The Secret Keeper Lets Go by Brea Brown

Author:Brea Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wayzgoose Press

“You’re upset about Erin.”

It’s the first thing Brice says when we get in the car after saying a lighthearted goodbye to Vince at the marina. We’ve had such a fun, enjoyable afternoon that I’m taken aback by such a direct, serious statement the minute we’re alone.

When I realize what he’s accusing me of, I’m quick to say, “I’m really not. What makes you think that?”

“It’s okay to admit it. You’ve been quiet today ever since you talked to Vince.”

Agh! How do I explain that without telling him what Vince and I were really discussing?

Before I can decide between the truth and a half-truth, much less devise something to say, he rushes ahead. “I feel like such a jerk for not telling you before we came down here. I don’t know what I was thinking, like it wouldn’t come up. I shouldn’t have risked wasting a single second of our vacation on such a dreary topic.” He presses his thumb against his red knee and watches the spot turn white, then return to its sunburned state.

“Look at me,” I demand.

He does, but he looks miserable. Or scared. Or something.

Laughing makes me feel mean, but I can’t help it! He’s so… pathetic. Time to ’fess up. “You were—what was it again?—‘lonely and depressed and pathetic and horny.’”

He blinks at my paraphrase of what he told Vince.

“Yeah. I heard you.”

“But you were—”

“Hiding behind the fire extinguisher’s cabinet.”

“Oh.”

“I figured listening to you guys was the only way to hear you talk about her, though. Not that I blame you. It would be weird if you and I sat around discussing it. I get it.”

He nods. “I hate that there’s anything to discuss at all.”

“There’s not. Unless she tries to get in touch with you. Then we have some talking to do.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Do you? Because I would not be okay with that.”

I can see him swallow, so I hurry to backtrack and put him at ease again. “What you told me Sunday afternoon… It was surprising, and I’ll admit I’ve thought a bit about it since, wondering what she was like, wondering what you two were like together. But it was a long time ago, and you haven’t been in contact with her at all since you left here ten years ago, so—” I stop, thinking it might be a good idea to check the accuracy of that statement. “Right?”

He nods.

“Then it would be silly for me to feel threatened by her or your relationship with her. It has nothing to do with us.”

He rests his warm hand on my knee. “It doesn’t. You’re so right about that. And I think that’s part of why I didn’t say anything before now. It seems so irrelevant!”

“It’s not entirely irrelevant, since it’s a part of your life, and I feel wrong-footed that I’ve been in the dark about that—and who knows what else—but the details are irrelevant, yes.”

He’s back to looking ashamed.

“Please, stop looking at me like that!”

“Like what?”

“Like one of the boys after they’ve colored on the walls… in their feces.

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