Page 142 of His Secret

“That’s true,” she says before giving me another little grin. “I’ll let you know what I plan on doing, and when I’ll be back for my stuff.”

“I know I don’t deserve it, and I’ll understand if you tell me to fuck off, but one day, maybe way down the line, I’d love to still have our friendship.”

Tears fall down her cheeks and she makes a noise that’s between a scoff and a disbelieving laugh. “Fuck off.” Then she lunges forward and wraps her arms around me, head buried in my chest as she cries.

I hold her tight, my chin resting on her head as my own tears fall.

“I hate you,” she murmurs.

“I know.”

We stay like that for at least five minutes before she pulls away, wiping tears from her cheeks.

After several seconds of looking at each other, she backs away. “See ya.”

“See ya.”

CHAPTER SIXTY

MATÍAS

It’sseven-twenty when my phone rings. When I see Adrian’s name on the screen, I breathe a sigh of relief as my heart begins to race.

“Hey,” I answer.

“Hey. Are you busy?”

I mute the TV and lean back into my couch. “No. What are you up to?”

He sighs. “I’m in a hotel. Just got done eating. Now I’m lying on the bed before I shower and call it a night.”

“How was today?”

Another long exhale. “It was fine. My dad had a whole conversation planned, but at the end of it, he said he was beginning to understand my situation, because it was mirroring his own situation with his father. He couldn’t see that he was exactly who he was trying to run away from. But he also said that back in college, he didn’t want me to ruin my life over someone who wouldn’t be in it forever. He didn’t believe I was gay, and thought I was just giving it the good ol’ college try.” He laughs humorlessly. “Said I must like you a lotnow, though.”

My lips stretch into a small smile. “And do you? Like me a lot now.”

“Mm. Maybe,” he replies, and I can hear the smile through his words.

“Interesting. What about your mom? Charlotte?”

“Mom overheard everything. I was telling Dad that he could accept me or not, but that I was no longer afraid of him. That I no longer cared. He brought up the fact that I couldn’t have kids, and his legacy would die with me. I guess he thought I couldn’t run a company if I was gay. You know, because it does affect job capabilities,” he says with a scoff. “Anyway, she simply said she heard and that when it came down to it, if it was a life without me or a life with me and whichever man I chose to be with, then she chose me.”

“That’s nice,” I reply.

“Yeah. Charlotte was still upset, which I get, but I think we’ll be okay. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I have hope we’ll maintain some semblance of a friendship. She’s gonna let me know when she’s going back home for her stuff. She’s trying to figure out what she wants to do. Where she wants to live. I told her I’d help her, but I don’t know.”

“You’re a good guy, Adrian.”

He scoffs. “Not sure about that.”

“No, you are. What happened between us doesn’t mean you don’t have a good heart. We’re all imperfect, but we’re the sum of every decision we make, not just the bad ones. The good in you outweighs any of the bad.”

He’s quiet for a little while. “Thanks.”

“So, you’re about to get in the shower?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

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