“Beth,” he says gently, “it’s okay, I understand why you didn’t tell me, and I’m not mad. Look, everyone knows you’ve been seeing each other, pretty much since my leaving party, we’ve all been talking about it, and you know, helping you both along when needed.”
“What the fuck?” My voice rises in shock.
“Shh,” he says, “yes, everyone knows. And you and I, we will be talking about it, I want all the details, well, not all the details, not the ones that are going to make me feel sick about my brother…” He shudders and shakes it off. “But this weekend,” he brings his hands to his chest. “This is about me. I want to come out to my mom and Miguel, so I need you to tell your boyfriend… lover… fuck buddy… whatever the hell he is toyou, that I’m gay.”
Diablo
Elizabeth’s been in a weird mood ever since Donovan arrived, I’m guessing she’s nervous about telling him about us. Part of me worries that she doesn’t want to tell him at all, that maybe, now it’s come down to it, she’s having doubts. When we’re alone and it’s just us, I know she wants this, but what if the thought of telling someone is making her question us being together.
I can’t imagine my life without her now, she’s changed me. Even just a few weeks ago, I’d have been a miserable asshole with these thoughts in my head, probably doing something to try and sabotage us myself, but now, I just want to talk to her. Shit, if she wants to keep us a secret forever I would, if it meant we could be together. The guys would laugh their asses off at how whipped I am.
I’ve been trying to get her alone for hours, but she keeps dodging me, until now. She’s scrolling on her phone in the kitchen, a worried look on her face.
“Hey,” I say, getting as close to her as I can without it looking too suspicious, should anyone walk in.
“Hey,” she smiles, and I feel a sense of relief.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just looking up some places to eat in town.”
She shows me her phone screen; photos of food and star ratings fill the screen.
“You gonna take Donovan out to tell him about us?”
“No, it’s actually for us. Donovan wants some time alone with your mom so I said that you and I would go out and grab somefood.”
“Oh… yeah… okay.”
My heart is pounding in my chest. Does Donovan really want time alone with Mom, or is Elizabeth taking me out to talk to me about something. Shit, is she breaking up with me?
We’re quiet as we leave the house, not even saying goodbye to anyone; apparently they know we’re going out to eat. Elizabeth snuggles into me as she usually does on the bike, nestling her head into my back between my shoulders. Would she do that if she was breaking up with me? I’m questioning everything and it’s making me crazy.
At the marina near Miguel’s house, she found that there’s a food festival happening so that’s where we head. It’s starting to get dark, and the outdoor market is bustling with people, full of laughter from families and kids playing, and we’re surrounded by delicious scents from the stalls.
There are couples everywhere too; holding hands, kissing, playfully feeding each other, and we’re among them, doing the same. She’s holding my hand, chatting to me as normal, pointing out the different foods we should try. I can’t say no to her, so we get one of everything she wants, and we take our many plates and find a quiet spot to sit, sharing food and laughing. It wouldn’t be like this if she was breaking up with me, would it?
Once we’re finished, she suggests taking a walk along the pier, it’s not as nice as the one we stopped at a few weeks ago, this one is modern, gaudy as she’d say, but it’s still nice with the sound of the ocean and the breeze.
“Come on.” She tugs my hand lightly. “Let’s sit.”
Shit, is this actually happening? I can’t breathe. My body automatically follows her to sit on the edge, leaning against the railings with our legs hanging over the water.
“So—”
“Please don’t end this,” I say, interrupting her before she has a chance to say anything.
“What?” she asks.
“I didn’t mean to pressure you into telling Donovan. I mean, obviously I want people to know about us, but if you don’t, that’s okay. I just wanna be with you, Elizabeth.”
“Oh my god,” she lets out a chuckle, “Angel, I don’t want this to end.”
“You don’t?”
She takes my hand. “Fuck no, of course I want to be with you. I love you. And you haven’t pressured me to tell Donovan, you’ve given me so much time.”
“Oh thank fuck.” I drop my head to her shoulder, my body sagging in relief. “You had me so worried.”
