Page 30 of Destroyed

He sits up now, finally taking me seriously. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that Riley and I found a photo album at my parent’s house the other weekend. We saw this woman,” I point to the picture. “Your mom. And she was in a relationship with this man. But she was also in a relationship with another man, too. All three of them were together. My parents said it was kind of odd sometimes and they didn’t really know why the three of them broke off from their group of friends.”

“Okay….” He is partly asking, but also confused. “My mom and dad were having a threesome?”

“No. Xavier, I think your dad’s name is Eric. Eric Lockhart.”

He jolts up. “Corrine, what the fuck are you saying? Are there meds you forgot to take?”

Okay, rude. I continue anyway, “Look Riley and I saw this picture with Ethan Lockhart and his brother Eric Lockhart. Atthe time we were fucking shell-shocked because, well because why the fuck were my parents hanging out with psychotic men like Ethan Lockhart? And how does this connect to Nate’s attempts to kidnap Riley and all the shit he was doing for Lockhart?”

I’m rambling a mile a minute now, trying to connect dots in my hazy head. “I’m saying I think your mom had a baby out of this throuple relationship and your dad is Eric Lockhart.”

“Get dressed,” he says, looking ill himself. “We’re getting that photo album.”

I nod, feeling guilty that I have to share this crazy news with him. And doubting the assumptions I’ve just said aloud to him. What if I have it all wrong?

The drive to my place is silent until Xavier’s phone rings, his Bluetooth picking it up and making it obnoxiously loud in the car. He looks at the screen on the dash, and I do, too. It’s Sebastian.

“Hey,” Xavier says after swiping on the call.

“How is everything going?” Sebastian asks. “Riley wanted me to check in, I think Corrine’s phone is dead.”

Shit. I meant to charge that last night. “Hi,” I say out loud, knowing the car’s microphone will pick up my voice. “I’m fine, tell her sorry it’s dead.”

“Hey man,” Xavier says, his hand reaching over to me for a second. “I think maybe you and Riley want to come to my place.”

“Are you going to be preparing a brunch for us Xavier?” Sebastian asks, clearly amusing himself.

“Nah man,” Xavier huffs. “I think there’s something we all need to look at.”

Chapter 24

Xavier

“Wait, what?” Riley asks Corrine.

“You heard me,” she responds before shoving the picture she saw of my parents into her sister’s hand. “Our parents clearly knew each other.”

“Can we backtrack to the fact that Xavier’s parents were involved with Lockhart’s brother? Where is that album you told us about on the phone?” Sebastian interrupts.

Corrine springs up from the couch, rushing into the guest bedroom.

Sebastian looks over at me raising an eyebrow, “You okay, Xavier?”

“I, I’m fine…I guess. Fuck, man, I don’t even know. This whole thing has thrown me for a loop.”

Corrine returns with a thick photo album and flips to a specific page before handing it to Sebastian. Riley leans over, pointing out everyone on the page. I sit there in silence while they all converse. I don’t need to see the photo again. Corrine showed me when I took her to pick it up earlier today. I don’t know if I am angry, relieved, or just plain confused. So many things from my childhood make sense but leave me with even more empty holes.

I look nothing like my father. Is this why we were never close? I always felt I never had the traditional father-sonrelationship that other boys around me had with their dads. Did my mom have an affair? Does my dad even know?

Suddenly, I felt Corrine’s hand squeeze my leg. I don’t cringe away like I usually would. I don’t remember much from last night besides bits and pieces, but whatever happened, I now don’t mind her touch. She’s gentle but not looking at me as if I’m weak. Like I’m something that needs to be fixed. It’s kind of… nice.

“Did you hear what I said?” she asks me.

“No, I didn’t.” I run both my hands down my face. “I’m sorry, I’m kind of out of it.”

Riley chimes in, “That's understandable, Xavier. I think we are all a little overwhelmed.”

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