Chapter 16
1776 Words
Alec
Finn and I were halfway through our second game of pool — and halfway through him losing.
“Man! I’m obviously out of practice. I used to flog you in high school,” he complained.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Yeah right. That was Don, not you.”
“Bullshit.” Finn smirked, but dropped his cue. “I’m calling break. I need another drink.”
While he refilled our glasses, I checked my phone. Nothing from Jess since the cake photo. My chest tightened. It was after 11 p.m. Had she gone home like she promised?
I tried calling. Straight to ringing. No answer. With a sigh, I typed a text: Hope you’re home, baby. I miss you.
A knock at the door interrupted me. Finn’s grin widened. “Perfect timing.”
He swung the door open, and a familiar voice greeted him.
“Don!”
I strode forward, hugging him one-armed. “Man, look at you. Haven’t seen you in ages. What’s with the suit?”
Don tugged at his expensive jacket. “Apprenticeship with a luxury real estate firm. Gotta look the part. But you—looking good yourself.”
Finn nudged him. “He’s met a girl.”
Don’s face lit up. “That so? Good for you.” He clapped my shoulder. “She must be something, Alec. Finn says you’re even doing community college now. Actually—come sit, I’ve got news.”
We sat in the living room, and Don leaned forward. “My boss loved that work you did on our site. I know a guy in Pearl Bay who runs a web development company. If you stick with computer science and get your degree, he’s interested in taking you on as an apprentice. It’s a solid firm — high-class clients.”
I blinked, floored. “Seriously? Don, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll get that degree,” Don grinned.
Finn nudged me again. “See? Meant to be. This is your shot.”
I laughed, a little stunned. “Well, I’m already majoring in computer science. Guess it is meant to be.”
We raised our glasses, and for the first time in years, I felt something new. Hope. I couldn’t wait to tell Jess.
---
The next morning, dread returned. I was about to face my dad.
We met at a restaurant near his office. I spotted him immediately — same sharp suit, same clean look, only streaks of grey in his hair. He stood as I approached, eyes proud.
“Wow, Alec. Look at you. You’ve grown into a fine young man.”
That prideful expression made my blood boil. I froze, considering bolting. Then he called my name again, and I forced myself to sit.
He looked at me nervously. “You’ve grown so much.”
I scoffed. “That happens when you don’t see someone since they were sixteen.”
He reached for my hand. I pulled away like his touch burned.
“I tried over the years,” he said quietly. “You wanted nothing to do with me.”
“Can you blame me?” My voice was louder than I intended. People turned to stare.
He lowered his head. “There’s not a day I don’t regret it. You have to believe I loved your mother.”
“Don’t you dare talk about her.” My palm slammed the table. I stood to leave, but he grabbed my arm.
“Son, listen. Your mother and I… we were unhappy long before. When she got sick, I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t know how to sit there and watch her die. I thought leaving would be easier.”
Rage surged. I yanked my arm free. “You couldn’t watch her die? But you left your teenage son to do it! To sell our belongings for her chemo. To sit up all night while she vomited. To bathe her when she couldn’t move. To hold her—when the light left her eyes.”
Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t stop. “I gave up college, my life, my childhood. And you left me to carry it all alone.”
He broke then. Tears streaked down his face. “I’m sorry, Alec. I’ll never forgive myself. I was selfish. If you can’t forgive me, I understand. But please—don’t push me out forever. I want to be here now. For you. Anything you need.”
The fight drained out of me. My body collapsed, grief wracking me. For the first time in years, I let it out. He pulled me into his arms, and though part of me hated it, another part finally breathed.
Maybe I’d never forgive him. But Jess had been right. Saying it out loud made me feel lighter.
Now I just wanted to go home. To her.
---
Jess
When I woke, my head pounded — guilt, tears, and alcohol swirling like poison.
Dragging myself to the shower, I sat under the stream, letting it beat down on me until the panic rose again. Alec. What would I tell him? Could I?
My phone rang. My heart seized — Alec?
No. Dean.
“Taylor. It’s me.”
“Dean? How did you get this number?”
“Flick gave it to me. Listen, I need to talk. Clay and Flick are out. Just me and you. Five minutes, in the driveway.”
