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“I was always scribbling ideas in my notebook while working in the deli.” Ciaran faced me. “You know the name of the deli?”
It was my turn to turn red with embarrassment.
“I might have spent some time learning more about you. You and your mom used to own Tommy’s Deli, which was your grandfather’s shop. Your mom and dad, who used to work at Nellis Air Force Base, weren’t married. I read that he died on a training mission. I’m sorry about that.” Ciaran squeezed my hand and I squeezed back. “Your best friend is named Raj, and you are also friends with…” I paused briefly to think. “Kinzy, Rowen, and Brieana.”
“Stalker much?” Ciaran asked with a chuckle, though I could tell he was getting more nervous now that we were getting closer to Vegas.
“You put everything on your Instagram profile,” I said as we entered the city limits of Las Vegas. “And what you didn’t put on there, your friends did. I knew all of that within ten minutes of knowing your name.”
“Remind me to make my profile private.”
“Once we’re back home, I’ll remind you.” I navigated the city with ease. Even though we stopped at multiple red lights, we were making good time. We’d be at The Towers in a few minutes. I wanted to ask Ciaran more about his errand. I wanted to know who he was going to visit.
The torn piece of paper I found in Ciaran’s bedroom was burning a hole in my chest.
“Now that you’ve dared me, can I issue a dare of my own?”
I wanted to know more about why he’d ripped up his college acceptance letter.
He studied me. I saw his chest expand as he took a deep breath.
“Seems fair at this point.”
I let go of his hand to reach into my jacket pocket. I showed him the folded paper.
“I dare you to tell me more about this.” Ciaran’s eyes went wide once he realized what I held in my hand. “More specifically,” I continued, “I’d like to know why you tore it and left it on the floor.”
In something of a monotone, Ciaran said, “It’s the reason my mom married Stefon, and I’ve come to confront the man who orchestrated everything.”
Whatever I was expecting, it sure as hell wasn’t that.
49
CIARAN
Ididn’t realize how stiff my muscles were until I started explaining everything to Matty. As my story unfolded, my insides felt as twisted and twined as a tightrope holding up the entire world. At least, that’s how it felt to me.
Matty slowed down as we drove beneath the bright lights of Vegas that hung overhead like neon beacons and signposts directing everyone toward their entertainment of choice.
Even in the middle of the night, Sin City was too bright, too optimistic, for the dark thoughts swirling in my mind.
Tonight, however, Vegas would not be one of entertainment. I was not coming home. It was about getting to the bottom of secrets and lies.
“Ever since I was six years old, I’ve dreamt of becoming a writer,” I told Matty. “That’s not a secret, of course. My favorite author in the entire world is Emily Alsobrooks. When I was six, I started reading the Claymourn Chronicles series, which is her long-running collection of stories about the Wise Owl Priestess Persephone who counsels the brash, but young Baron Barry Claymourn as he grows into his powers. Alsobrooks has written twenty-four books now in the series. I don’t expect you to understand, but that series changed my life and set me on a path toward writing.”
“I understand,” Matty said softly.
“UCLA has been my dream school because that’s where my dad went to college. Last year, Emily Alsobrooks started teaching creative writing at UCLA as an emeritus professor. It felt like fate, you know? I knew getting into her program would be fierce. I had no illusions I’d ever be accepted.”
“But you did get in,” Matty cut in. “The letter clearly states you’ve been accepted into UCLA’s early program.”
“Matty,” I explained with a touch of exasperation in my voice. He wasn’t getting it. “I didn’t apply. I’m a junior in high school. I won’t start applying to colleges until after summer. Colleges don’t send acceptance letters until later in our senior year.”
“Oh. I think I’m starting to understand.” Matty’s expression grew self-conscious. “My dad hired someone to complete my college applications for me. All I cared about was swimming. I didn’t pay attention to anything else.”
Of course he did, I wanted to say, but refrained. It only reinforced how alien Matty’s world was from mine, but that wasn’t the source of my problems. Plus, I didn’t want to put Matty on the defensive.
“Can I ask you something before you continue?” Matty said.
