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I know he’s been a bit in limbo over the last few months, trying to figure out where he wants to be and what he wants to do with his life, but he’s never mentioned it was more than that. I guess I just assumed it was normal post-college stuff, something that a lot of people go through after they graduate. But the way Tess is looking at me tells me that’s not it at all.
“Nothing, I just meant I know he’s had a rough time figuring out what he wants to do and stuff.” She tries to shrug it off, but I know Tess too well not to see right through her bluff.
“Tess.” I give her a knowing look.
“Look, I don’t really know the specifics.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
“Bree,” she pleads. “Please don’t ask me to do that. What Sebastian told me was in confidence. I just assumed you knew.”
“This is me, Tess. You know you can tell me anything and it will never pass over my lips. Ever,” I reassure her. “He’s living with my son and me right now. If something is going on with him, I deserve to know.”
I hate using Jack as leverage, but I’m so desperate to know what she’s talking about that I don’t even think twice about it.
“I swear to God, Bree, Sebastian will kill me if he finds out I said anything to you about this.”
“Unlikely.” I roll my eyes. “That man worships the ground you walk on.”
“You have to promise,” she starts, but I immediately cut her off.
“I’ve already promised. You know I won’t say anything.”
“Fine.” She sighs. “I don’t know all the details, but I guess he and his dad got into a pretty violent fight. Like he broke his father’s nose kind of fight.”
“Wait, what?”
“I know. I guess he had only been home from college a few months when it happened. He got an apartment off of Vine Street, and I guess was planning on staying in Rockfield. But then he went over to his parents one day to grab some of his stuff, and I guess something happened and they ended up fighting.”
My stomach twists violently, and the small portion of salad I managed to eat feels like it’s seconds away from coming back up.
Ant and I have spent countless hours talking. Countless. He’s never mentioned anything even close to what Tess is currently telling me. I know he and his father have always had a rough relationship, but he’s never led on like it was anything more than typical father and son conflict.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know all the specifics, but I guess the police showed up. Then his mom lied and took his dad’s side. It was a mess.”
“Then what?”
“That’s all I really know. Ant packed up and moved in with Sebastian a few weeks later.” She shrugs in apology.
“Oh my God.” I shake my head back and forth slowly, trying to process what I just learned. “Has something like this happened before?”
“I don’t know and Sebastian has never straight out told me, but from what I gather I think it’s something that’s been happening for years.”
“As in Ant’s dad being physically abusive?” Just the thought of someone putting their hands on him has my blood boiling to the surface.
“Again, it’s never been confirmed but yes, that’s what I suspect.”
“Did you know this in high school? Did Courtney know?”
“I didn’t, and I’m fairly certain she didn’t either. Again, I don’t have any concrete evidence to support the theory. I knew nothing about any of it until just a few days ago.”
“So he kept it a secret from everyone?” I say more to myself than to Tess. “He was dealing with all that and never told any of us?”
“Sounds like someone else I know.” Tess’ big blue eyes meet mine, and it takes me several moments to form a response to that statement.
“It’s not the same,” I finally interject.
