Page 16 of Dirty Secrets

It probably also made a difference that we were known to be friends with the Donovans. That seemed to scare a lot of people away.

We rolled the windows down as Reid drove towards the Pit, the evening air feeling cool on my face as I blew the smoke out the window.

“Do you think Josh would’ve liked Zav?” I asked randomly, earning an instant snort from Reid.

“Probably not.”

“Why did you like him then?”

“I just did,” he said vaguely, and I narrowed my eyes.

“Reid.”

“You know how he used to crash at the abandoned school before meeting us?” he asked with a sigh, waiting for me to nod. Zavier had spent years hiding from his father, Kristoff Lopez. The man was the devil, and thankfully, the crews took care oferasing him. “He noticed you sneaking around in the middle of the night a few times and became your own personal stalker.”

“Wait, what?” I asked, a little alarmed that I hadn’t noticed some random guy following me. I was born here, so I was good at being aware of my surroundings as a kid.

Reid chuckled, shaking his head a little. “He saw some kid following you one night and dealt with him for you. He started following you around whenever he saw you on your own to make sure you got home safely. He’s the one who told us you were sneaking out in the first place.”

“That fucking snitch,” I grumbled, making him laugh.

“In his defense, you really shouldn’t have been walking around alone at night. I’m glad he stalked you.”

“Me too. I kind of like having him around,” I said dryly, eyeing him in the fading light. “I’m sorry I was difficult back then. I know how much it freaked you out to wake up to me missing.”

“You were a kid who’d watched your brother get murdered in front of you. You were traumatized and grieving. I never blamed you for your behavior,” he said seriously, glancing at me.

“You were a kid too, Reid. You watched Josh die just like I did.”

“I couldn’t help him, but I could help you. I’ll never regret the years I’ve spent with you and Logan. Never. If I was offered a life outside of the Heights with financial security, I wouldn’t want it if it meant leaving you guys behind. I’d rather live in a cardboard box with you than be anywhere else,” he promised, reaching over and taking my hand.

I took it and didn’t let go until we arrived at the Pit, where we climbed out with the bag and beer before starting to walk to the overgrown vines that hid the hole in the fence. We could see the faint glow of the fire pits, and if it wasn’t for the laughing and talking, you wouldn’t have thought anything was here.

Reid held the vines back as we reached the hole, and I slipped through it and waited for him to join me before we walked towards the far corner to put our things down.

“It’s unusual to see you two without Logan,” Cami grinned as we approached, and I held out a fist to bump against hers. She’d spent a lot of time in and out of rehab over the years, but we’d been friends since elementary school.

Her skin was clear today, and her strawberry blond hair looked freshly washed, making me relax. She was still sober.

Some days when I’d run into her, she’d fallen off the sober train and was an absolute mess, but she was doing really well this time. She’d put herself in there last year through a government program when she’d had a small slip up and hadn’t felt strong enough to get back on track herself, which was better than it used to be.

She hadn’t lasted long after getting out before going back in though.

“He’s out with Lopez. You look really good, Cam. How are you?”

She beamed, motioning to the soda in her hand. “I’m great! Haven’t even had a drop of booze for three months now. Although, rehab was really good for my sex life.”

“I bet,” I scoffed, uncapping a beer and taking a mouthful.

“Anything new with you? Still got that pesky virginity?” she asked teasingly, eyeing Reid. “How do you guys keep your hands off her? She’s gorgeous.”

“I see her as a friend, not a warm hole for my dick,” he grunted, resting his elbow on my shoulder. “Besides, Rae never does as she’s told. I like my girls obedient.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I deadpanned, earning a dirty look from him.

“Never say that again. That’s weird.”

“You don’t like being called daddy?” Cami laughed, and I swore Reid gagged.