Page 92 of Love You From Afar

You’re in love with my son.

Claire doesn't have to clarify which one she’s talking about, because she just watched me confess my love to an unconscious Everett. She’s staring at me through tired green eyes, her blonde hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. She just looks just as exhausted as me, if not more. I can’t imagine the pain of seeing your child unconscious in a hospital bed, not knowing if they’re going to be okay.She looks as helpless as I feel.

I open and close my mouth, trying to piece together the right words to say. Because what do you say when your ex-fiancé’s mother just watched you pour your heart out to his brother? Guilt washes over me as I think about the bomb that I just dropped on her. This is the last thing she needs after what she’s been through today.

Never in my life has silence ever been this loud. I clear my throat, wiping my eyes before angling my body to face her. I inhale a shaky breath as I stare into her eyes… the mother of the man I love.

“Claire…” I trail off. “I…”

“How did I not know it was you?” She says breathlessly, almost as if she’s speaking to herself. “All this time, it was you.”

My brows pinch together in confusion.

“I’m sorry… I don’t,” I shake my head. “What are you talking about?”

Her throat bobs as she swallows before she gently clasps her hands together in her lap.

“I haven’t heard Everett mention anyone special in years,” she exhales. “Every time I try to bring it up, he immediately shuts down. He hasn't brought anyone home or even talked about dating. It was like something happened and he just… gave up,” she rasps. A beat of silence passes before she continues.

“A mother always knows, and I knew there had to be someone. Either he was hurt or hiding something, but I knew that someone had his heart. And all along that someone was standing right in front of me. It wasyou.”

I expected to see disgust written across her face, but instead, I see sadness, sorrow, clarity… a mother’s love. Her thumbs fidget in her lap as she stares at Everett, her bottom lip trembling.

“Claire,” I breathe her name. “I wish I could tell you it wasn't true. I wish I could say it’s all a misunderstanding, but that would be a bold-faced lie. Because what I feel for Everett is the most raw, real feeling I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t want you to find out this way, and I know he wouldn't want this either. I’m… I’m so sorry, Claire.”

Her eyes snap to mine, her gaze matching my somber expression.

“How long?” She whispers. “How long has this been going on between you two?”

She deserves the truth, Skylar,I tell myself. Claire has always been nothing but kind to me. I wish Everett was awake to tell her with me, but he’s not. And I promised myself that I would be strong for him.

“It was one night,” I exhale. “Do you remember when Elliot and I first started dating and he invited me on the family cruise?”

“Yes,” she nods. “How could I forget? I remember being so angry with Elliot because he was living in his own little bubble the entire trip. I remember you and Everett basically being attached at the hip.”

Was it really that obvious?

“Well… we got a lot closer than we expected,” I exhale. “After dinner on formal night, Elliot went back to the room to work. I had gotten all dressed up, and I wasn’t ready to call it a night, so Everett offered to stay out with me. We went to the karaoke bar, had a couple of drinks, and one thing led to another. We knew it was wrong but looking back… there was no stopping what happened between us. It was inevitable.”

I pause to clear my throat, swallowing down a dry lump before I continue.

“We stayed away from each other for three years. We barely even looked at each other when we were in the same room. Ipromisethat we kept our distance until this trip. But just like before… we were trying to win a losing battle. Because you have no chance of winning when you’re trying to fight fate,” I pause, inhaling a deep breath.

“The truth is, I’ve been in love with Everett for years, and I don’t have the strength to fight it anymore. It’s always been him.”

Before I get the last sentence out, Claire sniffles as she reaches into the pocket of her jeans to pull out a used tissue. She dabs at her nose before wiping away the tears rolling down her cheeks. A pained whimper cracks from her throat as she stares down at her lap.

Suddenly, I fear that I made the wrong decision by telling her. I feel like a complete asshole for dropping this on her while she’s worried about her son waking up. A person can only handle so much.What the hell was I thinking?

“Claire,” I rasp, standing from my chair as I walk to her. I kneel in front of her, taking her hand in mine. “Claire… God, I’m so sorry. I shouldn't have—”

“I’m not upset with you,” she whispers, lifting her gaze to meet mine. Now that we’re closer, I see the dark circles cradling her red-rimmed eyes.

“I’m just…” she continues. “I’m just sad. I just want my son to be okay,” her voice cracks as she looks at Everett.

“It breaks my heart to know that he’s been in love with you all these years and I didn’t even know it. My heart also breaks for Elliot even though I’m so,soangry at him for what he did to you. But at the end of the day, he’s still my baby, and I love him just the same as Everett,” she says thickly through glossy eyes.

“It’s going to be difficult for him to watch you with Everett. It will be one of the hardest things he’ll ever go through. It may be hard for you to believe, but Elliot does love you. It may not be the forever kind of love, but he cares about you. I’ll be the first to admit that Elliot has made a lot of mistakes in his life… but I promise you that deep down, he has a good heart. But he has a lot of soul-searching to do, and maybe this is the wake-up call he needs.” A small sob breaks from her throat as she brings the wet tissue to the corner of her eye.

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