Beautifully Broken

Gavin gives me a sad smile.

“Bree, don’t be dumb,” Dylan says. “I’m sure Mr. Cooper has better things to do.”

“Aw, c’mon,” Bree whines. “

I’ll be quick; I promise.”

“Kat, are you okay with that?” Gavin asks.

“Uh…sure.” What the hell am I supposed to say? There’s still enough people standing around us that I don’t want to cause a scene.

“Great! Mr. Cooper, just stand next to Kat and I’ll take a picture with my phone.”

Gavin sidles up to me leaving a respectable distance between us.

Bree’s holding her phone camera toward us. “I need you guys to move in just a little bit.”

Gavin awkwardly puts his arm around my back and pulls me into his side.

“That’s perfect!” Bree squeals. “Now smile!”

We paste on fake smiles as she takes several pictures, insisting that she needs a variety of angles. Dylan stands next to her, glaring at Gavin the entire time. When Bree is finally satisfied she has the shot, she tucks her phone away.

“Thanks for being such a good sport, Mr. Cooper.”

Gavin says nothing as I pull away and look up at him. We’re facing each other now, having some sort of sad, silent exchange.

He tugs on his hair. “Well, I guess I should get going.”

“Yeah…I guess so.”

He starts to turn away but then comes charging toward me at the last second and pulls me into his chest. I’m so stunned that I just stand there with my face nestled against his hard body, my hands hanging limply at my sides.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers. “I’m so damn sorry, Kat.”

I pull away from him and turn my face away to wipe my tears. “Please go,” I say meekly.

Gavin clears his throat and briskly walks away without another word. I’m left there with a very pissed off Dylan and a confused Bree staring back at me.

“Um, Kitty. What the hell was that?” Bree asks.

“Uh…he, um…do you remember that guy I told you about? The one I had been dating?”

“Yes,” she answers. “What about him? I thought you guys broke up.”

“Well…” I fling my arm toward Gavin’s direction. “That was him.”

“What?” she shrieks.

“Quiet the fuck down, Bree,” Dylan admonishes.

Bree looks around the crowd wildly; I’m guessing in search of Gavin. “Mr. Cooper was the guy? The older one? Are you fucking with me right now?”

“I wish I was.”

She gasps. “Holy fuck! Oh my God, I can’t believe this!” She looks at Dylan and narrows her eyes at him. “Holy shit! You knew! You’re such an asshole! Why did you know when I didn’t?”

“I didn’t tell him,” I insist. “He caught us and I swore him to secrecy.”