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“You said I ruined your life...” I’ve really tried not to let those words get to me, but I can’t help it; I hate the thought that my careless mistake caused so much trouble for him.
“I might have been being dramatic,” he allows. I quirk an eyebrow at me but he just shakes his head. “The truth is I’ve been disappointment my parents for as long as I can remember. My sexuality was just icing on the cake.”
I frown. “But...I thought your folks were cool with everything? They were at Trent and Xav’s wedding, weren’t they?”
Jack rolls his eyes. “Yeah...now.It’s been twenty years.” He sighs. “Besides, it’s not like they were ever really homo- phobic or anything. It’s just...” He pauses for a moment, his brow furrowing as he tries to find the words. “It’s like they had this picture in their head of what they wanted their kids to be like. And Hannah fits that picture exactly. I, on the other hand, definitely do not. I was already under a heap of pressure ‘cause I was having so much trouble at school, so when they found out I’m gay it really did feel like the world had ended for me. Luckily, I had Trent and his family, ‘cause being at my place was pretty much unbearable for a while.”
Fuck.I let my eyes fall closed for a moment, my head shaking as I try to parse his words. I can only imagine what it must have been like to grow up with that weight of expectation and feel like you’re failing at every turn. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”
He draws in a heavy breath, his head resting back against the seat. “It’s okay. If it wasn’t that there would have been something else. I’m pretty sure the only time my folks have actually approved of something I did was when I proposed to Xav.” He offers a bitter smile. “You can imagine how that went down later.”
Well, that’s...interesting. “Did you propose to him to make them happy?”
Jack shrugs, glancing away. “Maybe. I don’t know. Probably a bit of that and a bit of wanting to be over Trent.” His gaze finds mine again, eyes full of sincerity. “I know I shouldn’t have done it. It was a dick move.”
I nod. “True. But Xav didn’t have to say yes.”
“What?” Jack’s mouth falls open in shock, and I suppose I can’t really blame him considering I’m firmly Team Xavier in that mess.
Despite my loyalty to Xav, however, I can at least acknowledge he made a mistake way back when. Some- thing I warned him about at the time, I might add. “Come on, it’s obvious he wasn’t in love with you. He could have told you to fuck off when you proposed.”
Still in obvious shock, Jack reaches out to grab at my face, pinching the skin around my hairline and jaw.
“Ow! What the fuck are you doing, Macey?” I demand, angrily batting his hands away.
“Trying to peel off your mask and reveal your true identity, Not-Alastor.”
I sputter in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“You just stuck up for me against your best friend— clearly you’re an imposter!”
I roll my eyes. “Stop being such a fucking drama queen. I was just telling it like it is.”
“Well...thanks,” he murmurs, glancing away in a way that makes me think this is probably the first time some- one’s acknowledged that Xav is at least partly to blame for their doomed relationship.
“Don’t get me wrong, you’re still a dick for how you ended things.”
He sighs. “I know.” He unfastens his seatbelt and makes a move for the door. “Thanks for the ride.”
I smirk at him. “Which one?”
We stare at each other for a long, charged moment, and then I’m reaching for him. He stumbles into my lap and our lips clash with that hunger that I’m quickly getting addicted to.
“My car’s in the carpark,” he gasps. “I don’t give a shit about getting cum on it.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “Or we could maybe just use your bed?”
He blinks at me, looking adorably dazed. “Right. Yeah. Good plan.”
JACK MACEY:I googled CBT
I let out a soft snort of amusement that prompts
Vanessa to arch a curious brow at me. “Anything interesting?”
Oh, she has no idea. “Nothing that concerns you.”
Me:And?
