Page 9 of Fracture

“I was thinking about her.”

“You don’t get it.” Zee thumps two fingers against their temple. “You just do not comprehend what the fuck you left her in.”

“So tell me!” A few heads jerk in our direction at my outburst, and I take a deep breath. “Zee, we’ve always been friends. You and me, Homo and Freak, right? You have to know, you have to believe me, I did it for her. I did it because I love her. I did it because that asshole deserved to rot in hell for what he did to her.”

Zee crosses their lithe arms loosely over their chest again, tilting their head and tonguing their piercing as they regard me thoughtfully. “I’ve never doubted that you love her, Kovac. But she does. And if you want that back, get those knees ready for a whole lot of groveling.”

“I’ll do anything. Anything. Please just tell me what happened after we went inside.”

Zee shrugs lightly, unfurling their arms and reaching for their diet coke. “Gloria happened.”

I blink, and shake my head slowly. “What do you mean?”

Zee runs their tongue along their teeth, eyes widening over a sigh. “Gloria kept that poor girl right where she wanted her.”

The words make bile rise in my throat. “But why would Gloria take guardianship of Stella? By what right?”

“By Rich White Lady Right. By Widow of a Politician Right. By Nearly First Goddamn Lady Right.” Zee’s voice slows to an emphatic drawl, their eyes filling with pain with every word they speak. “Gloria had the sympathy of the entire fucking country, and she played that role perfectly. She even wore black for a full six months after Harold died. And then she had Stella to take outall her anger and resentment on, behind closed doors of course. Levi knows his mother is a straight up sociopath. So do you.”

Gloria Fenton-Langford.My hands curl into fists on my thighs as I remember the last time I saw those ice-cold blue eyes, that blonde hair pulled back so not a strand was out of place. The Demon Bitch of Bellford Heights was what everyone called her. A woman so consumed with hate she’d put the gas to the floor if she saw a dog wandering across the street.

And Stella had been left in her care.

“Levi and I fucked up.”

“You did.” Zee’s face shifts suddenly, into softness and understanding. They take my hand, wrapping their fingers adorned with silver rings around mine. “Hey. You were young. You were stupid and young and you found out someone hurt the girl you loved. I get it. What happened to Stella is not your fault, just like what happened to you and Levi wasn’t hers.”

“I don’t know how to make this right.”

“You could try apologizing, just as a first idea.”

“I tried that.” I run my hands along my thighs, staring out at the brilliant sunshine and the passers-by. “She wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Did you apologize or did you try to make it about you?”

I whip my head back to look at Zee. “What do you mean?”

“Do not look at me all Shocked Face.” Zee draws a haphazard zigzag in the air in the direction of my face. “Stop that. If you want Stella to actually know you’re sorry, it needs to be about more than ‘I missed you and want you back’.”

How do they know these things? I want to protest, to tell them it wasn’t like that, and I know damn well that makes me a liar. “So what do I do? Buy her flowers, take her out for dinner?”

Zee lifts an eyebrow, snapping up another tuna roll in their chopsticks. “Does Stella like flowers and dinner dates?”

“How should I kn…” I trail off instantly, and sigh heavily. “Right. You’re right. Get to know her. Ask questions.”

“Bingo, stud. There's hope for you yet!” Zee pops the tuna roll in their mouth with obvious delight, waving to someone who passes by the window. “So, what’s next for you?”

I grimace, leaning back in my chair. “I have to go see my grandfather tomorrow.”

“Oh Jesus.” Zee rolls their eyes heavily, glaring at the table. “That old bastard’s still alive?”

“Unfortunately. Probably going to try and talk me into joining the family business again. Since he doesn’t have a son to pass it on to anymore.” I swallow hard. I passed the cemetery on the way here, knowing my parents were lying in there somewhere. I haven’t been to their graves since the day they were laid in them. I still can’t face it. I blink hard, and suddenly Zee’s reached across the table again and takes my hand.

“It's really good to see you, Dylan.” They squeeze my hand, and give me a soft smile as I look up at them. “And I really hope you find some happiness out here.”

“Yeah, once I figure out how this world works, I guess I might.”

“Any ideas what you want to do?”

---