I freeze next to O'Brien and try to make up a plausible explanation for Gavin. I can't think of any, but the truth isn't an option, either.

"Leah." Gavin's flinty gaze sweeps over me. "Where have you been? What are you doing with this guy?"

My eyebrows bunch up. I didn't take Gavin for someone who'd get jealous. Then again, he's the only guy I've ever been with. He never had to worry.

O'Brien steps forward. "I'm Brian. I asked Leah to look if the water pipe under her house leaked. Our garage is close to it, and there was water inside. We went to check for damage."

"Does it leak?" Gavin asks. I can't tell if he believes the lie. His impassive face hardly ever displays emotions.

O'Brien shakes his head. "No. It must've come from somewhere else. I just wanted to make sure. It's Dad's new business, after all."

"What are you doing here? I thought you needed to study," I say to divert Gavin's attention to a different topic.

"I brought money for the rent. Your mom can't pay for the house this month. My parents are going to help the two of you out."

I stare at Gavin, and my cheeks flush. How could he say it like that in front of a guy he doesn't know? I don't want to be reminded we're poor. It's humiliating. I chew on my bottom lip and nod, afraid to look at O'Brien's face and find his signature smirk.

He speaks in a moment. "I also wanted to invite you and Leah to The Temple. It's our meeting spot on the edge of the town. My girlfriend Bella and I hang out there. We're going to meet tomorrow evening at around eight and have some drinks. It'll be fun."

Gavin looks at me. Then, his eyes shift to O'Brien, and he stuns me by saying, "Okay, we'll be there."

"Awesome." O'Brien grins and gives me a wink. "See you, Leah and Fer."

Gavin frowns. "Fer?"

The idiot of my neighbor has no decency and no filter. I should've remembered that.

"Damn, it's not Ferdinand, right? What was your name again? I'm sorry; my memory's shitty."

"I'm Gavin," my boyfriend says.

O'Brien smiles and gives us a small wave. "See you tomorrow, Gavin and Leah."

He leaves, and I push past Gavin, who follows me into the house.

I retrieve my keys and unlock the door with my shaky hand. "Why did you do that?" I ask, crossing my arms. "Why did you have to mention we were poor to my neighbor?"

Gavin puts an envelope on our dining table and purses his lips. "That's the truth, isn't it? My parents are generous, and your mom needs the money. What's the problem?"

"I don't want everyone to know. It's embarrassing."

Gavin rolls his eyes. "Your neighbor's opinion doesn't matter. He probably dropped out of school."

"But you agreed to go hang out with him and his friends," I say.

Gavin shrugs. "My friends and I have always been curious about those delinquents. I'll have fun telling the guys all about it later."

I clench my teeth and ball my hands into fists. He's mean and judgemental, and I don't want to be a part of it because I like Annie. She's the closest to a friend I have.

Gavin leans in to kiss me, but I take a step back. "Mom's gonna be home in a minute. I don't want to disrespect her."

***

The following day, Gavin and I arrive at The Temple well after eight. He got lost and spent the entire time complaining about the bumpy road and muddy ground.

As we approach the clearing, a bonfire and a group of people sitting on the logs around it come into view.

Every guy has a girl on his lap. I spot Annie and Mac. O'Brien's sitting with a busty, dark-haired girl, who's kissing his neck as if they're alone in the bedroom and not in front of everyone. O'Brien's hand is gripping her butt, and Gavin notices it, too.

"Leah, Gavin, I'm glad you came," O'Brien says.

After a round of introductions, I sit on the log with Gavin.

O'Brien nods at him. "Are you gonna let your girl sit there?"

Gavin scoffs. "She's decent, unlike the people here."

"All of us are decent, Gavin," Mac says. "That's why we don't let the girls sit on wet logs and catch a cold."

Gavin huffs at Mac's words while I stare at my knees.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Annie asks, saving me from the predicament Gavin got us into.

I shoot her a grateful smile. "Yes, please."

She opens a cooler, takes two bottles of beer, and extends them to us.

"We're underage," Gavin says.

Annie snorts. "Everyone here is. A beer can't hurt anyone."

I reach for the bottle, but Gavin's fingers wrap around my wrist, and heat engulfs my cheeks. Could he make me more uncomfortable?

O'Brien's quiet; he's busy kissing the girl on his lap. She shamelessly grinds against him, gripping his hair and moaning. My eyes can't stray from the two of them.

"Disgusting," Gavin says loud enough for everyone to hear.

O'Brien stops what he's been doing. "What's disgusting? Kissing a girl?"

Gavin shrugs. "Yeah. You're in public. People don't need to see that."

O'Brien narrows his eyes at my boyfriend. "People can fuck off, Fer."

