Page 113 of The Rest is History

“I’ll go back. Then, people can’t say there’s something between us.”

Asher’s voice hardens. “You mean, run away?”

My heart splits in two. No. No. Not run away. But then, how?

“I’m not going to end our relationship, Reece. Not again. I went quietly the first time. I won’t do it again.”

I hate this. I hate my father. I hate my own spinelessness. My stupidity for causing all of this. It’s all my fault.

I look at him, horrified and ashamed and utterly lost, but I don’t have anything of value to offer him. “You’ll almost certainly get dismissed, Ash.”

“I’m not walking away from you. Not again.”

“You’ll lose your job,” I argue.

He steps closer, taking my chin between his fingers. “Are you saying you’ll walk away from us over this?”

I’m saying I don’t want to ruin his life again. I’m saying I don’t have the balls to walk away, but I can’t stay with them and let Asher’s career get destroyed all over again. “I can’t let you lose everything again.”

“You are everything. If I lose you, I lose everything.”

“Then lie,” I beg. “Like Principal Watson said. Tell them nothing is going on between us.”

“For how long, Reece?” Sawyer says. “If we bend to the will of people like this, when will it end? We aren’t starting any wars. We’re only trying to fucking live. No one should work this hard to stop that from happening.”

My eyes meet Sawyer’s. Gently, I remove Asher’s hand from my face. “I can’t let him lose his job, Sawyer. I can’t explain to you how much guilt I carry over Ash not playing football.”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“It was. I was the one who left the journal out for my father to find. I should’ve been more careful. Asher’s life was ruined because of me.”

“He won’t walk away from you.”

I turn back to Ash. “Then . . .then, maybe you can say there’s nothing between us and you can quietly find another job.”

“And how long before your father tries to ruin that too? I want to go through with this because I don’t want us to live under the control of people who think they can do as they please with those they see as less than them.”

“So, you want to admit to everything? There’s a petition already in motion.”

“Whatever the outcome, Reece, I cannot go quietly. Please understand that. My parents and I went quietly when your father did this the first time. I refuse to do it again.”

Chapter 54

Reece

Brennan doesn’t ask any questions. At least, he doesn’t ask me. I think he’s gotten the whole story from Sawyer. Still, he doesn’t treat me any differently, and for that I’m grateful. I was afraid I’d jeopardized Sawyer’s job too. And mine.

I still can’t believe my father did this to us. It’s so stupid that we have to deal with it in the first place.

Abe is the first to bring it up at work. He pulls me to the side before our shift and puts a fatherly hand on my shoulder. “Lotta people be talkin’ ‘bout y’all three boys all over town. Is that all true, boy?”

Now that Asher is refusing to deny our relationship, there’s no point in acting otherwise at work.

“Yeah, it’s true.” I put on my gloves, not sure if I should elaborate.

“You mean, all three of y’all?” Abe looks more curious than appalled, so I answer. “Yeah, Abe. Sometimes, it happens that way, I guess.”

“Yeah but – but how, boy? Those two have been together for a lotta years if I remember correctly.”

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