Jeremy promptly slides into the red vinyl booth across from Kip and me. “I…well…I…” he pauses. “Listen, Charlie. Can I talk to just you? Your uhh, boyfriend, is making me uncomfortable.”
Kip snorts. “Yeah, that’s not fucking happening. Get on with it, I’m timing you.”
Jeremy clasps his hands tightly on the table, his knuckles white from how hard he’s gripping. “Okay, okay.” He takes a deep inhale, looking down at his hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay…” I reply. “And?”
Jeremy looks up at Charlie, then his eyes dart back down before he continues. “I fucked up, Charlie, and I’m so sorry. It wasn’t supposed togo down like that. I swear to you, I never wanted to hurt you. I was…I was in love with you.”
My fists clench, and Kip pulls me tighter to his side.
“And you’re done. You can leave now. Minute’s up.” Kip sneers.
Kip’s protective side never fails to make me melt. I love how fiercely he’s sticking up for me right now. I’m so glad that things worked out the way they did. I’m glad I moved to the city and found Kip, my soulmate. Jeremy and I were never supposed to work out, and I know that now. Everything happens for a reason.
“No, please. Let me finish, please. Give me a chance.” Jeremy pleads, tears in his voice.
“Fine. Make it count.” My voice is terse. I’m ready for this to be done. But maybe I need to hear what Jeremy’s going to say, for my own sake.
“Okay, thank you.” Jeremy fidgets. “I’m not lying when I say I was in love with you. I really, really was. And I really am bi. That night at the hotel…I was so fucking excited. But my friends…they uhhh…found out about us. Followed me there. When I went to my car to grab my duffel, they ambushed me. And I couldn’t fucking tell them the truth.” He’s full on crying now. Jeremy sniffles. “Sorry, uhhh…I was a coward, Charlie. So, instead of telling them that I was really in a relationship with you…I told them it was a prank. I had no idea they would go up to the room and film it…”
Kip cuts in, his tone disbelieving. “How’d they get the room key if not from you, genius?”
Jeremy groans, wiping the wetness on his face with his palm. “I gave it to them. I know I shouldn’t have, but I felt trapped. My Dad, he would have disowned me for liking guys. I couldn’t let him find out the truth. So I let them have the key. I didn’t know you’d be waiting like that, and I had no idea they’d film it and show everyone…I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t protect you, Charlie. I was selfish.”
“And so you just let it all happen?” Kip says, absolutely disgusted with Jeremy. “Instead of stopping everyone from tormenting Charlie, you let them do it? You made his senior year unbearable, dude. You’re the reason he had to switch to online school. He moved away to escape the pain you caused.”
“I know!” Jeremy cries, anguished. “Like I said, I’m a fucking coward. I should’ve done something, anything. But I didn’t. And so when I realized you were back in town, I had to find you and apologize. I know you’ll never forgive me, but I have to try.”
I think on everything Jeremy’s admitted. None of our relationship was fake. But he made the choice to let me down, in order to save himself. I’ll never understand what it’s like to have a parent hate you because of who you love. Even so, it didn’t give Jeremy the right to hand over the key and let his friends humiliate me. He could have stopped it at any point.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm for the rest of this conversation. “You’re right…I can’t forgive you. I don’t think I ever will. Just like I’ll never comprehend how you could do what you did, and still claim that you were in love with me. I am glad you came over and told me the truth, but it doesn’t change anything.”
Kip leans into me, lending me his love and strength.
“Your time is up. Your wife and kid are waiting for you.” I point behind Jeremy, to the people still eyeing us and waiting for him. “If I see you around town, I might wave, but that doesn’t give you permission to approach me or talk to me ever again. That’s up to me. This is probably the last conversation we’ll ever have.”
Jeremy wipes his face and nods. “Okay. I get it.” Standing, he’s about to walk away, when he turns back to Kip and me. “Have a good life, you two. I’m sorry. And Kip?”
Kip’s gaze doesn’t waver from Jeremy’s.
“Take care of Charlie. Treat him better than I was able to…he deserves that.” With that, Jeremy walks away, rejoining his family.
When he’s finally gone, I feel a weight fall off my shoulders. I let out a quiet, shuddering sob of relief. I can finally put the past behind me. I don’t need to worry about living in Willowhaven, or Jeremy, or any of that ever again.
Kip wraps his arms around me, tugging my head to his chest. His lips press to my hair. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
And I know that’s the truth. Kip will never let me down.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kip
Nacho, The Intellectual
I think this might be the first time I’ve stepped foot in a library since I was in high school. So why am I in one now? Your guess is as good as mine.
Shelves and shelves of books spread out as far as the eye can see. And let me tell you, my eye can see far with my vamp vision and all.
