, I made an excise to use the restroom and spent fifteen minutes locked in a stall nearly hyperventilating. I even considered calling Colt to confess. But Reis finds me and talked me out, saying he’s sorry, he got caught up in the moment of pretending I was his girlfriend and it wouldn’t happen again, unless I wanted it to. I could almost believe that was all it was, until I caught sight of the mirror, and my flushed, swollen lips. I had no right to be breathless and warm from his kiss.

Once we get home, Mrs. Lee is gone. Reis failed to mention I was staying over, saying she’d be pissed. I remove my shoes and he carries my bag upstairs. He drops it in the doorway to Colt’s room and gives me a quick hug goodnight, thanking me again for going with him. I can do little more than nod and murmur my agreement. I’m numb, confused and utterly disgraced that I kissed Reis. Or rather that I allowed Reis to kiss me.

After changing into shorts and a tank top I wash my face, then collapse onto the bed. I pull out my phone. I’ve missed three calls from Colt tonight. He knew it was the night of the dance, so I don’t know why he’d be calling. His name flashes on the screen. He’s calling again.

I answer it before I chicken out. “Hello?” Right away I can tell we have a bad connection. Static crackles in the background.

“Taylor?”

He never calls me by my name, instead choosing baby or another endearment. It sends off warning signals in my brain.

“This trip…something happened…didn’t go as expected…”

“Colt? I can’t hear you, you’re breaking up.”

But he keeps going uninterrupted. “…between me and Bria. I’m sorry.”

“What? What about you and Bria?” I press the phone more tightly to my ear, waiting to hear my worst suspicion confirmed, that he and Bria had hooked up.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you…but her and I…” he says before cutting off again. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

My heart slams against my chest, thudding painfully. After several seconds of silence, he speaks again. “Taylor, say something.”

While I try to figure out what there is to say, mercifully, the phone connection is lost just as the tears begin to flow and tumble down my cheeks.

I curl into a ball and sob into the pillow. The pillow that still smells like Colt, which must be the universe’s idea of a sick joke.

“Shrimp?” Reis peeks inside the cracked door.

When his eyes meet mine, he sees that I’m crying, and comes toward the bed.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you. I’ll tell Colt, it was my fault. You did nothing wrong.”

Yeah, nothing wrong, other than enjoy it and let it happen. Stupid, Taylor. Stupid. That kiss shouldn’t have happened. I was still with Colt then.

“It’s not that,” I manage between sniffles.

“What’s wrong then, sweetheart?” He gently rubs my back, coaxing the words from me.

“I talked to Colt.”

His hand freezes on my back while he processes my words. Then he begins rubbing again. “Did he tell you?”

I sit up suddenly, tears staining my cheeks. “You knew? About him and Bria?”

He nods. “Yeah. I wanted to say something, but he wanted to be the one to tell you.”

I reach for the pillow and pull it to my chest, burying my face. Reis knew. Britt probably knew. And of course Bria and is probably celebrating behind my back. I let the tears come, not even trying anymore to hold them back.

“Shh, it’s going to be okay.” Reis continues rubbing the length of my back. “Everything will be fine when he gets home, you’ll see. You guys will figure this out.”

I lift my head from the pillow. “No. He’s messed up one too many times.”