Page 261 of Masters of Secrets

“My parents supported me, and I was still scared to tell them at first. That’s why I do understand.” Fuck it. He was done coddling Zach. “I understand being scared of losing your family. But either you have to tell them, or we can’t be together, no matter how long you put that off… that’s what the end result is always going to be. I’m willing to wait for a while, but I’m not willing to spend the rest of my life as your housemate.”

It was the same damn fight all over again. A little different. A little rawer, a little more vulnerable, a little more pointed. But the same damn fight.

“But I am telling them. Before the end of this month.”

“Because Krista gave you an ultimatum.”

“What do you want me to say, Kincaid? You wanted me to tell them? I’m going to tell them. I told my mom that we’d have dinner with her soon. I figured I’d tell her then. So, it’ll be even before the end of this month. And then I might lose my family, if you even care.”

“Of course, I care. And if you do, you’ll have me.” Even as he said the words, he knew it wouldn’t be the same. Couldn’t be the same. But they also couldn’t move forward unless Zach told them.

“Will I?”

Kincaid stared at him. That was the last thing he’d expected Zach to say. If he’d said that having Kincaid didn’t make up for the loss of his parents, that was something Kincaid could understand, but asking if Zach would have him?

“Why would you think you wouldn’t?”

“You already left me once.” The accusation hurled out like a knife. “You’re asking me to trade in my parents, who have never let me down, for someone who already left once.”

“I left because you weren’t going to tell them!”

“And what happens if we break up again?” Zach heaved in a huge breath, tears glistening in his eyes. “What if I give up everything for you and we break up?”

Throwing his hands up in the air again, Kincaid shook his head. This hurt too much. He couldn’t argue against a hypothetical. He couldn’t reassure Zach that would never happen. Anything was possible. Did he think it would happen? No. But it wasn’t like he could promise it was impossible.

He didn’t know what to say, and it ended up being a moot point because Zach suddenly started in alarm, his gaze going beyond Kincaid. Spinning around, he turned to see Amy coming out the front door, still in the wet clothes that were clinging to her, carrying a suitcase.

“Amy—” They both said her name at the same time.

She held up her hand, in the same ‘stop’ gesture Kincaid had used, and kept moving toward her car.

“I can’t be here right now.”

“Amy—” He and Zach were like a fucking Greek chorus.

She came to a stop.

“No. Red.” She pointed at Kincaid and then at Zach. “And red. I cannot be here right now.”

They both stood there, helpless, as she got into her car and sped away. Kincaid stared after the car as it disappeared, feeling like they’d opened Pandora’s Box, but instead of keeping hope locked safely inside, they’d just let it escape.

Fuck.

He didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what to do.

Maybe there wasn’t anything to say. Maybe the words didn’t exist.

Feeling incredibly numb, he turned away from Zach and walked into the house alone.

Chapter Thirty

Zach

Changed out of his wet clothes, his skin still felt clammy, and he didn’t think it was because he was still damp. Kincaid was out in the main rooms. He’d been sitting on the couch, staring at the blank television, when Zach had come in. Not knowing what to say, Zach had just gone behind him.

Fuck.

He didn’t know how he was going to face Kincaid. Didn’t know what to say.