"I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk," Johnny replied, a nonchalant shrug accompanying his words—an obvious falsehood. The scent of smoke clung to him, revealing the true purpose of his nocturnal excursion.
The accusation hung in the air as I demanded, "How did you know I was out here?"
"You always swim out here at night, Belly. Come on." He took a drag of his cigarette, the tendrils of smoke merging with the night air. His revelation struck a nerve—I had thought this nightly ritual was my secret, shared only with Lily. The revelation that others might be privy to it stirred an inexplicable discomfort within me. "Okay, fine. Then when did you start smoking?"
"I don't know. Last year, maybe," he replied evasively, a deliberate vagueness that added to my frustration.
"Well, you should
