But he didn’t.
The elevator doors slid open with a ding. I stepped inside, my fingers hesitating as they hovered over the button panel before finally pressing the lobby button. As the elevator descended, confusion and betrayal swirled inside. How could I have been so blind? The man I had let into my life,into Mia’s life, had been keeping secrets from the very beginning.
The lobby was quiet as I waited for my truck. Thoughts raced, replaying every moment of our relationship, searching for anyhint that Ken was anything other than genuine. But all I saw was his warm smile, the way his eyes sparkled when he laughed, the gentle touch of his hand on mine.
How much was truth and how much was him wanting to be with his fantasy man? Did he give a fuck about Marc Mendez, the man?
What if it was all a ploy to say that he fucked Magic Marco, laughing with his friends, bragging how he’d tasted the goods?
“Your truck is ready, sir,” the valet announced, snapping me out of my reverie.
“Thank you,” I muttered, barely able to get the words out as I climbed into the driver’s seat.
As soon as I started driving, the weight of my decision hit me. Leaving Ken behind was a dick move. I shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t face him, not now. The night’s magic was overshadowed by his lies.
Betrayal and humiliation surged within me, twisting my thoughts. Was his kindness and patience all an elaborate act? Had he ever truly cared about me, or had it all been a game to him?
Ken had many opportunities to be honest with me about his knowledge of my past, but he kept it hidden, to keep it all a secret.
I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling as I found Alonso’s number. He picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Marc. How’s the big city?”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Change of plans, brother. I’m on my way home early. Can you get Mia ready?”
There was a pause, a moment of heavy silence. “Is everything okay? You sound upset.”
My throat tightened. “It’s a long story, Alonso. I … I can’t talk about it right now.”
“Alright, man,” Alonso said, his tone gentle yet firm. “Just drive safe, okay? We’ll see you soon.”
I nodded, forgetting for a moment that he couldn’t see me. “Thanks. I’ll be there soon.” I drove the rest of the way in silence, trying to forget that just a few hours ago, I’d been the happiest man in the world.
***
Alonso opened the door before I could knock, his face etched with concern. “Hey, bro.”
“Hey. Where’s Mia?” I asked, my gaze drifting around the cozy living room.
“Out at a movie with Elena and the boys,” Alonso replied, leading me into his house. “I didn’t want her to be around if you weren’t in the right mood.”
I sighed. Yeah, Alonso was always the smart one. “Thanks,” I murmured. We made our way to the kitchen, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Alonso handed me a steaming mug. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I wrapped my hands around the mug, the heat seeping into my skin as I sat down at the kitchen table. “I don’t even know where to start,” I muttered.
“Start at the beginning.” Alonso sat across from me, his eyes filled with understanding and support. “Take your time.”
So I did.
I shared everything—my financial struggles after Jacob left, the PrivatelyYours account, meeting Ken, and how he had made me feel… until today. I spoke until my voice was raw with emotion.
Alonso leaned back, contemplating. “I had no idea things had gotten that bad for you. I wish I’d been able to help more.”
“I did what I needed to do,” I answered, my pride not allowing me to accept his sympathy for my situation. “You did enough, brother.”
He reached over and clapped my shoulder. “Okay, so—Ken. You have every right to be mad at him for not telling you that he knew your secret. But is this a dealbreaker? Is it enough to end things between you two?”
I snorted. “I thought so an hour ago when I left him in the hotel room.”
“That’s fair.” Alonso paused a beat, then asked, “What are you mad at? That your boyfriend is the kind of guy that pays to watch porn, or that he didn’t tell you that he’d seen you on that site?”