My stomach churned. But my car was still at his place. “Fine. Five minutes.”
He was waiting outside when I arrived, hands shoved in his pockets. “Taylor… I’m sorry about last night.”
“Why?” I snapped. “You knew I had a boyfriend.”
His gaze was raw, honest. “Because I’ve liked you forever.”
The words knocked the air out of me.
“In middle school I was jealous. In high school… it got worse. The more I wanted you, the more I lashed out. And when you lost the weight—God, I couldn’t handle it. I knew you’d never want me.”
I shook my head, stunned.
“Last night, I thought maybe… maybe you did. You kissed me back, Taylor. Your body reacted to me. Don’t deny it.”
“Stop.” I raised a hand. “I am attracted to you. I won’t lie. But I love Alec. He means everything to me.”
Dean nodded. “I get it. It won’t happen again. Are we still friends?”
I hesitated, then shook his hand. “Yeah. Friends.”
He leaned in. “Look, nothing happened beyond a kiss. Do you really want to blow up your relationship over that? Or ruin things with Flick? Sometimes… keeping quiet saves everyone.”
The thought dug into me. Maybe he was right. A stupid game. A single kiss. Was it worth destroying everything?
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I need to think.”
As I turned to leave, Dean called after me. “If you were single, would I have a shot?”
A bitter smile tugged at me. “Yes. But I’m not. And I don’t plan to be.”
---
At home, my phone buzzed. A text from Alec — from last night.
Hey baby, just checking in. Haven’t heard from you. Are you home? I love you.
Tears stung my eyes. I typed quickly: Sorry, I was already in bed. I love you too.
Lie.
---
Later, Flash asked me to meet at Georgia’s Diner. When I got there, he fidgeted with sugar packets, nervous.
“I need a favour,” he said. “Ryan hasn’t come out to his parents. They’re strict. We need you to pretend to be his date. For prom.”
My lips parted. “So you want me to third-wheel your prom?”
Flash winced. “More like… stand with us. Be our cover. It’s my first time out as gay, Jess. Having you there would mean the world.”
How could I say no? I squeezed his hand. “Of course. I’ll be there.”
His relief was instant. “Thank you. You’re the best.”
We laughed and shared milkshakes and fries, the way we used to. For a couple hours, I forgot the guilt.
---
Back home, I curled up with Pride and Prejudice. I’d just reached Darcy’s confession when the front door opened.
Alec.
He dropped his bag, grinning, and swept me into his arms. His lips crashed onto mine, and guilt twisted in my gut. The last lips I’d touched were Dean’s.
When he pulled back, I whispered, “How’d it go with your dad?”
His smile dimmed. “It hurt. But I said what I needed to. I can’t forgive him, but… maybe one day.”
I stroked his cheek. “I’m proud of you.”
Then he brightened. “And Don… he offered me a shot at a future. A web design company in Pearl Bay. If I finish my degree, there could be a job waiting.”
I hugged him tightly. “Babe, that’s amazing.” My heart stuttered. Pearl Bay. Where Flick and Dean were headed.
He noticed my book. “Read me a line.”
I found the page. In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
Alec cupped my face, eyes soft. “That’s how I feel. I once saw a girl in a library I couldn’t stop thinking about. Now she’s mine.”
My heart swelled and shattered at the same time. I climbed onto his lap, kissing him, needing to drown in him, needing to banish Dean’s ghost.
We tumbled into the bedroom, urgency overtaking us. But even as Alec moved inside me, even as I clung to him, flashes of Dean’s lips, Dean’s hands invaded my mind.
Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.
“Baby, you okay?” Alec’s eyes searched mine.
I forced a nod. “Don’t stop. I need you.”
And I did.
When it was over, we lay tangled, his fingers tracing my back. “Thank you for coming home last night. How was Flick’s?”
I froze. Then I lied. “Fine. We shopped, had cake, watched Persuasion. Then Dean had a party, so I left.”
He kissed my forehead, satisfied.
But my chest ached. Because not only had I kissed Dean—I had lied. And once you lie, you can’t untell it.
It was just one secret. Just one.
And yet, it felt like the beginning of everything unraveling.
- Writer