"I'm Gavin."

"Sorry, I forgot. I was busy, as you can see. So, since kissing isn't your thing, tell us what you enjoy doing. Any hobbies?"

"I have plenty, unlike you. I'm good at science."

O'Brien shrugs. "I'm good with bikes."

"Any idiot can ride and fix them."

Laughing, O'Brien glances at Mac and then focuses his attention on Gavin. "So, you've called me an idiot—a beautiful start of a friendship."

Gavin scoffs. "I wouldn't be friends with people like you."

"Why?" Mac asks.

Annie shakes her head and looks at her lap, while Mac pecks her cheek and hugs her tighter.

"Different lifestyles and backgrounds," Gavin says. "Besides, my parents don't want me around guys with a criminal record."

O'Brien pushes the girl off his lap and jumps to his feet. His boots thud on the damp ground as he walks over to our log. "Get up," he says through his clenched teeth.

Gavin smirks. "Or what?"

"Or I'm gonna beat the shit out of you, and your momma won't hear your pathetic cries for help."

"Right. That's how good-for-nothing idiots solve their problems," Gavin says, his tone unwavering.

"You insulted me first, Fer," O'Brien hisses. "You came to our meeting and insulted every single one of us."

Lenny, another guy who's been quiet, says, "You're an asshole for what you said, Gavin. Apologize."

"To him?" Gavin lets out a derisive laugh and shakes his head. "You know what? I'm wasting my time. Go on doing your stupid shit and being immature idiots."

My boyfriend rises to his feet and storms out of the clearing without a single glance at me. The tires of his SUV screech and tears prickle the back of my throat. Why did he have to be a giant ass?

Annie isn't looking at me, and the guys are frowning and drinking their beers in silence. My chances of having friends are ruined. The guilt for letting Gavin spoil the evening swallows me, although the mess isn't my fault.

O'Brien flings a glance at his friends and faces me. "Let's go; I'll take you home."

I nod and stand. My teeth chatter, and my damp jeans cling to my skin from sitting on the log.

"Bye," I say, my voice meek. Several guys wave at me, and Annie gives me a small smile, which doesn't seem genuine.

O'Brien pivots and heads toward the trees.

"Wait!" I pant, quickening my step to keep up with his long strides.

He halts. Fear seizes my insides when his bike comes into view.

O'Brien hands me a helmet. "Put it on. Then, hop on the bike and put your arms around me."

I get on the Harley. My trembling arms circle O'Brien's midsection as I swallow several times. He starts the engine, and the motorcycle vibrates under me. My eyes squeeze shut, and my breath catches in my throat when the asphalt blurs under the bike's wheels.

"Slow down," I yell.

O'Brien ignores me, and I repeat the same plea. Instead of slowing the motorbike, he veers off the road and rides into a forest.

The bike comes to a stop. O'Brien hops off it, takes off his helmet, and gets a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He pulls one out and lights it.

"I'm sorry for what Gavin said," I say when my ragged breathing returns to normal. "He's not usually like this."

O'Brien's laughter echoes in the silence of the winter night. "Fuck, I've never met a chick as naïve as you, Kitten," he says as he flicks the ash off his cigarette. "He's not like this? He lives for that shit. Fucking Ferdinand enjoys humiliating others. He's lucky we let him run away with his teeth intact."

"Why did he say that stuff about a criminal record? Do any of you have one?"

O'Brien nods. "Now, you can go complain to your mom that the bad boy next door hangs out with criminals. Do it, unless you want to know the whole story. It's a shame Ferdinand didn't tell you."

"Didn't tell me what?"

O'Brien inhales a lungful of smoke and lets it out. "Mac has a criminal record because Annie's rich stepdad molested her. Do you know what I mean, Kitten?"

My teeth sink into my lip. "Yeah."

"Mac beat the shit out of him. Greg landed in the hospital and pressed charges against Mac. The detective in charge believed Mackenzie, and Mac didn't go to jail. Greg did a hell of a campaign in town, saying he was accused of a crime he didn't commit. The two fuckers who gave him public support were Ferdinand's parents. But since Greg got convicted, Fer will deny it if you ask him."

"I'm sorry," I say.

O'Brien sighs. "You're not the one who needs to apologize. Come on; let's go home."

This time, I'm not afraid of the bike. Feeling the wind on my face is refreshing, liberating, even. I relax, taking it all in — the quiet night, the road, and the woodsy scent of O'Brien's cologne mixed with the smell of leather and smoke. As we near my house, I want to thank O'Brien, but touch his back with my trembling hand instead.

"Stop," I say.

He obeys and frowns when he understands the reason behind my petition.

Gavin's car is parked next to my house, and he's standing on the porch with my mother by his side.