Primitive Skateboarding sponsor party.

Keegan’s event. Your Brother.

An all white party.

Everything feels almost unreal in its cleanliness. The sun shined down on the sea, reflecting back at itself. White suits, white dresses, the smell of salt and ocean air.

Keegan is standing with Lando, Max, and Pietra, laughing, talking, relaxed. You walk down the wooden steps and head toward them.

You’re wearing a white silk dress, the back is open, only fine chains crossing over your warm skin. Your hair is pinned up, a few strands loose. Elegant. Dangerous.

Keegan pulls you briefly into a hug. You laugh, and move on to Max and Pietra, who pull you into warm embraces as well. Then you stop in front of Lando. His gaze slowly moves over you. You see his jaw tense. A muscle twitches, but he says nothing.

You slip your arms around his neck as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His hands find your lower back, pulling you just a little closer, pushing the fabric of your dress slightly aside.

You lean in and press a kiss behind his ear, unseen. When you pull away, you turn halfway, glancing toward Keegan and the others, who are already back into their conversation.

Lando leans down toward you. His voice is tense, quiet. His lips right by your ear. “Stop it.”

You grin and shoot him a brief look. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m not doing anything.”

His breath is warm against your skin. “You know exactly what you’re doing. So stop it, or I won’t be able to control myself anymore.”

Before you can reply, Evie appears. She greets everyone enthusiastically and pulls you briefly into a hug. “How was the event?”

“Event?” You frown.

She laughs. “Yeah, the event you had to attend on your brother’s birthday.”

Silence. The air shifts. Keegan looks around, confused, then straight at you. “Event?” He shakes his head, then looks at Evie. “No. She was at home..sick.”

Your stomach tightens. You feel Lando freeze beside you. Because you weren’t at home. You weren’t sick, and you weren’t at an event either.

You were with him. Alone. On purpose. It started at the Polo Red Event. First it was an accident..then Hookups.

And in that moment, you know that all the months of silence are finally catching up to you.

Keegan doesn’t say anything at first. He just stands there. Too calm. Too still.

His gaze rests on you, searching, confused, as if he’s trying to put together a puzzle but missing a piece. Then his eyes slowly drop to the ground. His shoulders sink just slightly, as if someone has pulled the ground away.

The seconds stretch. No one says anything. Max and Pietra exchange a brief glance. Lando stands behind you like he’s frozen in place. You can hear his breathing shallow, controlled.

Then Keegan lifts his head. His gaze doesn’t return to you. It goes straight to Lando. “Just like you. You also told me you couldn’t come because you were sick.” Lando swallows. Keegan continues, his voice still controlled. “And the next day I saw videos of you. In the morning. In a good mood. Sunglasses, coffee in hand. Pics with fans.”

A short, dry laugh. “Crazy how fast you go from sick to fit enough for autographs. I was an idiot. You once told me you hardly get sick.” Now he looks back at you. “And you…you weren’t at home. Not sick.” He says quietly.

You open your mouth, but no sound comes out.

Lando takes a step forward. “Keegs, I-”

“No.” Keegan raises his hand. His voice stays calm, but there’s something new now. Disappointment. Anger. Hurt pride. “Don’t. I want to hear it from her.”

All eyes are on you. Your heart is pounding. You feel Lando’s closeness, his tension, the silent plea in his posture.

“It wasn't planned..” You say. Your voice is quieter than you want it to be.

Keegan scoffs. “It never is. But it still happens, right?” He looks back at Lando. “You’re my friend..or at least I thought you were.”

Lando nods, tense. “I am. This…this was never supposed to happen.”

Keegan laughs bitterly. “How long has this been going on?”