“Damn right,” Bill added. “I’d pay cash just to keep all y’all’s clothes on, you ugly turkeys.” Everyone burst out into laughter at that, and even I chuckled along with them.
Convincing the rest of the town would take time—but it wasn’t impossible. There was hope in these small moments, in the laughter and the shared understanding, that this wasn’t the end of the world—just a small bump in the road of Marc’s life here in Blanco Springs.
I wiped my sweaty palms on my worn blue jeans, surveying the elementary school’s neatly arranged carnival game booths with pride. We had all the classics, including whack-a-mole, balloondart, and ring toss. The coaches would take turns in the dunking booth, always a crowd pleaser.
I stretched, the weight of the morning settling into my muscles as I turned to gather my things. We’d worked hard, but now I needed to get home, clean up, maybe nap, and then get ready to be back later this afternoon for my shift at one of the booths.
That’s when I noticed Alex Henderson approaching, his usual quirky grin replaced by a troubled expression that immediately caught my attention. “Ken, got a minute?” he asked, running a hand through his tousled hair.
I nodded, curiosity piqued. “Sure, Alex. What’s up? Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I, uh, came to drop off my Aunt Nancy,” Alex added quickly. “But I really wanted to talk to you.”
We moved to the side, away from the last stragglers packing up their things. Alex glanced around nervously before meeting my gaze. “I need to tell you something. It’s about Marc.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Marc’s name. ‘What about him?’ I asked, my voice barely steady.
“Um—” Alex stammered, then stopped, his hands folded in front of him.
Then Alex’s eyes dropped, staring at the ground, and an icy wave of realization crashed over me. ‘It was you,’ I whispered, the words tasting bitter. Like a punch in the gut, the kind that knocks the wind right out of you and leaves you gasping for air. “You outed his secret.”
Alex took a deep breath, his eyes pleading for understanding. “I thought I recognized Marc when I saw you two at Rooster’s Cafe. I used to date a guy who watched his videos. So, I went home and double checked on that website, and—yeah. It was him.” He paused, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Don’t ask me why, but—I made a mistake. I mentioned it to my sister, who told my mom, who told Nancy.”
My stomach dropped. “You told them about Marc?” I snapped.
He nodded again, looking remorseful. “I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand. I was just… surprised. And Aunt Nancy, well, you’ve seen how she is.”
Oh, I knew all too well. Nancy Henderson was a terrible gossip, and anything she got her hands on spread like wildfire. This was bad—really bad.
Alex’s face was etched with guilt. “I didn’t realize she would be so vindictive. She got on the phone and told someone else. I don’t know who, but they pulled up the site and grabbed those screenshots. That’s how it ended up on Facebook.”
Anger flared, but my voice remained steady. “Do you understand what you’ve done, Alex? This isn’t just gossip; it’s someone’s life we’re talking about.”
“I get it,” Alex whispered, his eyes downcast, the weight of his actions clearly pressing on him. “I didn’t mean for it to spiral like this.” He shook his head. “I’m an asshole and didn’t think about what would happen.”
A whirlwind of emotions coursed through me—anger, disappointment, and a sliver of sympathy. As rough as I thought I had it with my dad, it was nothing compared to how Alex’s family treated him when he came out. I saw the kind of loneliness and desperation that drove someone to act irrationally.
But still.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Alex, this isn’t high school. People’s lives are at stake. And Marc has a daughter,” I added. “This could ruin everything for them.”
Alex looked down, his shoulders slumping as if carrying a heavy burden. “I’m so sorry, Ken. Believe me, I never wanted to hurt that guy. I just… I guess I got a little jealous, seeing you guys together—and I acted without thinking.”
I studied Alex’s face, seeing the sincerity in his eyes.Fuck. “What’s done is done,” I replied with a sigh. “But you need to make it right and apologize to the man.”
Past Alex, a familiar figure lingered behind a nearby booth. Nancy Henderson stood with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed as she watched our conversation. Anger surged through my veins. “Excuse me,” I muttered to Alex, brushing past him without waiting for a response.
I strode towards Nancy, the chatter around me fading into white noise as I closed the distance between us. Nancy’s eyes widened as she realized I was approaching, but she held her ground, lifting her chin defiantly.
“Mrs. Henderson,” I said, my voice low and controlled. “We need to have a chat. Right now.”
Nancy’s lips pursed into a thin line. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Mr. Parker.”
My patience snapped. “Cut the act, Nancy. I know what you did. Why did you expose Marc Mendez like that? Do you have any idea what you’ve done to him and his daughter?”
Nancy’s face flushed, indignation and guilt flashing across her features.
“I was protecting the children of this town,” she insisted, her voice rising. “That man has no business being around impressionable minds.”
