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The trouble with us is that our relationship was built on secrecy, a forbidden love that had no chance of blossoming if we continued to hide behind closed doors.
And that itself is no way to build a foundation for everlasting love.
Secrets can remain hidden for only so long before they’re released with the intent to destroy the people kept in the dark.
Austin places his hand on mine, rubbing it softly. With every stroke, my chest tightens, to which my stomach begins to churn. And then, lovingly, he places his lips on my shoulder with a gentle kiss, causing me to recoil instantly.
The movement of my shoulder away from his mouth is enough for his expression to fall immediately. A dull, empty stare is only momentary as it soon morphs into anger. The temperature around me becomes increasingly hot, my skin tingling from panic. I had a bad feeling about this, but the anguish begins to cripple me.
In just a heartbeat, Austin’s rage consumes him. He slams his fist on the table, causing the glasses to tip over. My reflexes are not quick enough as he pushes his chair out and charges for Will. I call out his name, begging him to stop, but it’s too late. Austin throws his fist at Will only for him to duck, though Austin refuses to give up, attempting again, which gets Will right in his jaw.
I run toward them, standing in the middle as Uncle Julian holds Austin back, demanding he calm down. Dad is on the opposite side, holding Will back as he presses his hand to his mouth, touching the bloodied cut.
“You had to walk into he
r life and ruin her again,” Austin yells furiously, ignoring everyone else around us. “You almost killed her last time!”
I was aware Austin knew of my car accident but didn’t think he linked it back to my break-up with Will. It was never discussed, so this comes as a surprise and the wrong time to bring it up if he had concerns about it.
“Austin, please stop,” I plead with him, moving closer to where he stands, but worried about Will’s injury.
“Why? So you can go back to him?” He grabs my hand, thrusting my ring finger at me. “You agreed to marry me. Not him. You said yes. Why the hell would you do that if you’re still in love with him?”
I shake my head, clutching my stomach. “Please, not here.”
“Why not here?” He follows with a disturbing laugh. “If you have the audacity to fuck him while everyone is having dinner, why not let everyone know the truth?”
My shoulders curl over my chest as my lips begin to tremble. I can’t say anything, choking on my words. When a cold sweat starts to break out all over my body, I turn away and run out of the patio and straight toward the beach.
I don’t stop running into the darkness even though my chest burns, and my lungs are out of air. My name is being called in the distance, but I don’t stop until the sand touches my shoes. I fall to my knees with heavy sobs, clutching my stomach until I violently empty the contents onto the sand before me.
My hair is suddenly pulled back, and all I can smell is Mom’s perfume.
“Millie, breathe,” Mom tells me.
“It’ll be okay,” Eric soothes, sitting on the other side of me while rubbing my back.
I shake my head, willing the tears to escape. “It won’t be okay. I’ve hurt my best friend, and all for what? I should have waited, given him the respect to end things. All because the jealousy tore me apart.”
“Love will make you do crazy things, and jealousy is a beast when it comes out to play,” Mom admits with a heavy sigh.
“I don’t want to go back,” I beg of them. “I’m so humiliated.”
“You don’t have to go back just yet,” Eric informs me softly. “But eventually, you’ll have to, and every single person will understand. Trust me. We’ve all gone through it.”
“It’s true,” Mom says in agreeance. “A whole restaurant watched your father punch Julian in the face.”
I raise my eyes to meet hers. Is that true? But how is it possible that the two of them are so amicable? It makes no sense.
“Don’t forget the infamous birthday party in which Julian and Adriana got into a fight about you, Charlie,” Eric reminds Mom. “That was intense.”
“Rocky and Nikki were no better. Back in college, I’d witnessed fights between them in the quadrangle in Yale. It was quite a spectacle.”
“And don’t forget Noah and Kate,” Mom adds. “The two of them in France after years of being apart was so hard to watch. Two stubborn lovebirds.”
“I think the only sane person is me?” Eric concludes. “Who would have thought?”
“Our point is, honey, we’ve all gone through this. Sometimes being in love with someone makes no sense at all. We follow our hearts, and sometimes, we mistakenly hurt people along the way.”
