I take it from him, embarrassed. “I … sorry. I’ll put it away.”
He goes into my room, turning his nose up at my unmade bed. “Who gave it to you, Liam?”
I’m afraid to break Dad’s confidence, and I remember what he said about Luke getting mad because I’m better at things than he is. So I lie. “Crew gave it to me.”
He sits on the bed. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
He runs his hands through his hair. “Fuck.”
“What is it? Are you worried about Mom finding out?”
“No. Nothing. It’s fine. It’s just …” —he lies back and looks blankly at the ceiling— “Sometimes I want to leave. Do you ever feel like that? Would you go with me if I did?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, leave. Just me and you. Find somewhere else to live.”
I look at him like he’s crazy. “Why would we want to do that?”
He seems relieved. “Forget I said anything. I was only joking.” He springs off the bed. “Want me to teach you a new song?”
I smile. Because Luke teaching me songs on the guitar is my favorite thing to do.
Chapter Twenty-two
Ella
Things are different. Liam and I don’t talk about what he said that night. What we did. I never got on that flight to New York. I cried for the boy who was ruined by his father. How that was done, I could only speculate. The next day, when I walked into the hotel dining room for breakfast, I swear I’ve never seen anyone so happy to see me.
Things are different, but not in a sexual way. It’s like we’ve become best friends. I know his secret, part of it at least, and that makes him trust me in a way he hasn’t trusted many. Except maybe Crew. He and Crew are closer than I’ve ever seen two men. Maybe Crew knows, too.
We’re in the van on the way to Orlando. It’s their day off. We got up early because Bria wanted to go to Disney World. Not Universal Studios with all the roller coasters. Not Animal Kingdom with all the exotic attractions. She wanted to go where the little kids go—the Magic Kingdom.
Garrett and Liam are in the middle of a discussion.
“I’m just saying, put a sock on the door handle or something,” Liam says.
“What, are we in college?”
“How do I know what the hell people do in college? But walking in on your bare ass humping some chick is not my idea of good porn.”
“Maybe you should get your own damn room, then,” Garrett says.
I feel guilty. Garrett deserves his privacy.
“We’re here!” Bria squeals.
I look out the front window and see a huge arch over the road that reads: Walt Disney World. Where dreams come true.
Bruce drops us at a place where we get on the monorail that takes us into the park. He, Jeremy, and Tom are going straight to the hotel. I’m stunned at the number of people making their way inside the park. There must be thousands. I ask Liam, “What would it take to play a concert here?”
“We’re playing at Disney Springs tomorrow. It’s the next best thing.”
We make our way through the gates. Bria runs ahead like a little girl, gaping when she sees Cinderella’s Castle.
“Damn,” Crew says. “What kind of ride is that?”
“It’s not a ride,” she says. “There’s a restaurant inside. There’s also a secret suite upstairs. You can’t book it. You have to win a contest or be invited. You can even get married in front of the castle. Can you imagine?”
Crew looks amused. “You trying to tell me something?”
She laughs and grabs his hand, pulling him along.
“I guess we’ll see you later!” Garrett yells after them. “I’m not going to some pansy castle.”
“What do you want to do?” Brad asks, looking at the map. “There’s Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean—”
“Which one isn’t a roller coaster?” I ask. “I’d like to work up to that.”
“You’ve never been on one?” Liam asks.
“I have. It made me sick.” I don’t tell them it was also the moment Corey declared his love for me. I may have to avoid all roller coasters today. I do not need another reminder of him.
Garrett laughs. “Oh, shit. I’m not sitting next to you then.”
“Pirates of the Caribbean looks cool,” Liam says.
The sign says it’s a thirty-five-minute wait. “Get used to it,” Brad says. “It’s spring break, and the lines will only get worse throughout the day.”
We weave through the ropes, then enter a dungeon-like building. “At least they