Aiden looks at me expectantly.

“His brother said he’s a bad wingman. That he kept talking about me in front of the girls. So he got him drunk and put him to bed.”

Aiden crosses his arms in front of his broad chest and stiffens up his jaw. “Well, that’s great.”

“I’m going to bed now,” I say as I climb in my window. Once inside, I stick my head back out. “Thanks for following me. Checking on me. Trying to make me feel better. I appreciate it, Aiden.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

I give him a sassy grin. “You just did. But yes. Ask away.”

“What you said today in French. Do you think true love is bullshit or do you believe in it?”

I look up at the almost full moon shining over his head and sigh. “I really want to believe in it.”

Aiden turns around and looks up at the moon. “The moon is really pretty tonight, isn’t it?” He turns back around and gives me the kind of smile that almost makes me believe it could be true. I think gods have that effect on people. They give them hope. “Don’t let my sister go crazy shopping tomorrow.”

I laugh. “I won’t.”

“Night, Boots.”

Saturday, October 1st

It does feel good.

8:30am

I’m on the train with all the girls. Ariela is funny. One minute she’s telling us how Riley drives her nuts, the next minute how crazy she is about him.

“I still can’t believe I’m dating a junior! I didn’t even date juniors when I was a freshman!”

She turns to me. “Why does Riley call you baby?”

“I don’t know. It’s like his nickname for me. He’s called me it pretty much since we met.”

“It makes me crazy. He doesn’t have a nickname for me.” Her pretty face pouts.

“He likes you a lot. It shouldn’t matter what he calls anyone else. I mean, you know his reputation, right?”

“Well sure, he’s a player. Why do you think I’m making him wait for sex?”

Maggie deadpans, “Cuz you want it to be special.” Annie says it at the exact same time, only she says it in her dreamy way.

We all laugh. Katie says, “Do you think I should do it with Dallas?”

Annie goes, “It’s way too soon.” Then she turns to Maggie and says, “Sorry, but I think it is.”

“We almost did last night.”

“You did?” Annie screeches. “Why?”

“Cuz it feels good,” Maggie replies.

Annie looks at her like she’s crazy.

Peyton high fives Maggie and says, “It does feel good.”

Maggie, Peyton, and Ariela go on to discuss which sexual positions are their favorites while Annie is shaking her head. I’m laughing at them when I get a text from Dawson.

Dawson: I don’t even know what to say. I’m being a chicken and texting you. I’m sorry. I swore to you that I wouldn’t cheat and then . . .

My heart is back in my throat again. Did Cam lie to me? Is Dawson confessing?

Me: And then . . . what?

Dawson: I read what I texted you last night.

Me: You were drunk and in a girl’s bed. I cried.

Dawson: I’m so sorry, Keatie. I don’t even remember what happened.

Me: Somehow that doesn’t make me feel better.

Dawson: Are we broke up? I looked at facebook and you didn’t change your status.

Me: You must remember something. Flirting. Kissing. That’s usually how it starts.

Dawson: But I don’t. I didn’t kiss anyone. And I was telling them all about you. About how amazing you are.

Me: Is that a Johnson brother rule? If you don’t remember it, it didn’t happen.

Dawson: I don’t know what happened.

Me: But you think you did something? Why do you think that?

Dawson: My texts last night. And I just woke up. In a girl’s bed.

Me: You alone in that bed?

Dawson: Yes.

Me: Have you talked to your brother yet?

Dawson: No.

Me: I talked to him last night.

Dawson: Oh. Shit. Why?

Me: Because I got your texts and was very upset. I told Riley. Riley called Cam.

Dawson: Fuck. You hate me now, don’t you? I’m so sorry, Keatie, really. I would never do that to you on purpose. Like Cam kept giving me shots and we were playing pool and he was flirting with this one chick. I was giving him shit about just wanting to hook up. I was telling them how amazing a relationship can be. He told me I was a bad wingman and to shut the fuck up. Playing pool is the last thing I remember.

Me: It’s hard to trust someone who gets so drunk they can’t remember what they did or who they may have been with. Because you know eventually they will screw up. Cam told me you didn’t hook up with anyone. That he got you drunk and then put you to bed. But he’s your brother. He would lie for you. So I’m not sure what to think.

Dawson: Thank God. I was sitting here thinking I’d lost you.

Me: Maybe you already have, Dawson. I’m not sure what to believe at this point. You told me you missed your brother. I stupidly assumed you went there to hang out with him. Not just to party. I’m on the train going to shop. You and Cam have fun this weekend.

Dawson: You’re mad.

Me: Tell you what. Tonight, I’ll party. Go to a club. Meet up with a bunch of guys I don’t know. Then I’ll text you about how I’m so drunk. In some guy’s bed. And how I can’t find my shoes. We’ll see how that makes you feel. And if you trust me after.

Dawson: </3

I know I’m kind of being a bitch right now. But I can’t just let him get away with it. He’s a big boy. He could have said no to the shots. So I’m not texting him back for a little while.

Screw him. I’m going to enjoy shopping with my friends.

I text Riley.

Me: Do you really think Camden told me the truth? I was relieved to hear it last night. But now I’m kind of upset again and don’t know what to believe. Dawson texted me. He doesn’t remember and assumes he hooked up with someone based on the texts he sent me. Says the last thing he remembers is Camden “making” him do shots and them playing pool. Please don’t lie for them to protect my feelings. I really like Dawson. You know that I do. But I’d rather know the truth.

Riley: Cam might be a jerk, but he’s not a liar.

Me: It’s his brother.

Riley: Yeah, but you have to understand him. If Dawson got drunk and hooked up, Cam would be proud of him. He might have lied to you, but he wouldn’t have lied to me. He had no reason to. He doesn’t know how close we are.

Me: Just so you know, I love you. I don’t care what happens with your brother, I’ll always love you. And Dallas. Speaking of Dallas. Katie told me she attacked him last night!

Riley: I love you too :) and he fended her off. Barely. LOL. Do you think it’s weird or cool that he’s still a virgin?

Me: It’s kinda cool, really. That he has done a lot but wanted to wait to do it with someone special. Was your first time with someone special?

Riley: Ha. No. Hamptons. Summer before 8^th grade. I was drunk. She was horny and, thankfully, much older than me. Our parents were out of town. Cam threw a big party. All I really remember is her long dark hair kept getting in my mouth. And I felt like I was going to puke.

Me: That’s pretty young.

Riley: Yeah, probably. That and my getting kicked out freshman year are part of why they’ve tried to shelter Braxton a little more. Why they won’t let him come to the beach when they aren’t there. He’s trying to talk them into letting him be with us all next summer.

Me: I can’t wait to meet him Homecoming weekend.

Riley: He can’t wait to come here Homecoming weekend. Thinks he’s going to hook up with someone. LOL. He’s a little shit. But funny as hell.