Page 53 of Just A Little Love

After confirming that Justin was well and truly gone, I headed downstairs to the security desk in the lobby. I had no fuckingclue how I forgot to remove Justin from the occupancy document, but I was going to rectify it before I checked off anything else on my list.

“Hello, Mr. Alves. How may I help you today?”

“Hey, Mack, I do need some help. I forgot to update the occupancy of my unit, so I need to do it now. I also need to change the entry code.”

“No worries, Sir. I can handle that for you.” He handed me a stack of papers that I was sure I hadn’t seen before. I can’t believe I forgot to remove him. Of all the dumb shit I’d done in my entire life, this ranks at the very top. Well, wait. Not telling Rory I loved him because of some arbitrary rule about how long you knew someone before you fell in love with them, and being dramatic about it was at the top. This was a distant second.

I completed the documents and made arrangements with the front desk to get an emergency cleaning crew sent up immediately. I fished out cash from my wallet for the crew's tip. Mack thanked me on their behalf and promised to ensure it was received. With the apartment handled, I got my car out of the garage to head over to Reed and Jakob’s house.

Gabriel: I’m headed over to your house. It’s an emergency.

Reed: You’re always welcome here.

Jakob: Please hurry.

***

I walked up the steps to my friends’ home like I was headed toward an execution. I lied and now had to confess the truth to win back my man. No, not back. Despite his silence, we were still in a relationship. You can’t break up with someone if you don’t speak to them, right? I think I read it in a manual somewhere.

“Uncle Gabe!” Jakob wrenched the door open, met me halfway up the steps to their house, and threw his arms around me. His hair was still damp, and he wore a lavender teddy bear onesie. Reed was behind him in ratty sweats and a bowling team sweatshirt. I had interrupted a lazy night at home for them. Damn it.

“Hey, Jakob. I’ve missed you.” I returned his hug and reached out my hand for Reed to shake.

“Reed, thanks for letting me come over.” I stopped to clear the lump in my throat. “I need to tell you something.”

“First, you don’t owe us any explanation. However, we'll listen to anything you’d like to tell us.” I followed them into the house, and I couldn’t help but notice how Jakob immediately put his hand in Reed’s. They were so in tune with each other that it hurt my heart to stand by and witness it. They trusted each other, and I wanted that in my relationship.

The more I thought about it, the more mad I became. At Rory.

Walking into an apartment and seeing someone else there had to have been a shock, but the rest? Nah, it wasn't cool. He’d been there. He knew there was no one else living there. I sent him over there and gave him the code to get the package. I introduced him to my closest friends and never shirked at going anywhere in public with him.

I deserved the chance to explain. Sure, we met because I lied to my friends, but I never lied to him.

Lied.

Well, fuck. It took my breath away before I could even get properly angry. Our relationship started with a lie so I could save face. It was the crux of why he didn’t trust me. Double fuck. Given that, why would he trust me?

Step one is to admit I wasn’t honest with my friends.

Step two is to show Rory I was worth a real relationship.

Step three, happy ending?

I followed Reed and Jakob into the house and settled into the living room. Reed went to his favorite oversized chair and pulled Jakob onto his lap. On his way over, Reed had picked up Jakob’s paci, who’d promptly put it in his mouth so he could quietly suckle on it. With his head on his Papa’s shoulder, Jakoblooked over at me with red-rimmed eyes, and it broke my heart. I caused this. Reed rubbed his shoulders. They both waited patiently for me to explain why I needed to speak with them tonight.

“I lied to you both.”

“Pardon?” Reed’s voice was the deadly sort of calm before a storm. His body had gone motionless. Jakob stared at me with owl eyes. “Please explain.”

“When I told you I was seeing someone, it was a lie. I met Rory after I told you that. We agreed to assist each other. I’d help him with his house, and he’d pretend to date me for the New Year’s Eve party. We’d only known each other for a week at the party.”

“Why did you lie?”

“Because I--” My voice faltered. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I was jealous of your relationship, thinking I couldn't have it. I made it up so you wouldn’t ask me about it. Now that I’m saying it oat loud, it sounds really fucking stupid and juvenile. It’s not even a good reason. I told myself it was because I was too busy for a relationship, but the minute I met Rory, I pushed him for a real one.”

I wasn’t used to this side of Reed. He’d always been open and friendly, and I’d never seen this cold, detached aspect of him before. And I knew exactly where it was coming from. My lie hurt his boy. Those tears were because Rory hadn’t just ignored me. Jakob was associated with me, so he’d ghosted him, too.

“Jakob, I’m so sorry. I never imagined you and Rory would hit it off so well when I started this. That’s my fault because I should have known he’d like you as much as I do. How could he not? You’re awesome.”

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