I can feel him starting to pull away from me, and I want nothing more than to soothe his pain, but I have to press on. Absentmindedly, I start rubbing his shin back and forth just to occupy my hands.
“Apparently, your dad and Taylor were pretty serious. They had planned to tell both families last Thanksgiving, but you and I walked in on them first. Your dad panicked about your reaction and threw Tay under the bus, blaming him for the whole relationship. He broke my brother’s heart and left him to deal with the fallout on his own.”
Anger paints Liam’s features. “Why would you say that?”
I sigh, staring out the window as a new layer of snow falls. It’s hard to believe that clear sky and those bright stars were just last night. The winter weather can be so trippy in the mountains. “Because it’s true. Remember Tay’s accident?”
“Yeah, I mean, I was the one who told my dad about it after you called me.”
“Well, did your dad tell you he showed up at my brother’s apartment right before Tay was in that accident? That he’d been trying to get him back even though Tay was seeing someone new?”
“What?” Liam seethes, pulling his legs back to sit up. “Ow, fuck,” he says before quickly lying back down.
“I know this is hard to hear, Li,” I tell him in sympathy, remembering how shocked I was after hearing it myself. “Your dad came to the hospital and finally told my whole family the truth about what happened, and it wasn’t what he told you and me after we caught them.” I look over at him to assess how he’s doing, but I must be taking too long because he snaps.
“Well, get it out, then.”
“You know Taylor would go over to check on your dad since you and I were both gone. He helped Patrick through his grief like I helped you, and…hmhm,” I clear my throat before continuing, “feelings developed…onbothsides. But your dad was so afraid of losing you and his relationship with my parents that he devised a story of seduction, painting Tay as the aggressor. We all took your dad’s side, of course, because Taylor is…well,Taylor, and we knew your dad was struggling…and straight. His story made sense, but ultimately, he used my brother’s confidence against him and broke his heart. Not only did your dad admit that, but he admitted that he’s still in love with Taylor. Which means I’ve spent the last ten months being mad at the wrong person. Taking your dad’s side of the story caused a lot of friction in my family, Li. Tay didn’t deserve that. Just like I didn’t deserve to have to choose between my brother and my best friend. Just like you shouldn’t have to choose between me and your dad.”
When I finish, we’re both silent as a new movie begins playing in the background, and the snow keeps falling outside the windows.
“I honestly don’t know what to say,” Liam whispers, breaking the silence.
“Can I ask you something?”
Liam shrugs, obviously still processing.
“You never seemed to have an issue with Taylor’s sexuality. If your dad is bisexual, would it be that big of a deal?”
If the answer is yes, I’ll just go ahead and start digging the grave of our friendship.
Chapter 10
Liam
Inever thought I would have to justify myself or my anger to Damon, but because it’s Damon asking, I actually take a minute to think about his question. My initial reaction is to get defensive, but he deserves better from me.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong. It was shocking as hell, and I’ll admit, I’m still a little disturbed, but what’s the hardest part for you? Was it because Taylor’s a guy? Was it their ages? Or the fact that it was my brother?” he presses gently.
I sit for another minute in full silence, really working to sort through all the thoughts I’ve pushed to the side about this.
“All of the above, I guess. Plus, it felt like a betrayal to my mom,” I finally admit. “And more than that…it felt like some weird midlife crisis, which made it worse because how could he do that to her memory. How could he do that tome?I mean,fuck,D…my dad watched you and Tay grow up. He knew Tay as akid.” It actually feels kind of good to get this off my chest. Damon and I never talked about it after it happened, and my dad certainly never brought it up. “It just made me have so many questions. Like, how long had he seen Taylor as more than just your brother? Has he ever thought ofyoulike that? It’s not likehe just decided to get a new car, Damon. He wasfuckingyourtwin brother.”
Damon winces at my harsh statement, but hell, it’s true.
“I couldn’t help but get pissed and possessive every time I thought about it because although you and Taylor aren’t the same, youare.That was your face he was staring at…your face he wascoming to…oh God, where’s my barf bowl?” Damon huffs a laugh at my theatrics, and I finish by realizing, “I was so pissed because they both put our friendship at risk. It’d felt like they had tainted what wasmine,” I explain. “But to hear that Taylor initiated it was a punch to the gut. I mean, he was always kind of our third wheel, and that had to have been awkward for him, since he literally shared a womb with you. He’s never been my biggest fan, and I guess I could see him doing that to, like, get back at me or something.” The expression on Damon’s face when I look up at him is hard to read. I’m not quite sure if he’s going to cry or yell at me, but I keep going. “You said my dad used Taylor’s confidence against him, but is it so hard to believe that Taylor might use my dad’s grief againstme?”
Damon eyes me thoughtfully before taking a deep breath.
“Honestly? I don’t believe Tay has a vindictive bone in his body, Li. If anything, I think they’re probably guilty of using eachothera little, but I’m tired of punishing Taylor, and I’m pissed that your dad let him take the fall. I mean, do you really think your father, at forty-seven years old, couldn’t make up his own mind about what he was doing? Sure, it was shocking, but he was allowed to grieve however he wanted, and Taylor is an adult. It didn’t need to be the huge thing it turned into,” he says with a shocking amount of understanding and rationality. “I can understand your dad’s fear of losing you and destroying his relationship with my parents, but he just threw Tay to the wolves, Liam, and he hurt my whole family with that story.”
Well, fuck. If this is all true, then he has a point.
And of course, it’s true because Damon doesn’t lie to me.
“I’ve wanted to tell you since the day I found out, but I really thought you should hear it from your dad. I tried to give him a chance to come clean on his own, but I knew he hadn’t when you didn’t mention anything, which just pissed me off all over again because I’ve been sick over having to tell you.”
Yeah, that’s a kick in the balls.
