I stick close to Carter and Presley
when we return
but I notice the blue car is gone
and I relax
content that I was right the second time
not the first
so when they want to go to the hot-tub
I agree
my tired muscles doing the thinking for me

we laugh and have fun
for a while
until Mr. All-American golden boy himself
walks in
and lowers himself
into the hot tub
across from us

my stomach turns over
as Ethan introduces himself to
Carter and Presley
they dissolve into girl giggles
and flirt right back at him
he doesn’t look at me
and my throat feels swollen shut

I slip out of the water
vulnerable
and wrap a towel around me
and sprint away
hearing Carter and Presley’s protests fade away

I take the stairs
two at a time
two flights up
down a long hallway

and sink to the floor in front of my room
crying
because Presley has the key