Unknown (Unknown Series Book 1) by Wendy Higgins Page A

and I prayed he wouldn’t make things any worse by begging me to stay or something. Thankfully, he asked, “Will you be okay to drive?”
    “Yeah,” I answered quietly.
    I felt near tears the entire drive back to the lot with my car. Then there was the awkward moment when we arrived, where I didn’t know if I should hug him good-bye. I ended up clutching my purse in both hands and blurting, “Good night, Ken. Thanks for dinner.” So lame .
    He let out a huff of air and a disbelieving chuckle. “Yeah. No problem.” I couldn’t tell if he was mad or sad or what, but I didn’t take time to find out. I got out and shut the door. Ken waited until I was in my car with the engine on before he drove away.
    Guilt consumed me whole at that moment, like a giant, slimy mouth. I sat there disgusted with myself on so many levels. I’d tried to appease my aching heart by pulling the wool over its eyes, but my heart knew what it wanted and would accept no substitutes. I wanted to bitch-slap my stupid heart.
    I knew Remy was waiting for a call, but I didn’t think I could stomach it. In fact, I was mortified at the thought of telling her. If anyone could understand and love me without judgment, it was Remy, and while she was an open book about her own escapades, I’d always been more hesitant and private. And right now I couldn’t think about what had happened, much less talk about it. Besides, Remy would sense my guilt and probably try to take partial responsibility for pressuring me to go out with Ken.
    I pulled out my phone and texted: On my way home. So tired. Nice guy, nice dinner, but I’m not feeling a 2 nd date. Sorry. Luv u.
    She texted back right away: Aw, boo. :( Luv u 2.
    And that was that.

    I turned twenty-one at the beginning of that summer. I didn’t take the day off or tell anyone it was my birthday. But Remy knew, and she asked to take me out after work. Funny thing is, Remy ended up being the drunk one while I was the DD. I’d been drunk plenty of times, especially in high school, but for the past year I’d had no desire. It was like I’d seen too much. Drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, bar fights . . . hooking up with dudes you had to see way too often at work. Yeah, no thanks.
    “I can’t believe you didn’t bother to bring a change of clothes,” Remy complained.
    I glanced down at my navy work pants and my under T-shirt, then at Remy’s cute skirt and beaded top. I looked around at the other girls with their hair flowing and shiny. Mine was up in a ponytail. Suddenly I felt incredibly frumpy and old. Remy sipped her pink drink with her glossy lips, and I suffered a pang of jealousy.
    An older guy in a flannel shirt came over, puffing out his chest. “Can I buy y’all—”
    “No thanks,” I said. Remy’s eyes bulged. I guess she wanted that free drink.
    The man looked back and forth between us and muttered, “Lezzies.”
    Remy gasped and I shot him the bird as he walked away. Then she glared at me.
    “Sorry,” I said. “I’ll buy you a drink myself, but men like that will act like you owe them something if you accept a drink from them.”
    Remy studied me. “I feel like your job is sucking the life out of you. When’s the last time you hooked up with someone?”
    My face heated as I thought back to Ken’s apartment.
    “Maybe it’s not your job. Maybe it’s Rylen,” Remy said. His name was like a punch to the chest. Remy finished her drink and pushed it away. I nodded at the bartender to bring her another. “You know I’ve shipped Ryber for a long time, but—”
    “I thought we were Amlen?”
    She shook her head. “The point is, his half of the ship refuses to sail, and it’s screwing up your life.”
    “It’s not because of him.” Big, fat lie.
    “I’m not trying to be mean . . .” Oh, she was totally about to be mean. “But don’t you think if Rylen thought of you like that, he would have made a move by now? You’ve been legal for three years.”
    I grit my teeth