Page 88 of The All-Inclusive

It’s not the same shame, that’s the weird thing. Back then, I believed the insults he spewed were the worst fucking thing I could be.

But here in this room, with two people I love, I know that’s not true at all. Being afraid to claim them as mine—to tell the whole world I’m in love with a mananda woman—that shame will eat me alive.

I stare at them both, breathing like I’ve just run an eight-minute mile. I’m so fucking mad I can’t see straight. But not at these beautiful people I love.

I’m mad at myself, goddammit.

Spinning around, I stare out the window, raking my hands through my hair. I’m dizzy and pissed off and so fucking confused.

“Trent.” Logan’s voice fills my head, but I don’t turn to look. “Hey, Frogman—look at me.”

I can’t fucking look.

If I do, I might break. My heart broke already, the moment I walked out on Sara. I swore to myself I’d never hurt her again, and here I am making it worse. I’m hurting her more the longer I stay. The longer I stand at the foot of her bed, too spineless to stay, too weak to release her.

And now I’ve hurt Logan as well.

A buzz on the nightstand makes all three of us jerk. I glance at my phone, which sits facedown and crooked beside a half-empty glass of water. It vibrates and buzzes, inching its way toward the lamp.

I’d be an asshole to answer right now in the middle of such an important discussion. But I’m already an asshole, so I snatch it without checking to see who’s calling.

“Hello?”

“Trent?” My mom sounds unsteady and hoarse. “Honey, hi.”

The tremor in her voice sends alarm bells ringing in my head. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, honey.” She draws shaky breath. “There’s been an accident.”

My throat closes tight, but I force it to work as I swallow. “What sort of accident?”

There’s a sob like she’s crying, then a sniff as she pulls it together. “He didn’t mean it,” she says. “He was just trying to talk to me, and I wouldn’t lis?—”

“What happened, Mom?” Balling my hands into fists, I turn to see Sara and Logan. They watch me with kind, concerned eyes. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s really not that bad, but I know you have medical training.” The composure she’s squeezing into her voice isn’t real. I know from experience. “If I go to the hospital, they’ll start asking questions, so I thought if you told me how to set a broken bone, I could just?—”

“Holy fuck.” Tears clog my throat as I locate my shoes and stuff my feet into them. “Call 911, right now.”

“But Trent?—”

“If you’re hurt, Mom, I need you to go to the hospital.Now.”

Sara and Logan sit up straighter. They watch as I pace for a whole different reason.

My mom makes a sound of distress. “I can’t,” she whispers.

“Youcan.” I sound like my old drill sergeant, but that’s what she needs. “I’m ten hours away, maybe more. If you’ve broken a bone, you need professional help.”

Sara gasps, but I can’t look at her now. Squeezing my eyes shut, I cover my ear with a hand, holding the phone to the other.

“The hospital isn’t a good idea.” Mom’s no longer trying to cover the fact that she’s crying. “Your father could lose his career. I just need help setting the bone. It really doesn’t hurt much and?—”

“Mom.”

“Your father’s a good man, Trent.” She’s sobbing for real now, huge, heaving breaths clogged with tears. “He makes mistakes sometimes, but that’s what marriage is. It’s workingtogether, like we need to right now to protect his livelihood.”

I’m so fucking angry I’m shaking. “You needhelp.”

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