"You two were inseparable. But I hadn't forgotten you constantly insisting that you and Elly weren't an item. You made it very clear you didn't have those feelings for her. But then Jen came along and I hardly saw you anymore." His mom raised her eyebrows. "I can only imagine what you two were up to at her huge, probably unsupervised, house and on those fancy vacations she’d treat you with.”

Jen came in, a glass of wine already half consumed in her delicate hand, "Mrs. Lytle, you know exactly what we were up to. We were teenagers in love." Jen smiled up to Kent, wrapping her arm through his.

His cheeks started to turn a pale shade of pink as he shook his head. "C'mon Jen, not in front of my mom." He chuckled and ran his hand through his hair, releasing it from the gel cast that was probably Jen’s doing.

I smiled politely as I shuffled my feet.

Jen bat her lashes at Kent, innocently. "What? It’s not like she doesn't know about this stuff. She's a very smart lady. Even our little Elly..." Jen pressed her lips together and glanced between me and Kent.

I felt my stomach drop along with my smile. He’d told her that I’d lost my virginity? He’d told her the horror story that was my first time? I looked down and tried to compose myself. He was in a relationship, did I really expect him to keep my secrets? I was a fool for thinking that he could.

Apparently she thought better than to bring up my horror story and went on a different path instead.

“Elly’s been doing open mic nights at a local coffee shop. We haven't been able to make it but I've heard her name come up a few times between my circle of friends.” Jen smiled softly to me and raised her wine glass in my direction. Her way of a peace offering, I guessed. Little did she know it was pointless.

Mrs. Lytle looked at me, "Yeah? I didn't know you read poetry."

"It's singing, mom. Elly sings. It's nice that she's finally doing it in front of other people."

I scoffed at Kent. "I sang in the car all the time."

My mom came into the kitchen and rubbed Kent's back as if he were her own son. It perturbed me just a bit.

"It’s true. And in her room. And in the supermarket. And at the doctor's office. She was always singing." My mom smiled at me, her face full of love.

I felt my cheeks heat and rolled my eyes, "We don't need to re-live my childhood right now. Do you need help with anything?"