Page 131 of Unspoken Rules

But then the bedroom door opens, and all the secrets we just shared in the dark are now in the light for all to see.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Bryson

“I can’t fucking believe it.”

Those words echo in my head for a long time.

Long after Chris leaves the room.

Long after Cole chases after him.

I want to disappear. I want the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

How the hell did this happen?

I shake out of it when I hear something break downstairs. I jump up, grab some pants, and run down to see what’s going on. I’d been frozen in place the entire time, unable to process… well, anything.

Chris and Cole are in the living room, and there’s a decent sized hole in the wall that looks like it was from a fist.

“You!” Chris barks, eyes full of rage. He moves toward me, but Cole gets in the way, shoving him back.

He points a finger in his face. “You are not taking this out on him. This isn’t his fault.”

“You’re right. It’s yours!” Chris bellows, shoving his father back. Cole stumbles a few steps.

“Chris!” I yell, moving forward. Cole holds his arm out to stop me, and I do.

“Don’t fucking talk to me!” Chris shouts at me. “You’re both fucked up!” He looks at his father, shaking his head. “You’re fucking disgusting. Sleeping with someone half your age. And you!” He looks back at me, scoffing. “How dare you?”

“Don’t act like you’re fucking perfect!” I scream. His eyes widen. “What’s wrong, Chris? Didn’t expect me to argue back? Didn’t expect me to stick up for myself? You’ve been nothing but a dick since I got here. I’m tired of keeping my mouth shut.”

“Because I didn’t want you here in the first place! Don’t you get it?” He takes a step closer to me, throwing his arms up. “You’ve taken his attention from me ever since we were kids, and now? Fucking now?!” He shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth. The anger coming off him isn’t only seen, but I can feel it. Like poison on my tongue.

We knew this would end in disaster.

That it would all blow up.

Kaboom.

“Christopher, that is not true,” Cole says. “You are my son. I love you.”

“Well, maybe it wasn’t enough! And then you go and cheat on mom and—”

“Whoa!” Cole barks, holding his hands up. “I did not cheat on your mother.”

Chris huffs out a laugh. “So you’re going to lie about it now? Typical. Fucking typical. Why would I expect you to be honest with me? You’ve been lying to me for—” He looks at me, making a disgusted sound.

“I’m not lying,” Cole says more calmly than I ever could.. “Who told you I cheated on her? I know she didn’t.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Chris mutters, frowning and turning away from us.

“Hold on…” Cole blinks a few times. I think he gets it now. He realizes this is it. He’s put all the pieces together. “Is this why you’ve been mad at me? You think I cheated on your mother? Are you fucking crazy, Christopher? I would never do that to her. To anyone.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Chris repeats. His hands are on his hips, and he’s panting like he ran a marathon.

I’m certain the hole in the wall was from him. The smashed picture not too far away probably is too.

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