I grab the phone from his hand and disconnect the call.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Wade laughs. “You losing it?”
“Yeah, I think I might be losing it.”
“Okay. You want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
I nod slowly, unsure of what the fuck to do. On one hand, I told Kit I’d wait. On the other, I have to tell my buddy now or I risk fucking everything up forever. So, before I lose the nerve, I take a deep breath and speak. “This morning, I kissed Katherine outside of the school.”
He doesn’t respond. He doesn’t move. He just stands, arms crossed over his chest, his face dark red as though he’s going to blow.
“I’d love to tell you it was a mistake, but it wasn’t. I’ve been in love with her for quite some time. We, ugh, we just recently got the nerve up to act on it.”
“Act on it?” I realize now I’m not talking to my best friend. I’m talking to Katherine’s father, and he’s an angry fuck.
“Notact on it… act on it. We just told each other how we feel.”
“How you feel?”
Repeating my words can’t be good.
“And you feel like somehow you love my twenty-five-year-old daughter? The girl I trust you with.”
“Yes. I love her.” Damn that feels good to say out loud.
“So last night, was that the two of you shacking up?”
“No. We haven’t done anything like that at all. I just… this morning Hayes saw us kissing, I knew he’d call you, and I—”
“You need to get the fuck out of my face before I murder you.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Look, I get it, Wade. I do.”
“How the fuck would you ever get it? You don’t have a daughter. You don’t haveanything.You’re a lonely piece of shit, praying on my fucking family. The only reason I’m giving you mercy right now is because you saved my life out in that desert, but I swear to fucking God, if you don’t take this grace quickly, I’ll kill you right here and now.”
“You can’t make this disappear. Trust me, I’ve tried. I’ve struggled with pushing these feelings down for years. It doesn’t work. They always creep back in.”
He laughs under his breath and turns away. “If you want to continue breathing, you should plan on opening that new branch in Wyoming. We don’t have to interact, and life will go on for everyone.”
“Wade, we can work this out. It’s not that bad. I love her. I’m telling you I care about your daughter.”
He darts a glare back, his fist aimed at my jaw before it flies toward me, knocking me into the drywall.
I deserve that. Probably a lot more.
“That’s the last fucking warning you’ll get from me. You don’t pack up your shit and leave by morning, I’ll watch your fucking soul leave your body with a smile on my face.” He spits and turns away, his footsteps echoing in the empty building as he walks.
That did not go as planned.
I reach for my phone and text Kit. I know she’s in class and she can’t get away easily, but she needs to know what could be coming at her.
Me: Your dad knows. Principal Hayes called him and I had to say something. I’m sorry.
An eternity goes by as I wait for a response.
Kit: He’s already calling me. Let’s meet at your place after work. I just want to be with you. We’ll figure everything else out later.
I should be headed home to drink myself into some kind of self-loathing stupor. I betrayed my best friend. I ruined a lifelong friendship. Instead, all I’m thinking about is Kit. I’m glad she wants to come over. And even though Wade hates me, I’m glad the truth is out in the open. Now, I just have to figure out how to stay on the mountain without making everything ten times worse.
