Finding Our Course (Finding our Way 3)

“Biblically, no. Physically, yes.”

Pain twists in my chest.

“Did she give you a blow job?”

“She tried.”

“Were you naked?”

“She was. I was wearing boxers.”

I nod, not knowing if I can take much more. My stomach rolls, threatening upheaval again.

He drains his glass and pours more. When he finally locks eyes with me, I cover my mouth and whimper. His gaze traps mine but not in the loving desirable way I’m accustomed to. Instead, his eyes are hollow and empty.

“The bitch fucked me. I tried to be kind, understanding, supportive. She seemed lost and needed a friend. She’s known about you from day one, always knowing you held my heart. Somewhere after OCS, she got the idea in her head I was a roamer. Apparently, from experience with her dad, she thought all men strayed.

“I never led her on. But looking back, the signs were there. After the Shawn situation, she seemed to be around more, getting closer to Nicole and always invading the guy’s nights. Even though she never blatantly came right out and did anything, she was slowly setting me up.”

“How?”

“I’m a fucking idiot, Devon, but you need to hear some

thing before I tell you the rest. Can you trust me on this? I don’t deserve your trust but give it to me one last time.”

I nod, and he takes out his phone, presses a number and growls, “Now!”

He switches to speaker, and Dani’s broken voice comes across. “Devon, it’s Dani. I’m so sorry you overheard what you did. Liza embellished the whole story, and now, I know why. I was at Tommy and Nicole’s, and nothing happened. Liza tried hard. She was pathetic in her attempts to seduce Bryce, but it didn’t work.”

A single tear slides down Bryce’s cheek. “Tell her the rest.”

“Bryce was drunk, like really drunk. Liza had been telling us girls all night that she’d finally broken through and he admitted how he felt about her. Said he called her beautiful and talented. She was happy he finally saw the real her. She was pretty convincing. During the night, she found a way to keep taking pictures with him, even falling on his lap for a shot. When Tommy announced Bryce was staying the night because he couldn’t drive, Nicole went to get the air mattress. Liza went with her, and she was glowing, her intentions clear.

“I knew it wasn’t right, so I stopped drinking and pretended to sleep on the couch. When everyone went to bed, Liza thought I was passed out, but I saw and heard everything. She laid on top of Bryce, and he called out your name. She got pissed but then started kissing him. He didn’t really participate but pecked her a few times and rolled over. During the night, he stripped to his boxers and Liza got naked.”

“Oh my God,” I gag into my hand. Bryce’s eyes flash with concern, but he doesn’t even flinch.

“I never slept, Devon, and can tell you nothing happened on Bryce’s end. Early that morning, Liza started kissing along his chest and downward. She got close to pulling down his boxers, and he started groaning. Then he sat up, looking around. When he saw her on her knees, he jumped up cussing her out. She sat back, still naked, and told him to chill out. He threw on his clothes and left. After a few minutes, she started giggling and fell back on the mattress, reaching under his pillow and pulling out a phone. I assumed it was hers.

“I’m so sorry you heard what you did the way you did. We had no idea you were on speaker. I was ready to confront her but didn’t want to cause a scene in the bar. I was leaving to find Bryce to tell him what I witnessed the night before. Then he walked into the bar, and you know the rest.

“I can’t confirm, but I think she planned this. Heard Nicole get up and used that moment to try and seduce Bryce with a witness.”

I drop my head and try to stop myself from hyperventilating.

“Bye.” Bryce cuts the call and throws the phone to the floor.

“Here’s the clincher.” He leans back and locks eyes with me. “She didn’t know you were in town. She thought you were at home, hearing her spew her lies.”

“Why would she do this? What’s wrong with her?” My voice cracks.

“Nate and I think she had this planned. Her plan was detailed and elaborate. She assumed that you would cancel your trip and confront me by phone. I wouldn’t be able to dispute anything. She has the pictures and the witness in Nicole of her between my legs. If Dani hadn’t paid attention, I’d be more fucked.”

“She sent those pictures to me from your number. They are on your phone!”

“Liza forwarded them. I had no idea they existed until Nate told me. When I scrolled through my messages and saw them, my heart stopped. Hearing what she said and knowing you saw those… I can’t even explain what went through my mind.”

“This is sick.”