Page 49 of Art of Love

It was funny that now, as he thought of those times, he realized they paled in comparison to the night he’d had with Dylan. They fell short of the heat Dylan made him feel by just being in the same room as him.

He’d been young and dumb. He’d wanted to fall in love. Needed it. Now he knew better. If he was going to fall in love, it wasn’t because he was desperate. It was going to be for real this time.

Kara had pulled back first. “I should go. It’s late, and I have class in the morning.”

He’d let her go and stood in the freshly rained-on parking lot as her headlights faded down the street.

She had always texted him when she got home.

Made it. Love you.

That was the ritual.

But that night… nothing.

He’d waited, phone in hand, drowsy but stubborn. Eventually, the exhaustion won. He fell asleep without ever getting her message. Or realizing it would never come.

Now he knew she’d had sex with someone else that night. The man she’d been seeing. Had their relationship been full of lies? How long had she been cheating? Had she just been using him? Why?

And who the hell had she been with?

Had she been planning to leave him all along? Had she ever loved him?

His gut twisted. The things she’d said, the things he’d thought were encouragement, maybe they were just polite lies. Maybe she’d already made her choice and was just waiting for the right moment to vanish.

Abe stood and walked to the window, staring out at the dark curve of the cliffs in the distance. The night seemed heavier than usual, as if even the stars were keeping secrets.

He didn’t want to hate her. God, he didn’t. But love, twisted by betrayal, left a scar that burned every time he tried to remember Kara without bitterness.

And now that scar was flaring hot.

Who had she gone to that night?

And why had she lied?

He was so lost in thought that at first he didn’t notice the lights heading towards the house. Then came the familiar crunch of gravel as Dylan’s car parked next to his.

He walked over and opened the door just as Dylan stepped up to it. She looked wind-tossed and road-weary, but she still managed a tired smile that sent something warm and painful straight to his chest.

“Hi,” he said, pulling her into a hug before she could even set her bag down.

“Hi. I almost hit a deer on the way down from Portland, but I managed to save Bambi’s mother just in time.” She smiled.

He kissed the side of her head. “Want a drink? Or just to collapse?”

“Collapse,” she muttered, then pulled back, more serious now. “But first… I found something.”

She crossed to the sofa, pulled out her phone, and scrolled through her notes.

“I got confirmation of what Kevin did after Kara died.” She glanced over at him. “He didn’t just disappear. He checked himself into a rehab center the week after the funeral.”

Abe blinked. “That’s why he stopped pursuing me as Kara’s killer? Why I stopped hearing from him after her death?”

“Exactly. He’d been spiraling for a while, apparently. His parents covered for him and did a damn good job too. Not only were they dealing with the death of their daughter, they were trying to reset their only son. It also explains why he suddenly stopped pushing for the police to go after you. He was in a treatment center, off the grid.”

Abe sat down next to her slowly, his mind whirling at the new information. “That explains part of it. But… what if he was involved that night somehow? What if Kevin was the one driving? What if he’d been drinking?” As soon as he said it, he dismissed it. Kara hadn’t allowed him to drive that night because of the two beers. He doubted she’d let her brother drive her drunk. Also, there was the little matter of who she’d have sex with.

Dylan shook her head. “That crossed my mind too. In the original police report, Kevin said he was home alone the entire night. Plus, that doesn’t explain who Kara was with… before the accident.” Her eyes locked on his and he shifted slightly.

“Yeah, I guess it doesn’t make sense. Kevin being at home was never confirmed, was it? Did they just take his word for it because they were busy pointing fingers at me?”

Dylan exhaled and looked up at him. “Never officially confirmed, no. It’s thin, his alibi. His parents could’ve covered for him too. He had motive—resentment, Kara always defending you—and he was drinking.”

Abe rubbed the back of his neck. “Hell… we’ve all been looking at this through the wrong lens. Maybe Kevin wasn’t just grieving? Maybe he was guilt driven?”

They sat there in thick silence for a moment, the old record softly crackling in the background.

Finally, Dylan looked over. “When we get back… I plan to stay in Portland for another night. I have scheduled a meeting with Kevin. Apparently, he is back in the city.”

Abe gave a slow nod. “Good. Can I listen in?”

She nodded slowly. “I’ll clear it with him first.”

“Thanks.”

He was done letting questions go unanswered. He wasn’t going to let anyone hide the truth any longer. No matter the cost.