AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My heart pounded with the realization.
“Are you right?” I asked Luke. “I’m thinking about it now, and…”
“And saying it’s about hockey is a nice, clean cop-out without admitting it’s about your own fears and insecurities.”
I locked eyes with him. “Just like you saying rehab won’t work is about your fears and insecurities because what if it does work? What then?”
“Holy shit, this is heavy,” he said. “I need to move. Can we go for a walk?”
“It’s cold and dark.”
He blew out a breath. “Too bad. I feel an anxiety attack coming on.”
I got up from the couch. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I just…need you to go for a walk with me.”
“Of course.”
I picked up the remote and glanced at the screen before turning it off. The score was 2–2. I’d planned on watching the entire game, but Luke needed me and that was more important.
By the time I’d changed into warm sweats, a hoodie, a stocking cap, and tennis shoes, he was already out front, pacing up and down the sidewalk.
“What’s going on with you?” I asked.
Was this because he wanted a fix? I’d jump on top of him and hold him down to keep him from getting drugs if I could, but given our size differential, that was unlikely to work.
“I need to tell you something,” he said.
I looked at him silently, waiting. He stared at me for a few seconds.
“Let’s walk,” he said, taking off down the sidewalk toward the paved path that ran around the lake.
I ran to catch up with him. “What do you need to tell me?”
“It’s just…give me a second.”
He ran a hand through his hair as he sped ahead, forcing me into a light jog. I’d never seen Luke like this, and I was getting concerned.
There was a bench alongside the path we were walking on, lit by warm light from the tall streetlights surrounding the path.
“Let’s sit,” Luke said.
I joined him on the bench, not mentioning that we’d been sitting inside where it was warm just a few minutes ago. Luke looked behind him and from side to side, and my heart raced with worry.
Was he hearing voices? Thinking people were following him? He already struggled enough as it was.
“Whatever it is, it’s okay,” I said, taking his hand. “I love you no matter what. Remember how Mom used to always say that to us?”
He looked at the ground, squeezing my hand. “Elle, I’m gay.”
I’d been prepared for something awful, and that was what he needed to tell me? I was surprised and relieved.
“I had no idea,” I said. “Thank you for trusting me with that.”
He looked over at me, his expression tortured. “I fought it for so many years, because I knew Dad would be disappointed.”
“Why do you think that?”
