“I know, but—”
“No one, no matter their age or gender or relationship to you.Ever.”
Oh.His reaction when Ethan stormed out of my place comes back to me. How Rafael held me back, said my brother’s anger had scared him. It’s about his dad—of course it is. I don’t know how I didn’t realize it before, but after the abuse he suffered, he must be triggered by screaming matches and violent fights.
I reach for his arm, rubbing it soothingly with my thumb. This isn’t how we’ll deal with conflict moving forward, but we don’t need to discuss it right now.
Steve’s words come back to me, painful like a thorn lodged under a fingernail.You need to decide what’s your priority is here. If it’s your brother… or your boyfriend.
Maybe there isnogoing forward.
We drive in silence for a while longer, and I keep searching the sidewalks, hoping for any sign of him. We pass the park where we used to play when he was little, and I feel tears sting in my eyes. What if he’s gone somewhere I can’t find him? What if he doesn’t show up at court on Monday?
Finally, Rafael pulls over near the skate park, killing the engine. “Let’s check here.”
We get out of the car, the evening air cool against my skin, and start walking. Darkness feels like it’s closing in around us, but I push forward, scanning every shadow, every bench, every tree, hoping, praying that he’s here.
Rafael stays close, but as we search the empty park, my heart sinks deeper.
Then the phone’s sudden ring cuts through the stillness, jolting me out of my frantic thoughts. I fumble for it, my heart racing as I see Jace’s name on the screen.
“Rafael,” I croak. “It’s Jace.”
His eyes are steady on mine, silently urging me to answer.
I swipe to accept the call and press the phone to my ear. “Jace? Is he with you? Is Ethan okay?”
There’s a pause on the other end, and I hear a measured breathbefore a low voice says, “He’s here, yes. He showed up about fifteen minutes ago.”
Relief washes over me, so overwhelming that my knees buckle. I reach out, gripping Rafael’s arm for support as I let out a breath. “Thank God.”
“He’s okay,” Jace says gently. “He’s upset, though. I tried talking to him, but he doesn’t want to say much right now. I told him you’d be worried sick if you didn’t know he was safe, so I called.”
“Thank you. Just tell him I love him, okay? That we’ll figure this out, no matter what happens. Please, Jace, just make sure he knows that.”
“I will.”
“Sorry we couldn’t meet under more pleasant circumstances.”
After a quick goodbye, the call disconnects.
Rafael’s arms wrap around me, and it’s a balm to the raw edges of my soul. I cling to him, letting out a shuddering breath. For a moment, it feels like everything might be okay, like we might find a way through this storm together.
When he lets me go, I sit on a nearby bench, the air refreshing against my tear-streaked face. My body is heavy, the adrenaline of the day wearing off all at once as I glance up at Rafael, leaning against a tree with his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
“We should head home,” I say. I get up and walk, but as I glance back, I realize Rafael hasn’t moved. He’s still standing by the tree, looking away.
I step back to him, my heart fluttering wildly, as though it might burst. “Is everything okay?”
He turns to face me. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “Everything’s fine.”
“Are you sure? You’re not—”
“I’m fine,” he interrupts gently. He takes my hand in his. “Let’s go home.”
“Rafael, wait…”
“You think I don’t know what happens when we get home, Scarlett?” he asks. Though his gaze radiates anger, his voice is soft. “I’m not an idiot. I know these are the last moments, the last…” He buries his face in his open hands. “I wish I’d known this morning. I would have kissed you one more time. I would have kept you in bed longer, and hugged you for one more fucking minute, and…”
