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Mr. Emery releases a long sigh. “I found out two years ago. I came home one night and heard them going at it upstairs. At first, I was livid. Went out and returned the favor. I convinced myself it would make us even. I’d even planned on telling her before filing for divorce, but then… I just… never stopped.”
Xav looks like he was just force-fed a chunk of reality he can’t digest. His mother cheating on his dad was one thing. Both his parents cheating on each other is a completely different story.
“Come on, son.” Mr. Emery steps forward. “You didn’t really think I was with Hank all these nights, did you?”
Xavier stumbles back, his lips parting for a moment.
“But… how could you stay with her?”
“Look.” Mr. Emery steps closer. “When your mom got pregnant with you right out of high school, I stepped up. Married her. Learned to be a dad. It was a no-brainer. I wanted you, my boy, my pride and joy. But when she started screwing the help, I guess it made realize that…. Because I wanted the kid—” he pauses, “—doesn’t mean I ever wanted the wife.”
Xavier’s eyes are bloodshot, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles are as white as chalk.
“Plus, we have the house together. Jobs at the same school. It was easy. Familiar. And I wasn’t looking to start all over again with someone new. So, I played the perfect husband. Showered her with love so she wouldn’t suspect a thing and we could go on as before. You’d be surprised how anxious the woman gets. She’s always breathing down my neck, asking me where I’m going. Like she’s projecting her misdeeds onto me.”
His dad stifles a scoff. “Not that any of it matters anymore. There isn’t a goddamn school on the planet that’ll hire us after this. Not to mention your mom’s going down. Say goodbye to Silver Springs, kid. It sure as hell ain’t home anymore.” Xavier’s dad turns to walk away, but he stops two steps in, his hateful eyes raking over me. “I sure hope she was worth it.”
Mr. Emery slams the door on his way out, and silence retrieves its rightful place, descending over us.
But it doesn’t last long.
“I’m so sorry.” I mean it.
“Doesn’t matter.” Xav acts invincible, but I pick up on his pain. He grabs my waist with both hands, jerking my hips against his. “All that matters is you don’t have to leave.”
“Xav, I… That wasn’t the deal. Mr. Hall said I had to tell him who you were or he’d pull the plug on my scholarship.”
“And you did.”
“What? No, I—”
He pecks my mouth to shut me up. “I pulled him aside before you got here. Told him you’d convinced me to come clean and he owed it all to you. We made a deal. I agreed to take the heat as long as they leave your name out of it. Duke never has to know shit.”
I’m ugly crying at this point.
Partly because I’ve never been so relieved in my life.
But also…. because I’ve never felt so guilty.
“You planned this? When?” I sniffle.
“As soon as Dia told me you were leaving.”
Taken aback, I give myself a moment to let it sink in.
“They can do whatever the hell they want to me, Vee, but not you—never you.”
“But… What about you?” My voice cracks. “Your dreams? Your scholarship? You didn’t have to do this, Xav. I was ready to leave. I was okay with it.”
Xavier laughs and reels me into his arms, resting his chin on top of my head. “Well, that’s too fucking bad, because I’m not.”
Crying my eyes out, I sag into his embrace, bunching up the bloodstained fabric of his shirt between my fingers and inhaling his scent. His busted lip is looking rough, so I drop a small kiss on the non-bloody corner of his mouth.
He said it himself.
Everything went to hell.
And it’s going to keep going to hell.
