Page 68 of The Biggest Secret
ADAM
When am I going to learn I can’t drink like I used to? I’m nursing the hangover from hell this morning, but I need to get this house done for Mr. Dollston. Billy is here helping me, but he’s being quiet, allowing me to suffer in silence.
“Hey girl, how you doing?”
I hear muffled voices and when I round the corner, I see Billy and Chelsea talking together. They’re standing pretty close, and he has his hand on her arm. I know there’s nothing going on there, he’s taken Chelsea on as a second sister years ago, but I still don’t like it. I know they’re talking about me, and it makes me wonder if that’s why Billy is quiet today. What could he possibly be mad at me for?
When I clear my throat, they both look in my direction. I watch Billy turn back and give her a sympathetic look and squeeze her arm before leaving us to talk alone.
“Chelsea, I’m glad you?—”
“Save it, Adam.” She lets out a bitter laugh as she watches me intensely. “Jesus, she was right.”
“Who was right?”
Her eyes turn to ice and her stare is deadly. “I saw your little girlfriend this morning. She told me all about your trip to the bar last night. I thought it was just words, her usual venom she always loved to throw my way.” When I just gape at her, she continues, “Not going to deny it? Guess you can’t, since you reek of alcohol, I can smell you from here.”
“She was never my girlfriend, Chelsea. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She turns away from me with a look of disgust, then tosses over her shoulder. “Your mother is going to keep Dominic tonight so I can go out with your sister for her bachelorette party. I wanted to make sure you knew where he was.”
I don’t miss the jab and I don’t say anything in return. I can’t. Scrubbing my hand over my face, all I do is watch her leave.
“Tom told me about last night. You’re lucky Al called him. When did you become such a fuck up, Adam?”
“Watch your mouth, Billy.”
“No, really. I always looked up to you, envied all that you had accomplished, everything you had. Number one son, great businessman, beautiful girlfriend. Now you’ve got an amazing son.” He shakes his head. “But it’s a show, isn’t it? Doesn’t it get hard trying to keep up the appearance that you’re perfect? You don’t have a damn clue what you’re doing. Doesn’t it suck when people don’t fall in line with what you think they should do?”
“You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, and I suggest you shut your fucking mouth before we have a problem.”
He laughs at me this time, the same bitter tone as Chelsea had. “Sad, brother. You still haven’t learned that sometimes two people who are perfect for each will have to face great obstacles in order to be with each other. But if they do it together, they’ll make it. You better be careful on who you shut down. One day it’ll be for good.”
Before I can ask what he’s talking about, he stalks away from me as well. Well, fuck me. One simple text that didn’t go through and my world is crashing down.
* **
I worked off my hangover but I’m still feeling like shit and Jackson’s bachelor party is the last thing I want to do tonight. I honestly forgot it was tonight until the guys all showed up to collect me so we could go to the school and surprise Jackson. They’re throwing beer cans around and doing shots. The smell alone is enough to make me want to puke.
Bobby and Billy are acting like assholes. I mean, it’s nothing new, they’re having fun, but I’m not having it tonight and everything they do is annoying me. I ordered an Uber so that we could all drink without worry of getting behind the wheel, but I want to die every time I look at another shot being poured.
We go to a local hole in the wall that is anything but they have great burgers and beer. On a normal night I’d be living it up here. Hell, if this was two days ago, I’d be having the time of my life. But how am I supposed to celebrate my friend when my life is taking a shit? The last thing I want to be surrounded with is love and happiness since mine won’t come home.
Jackson and I head to the bar to order the first round of drinks. “You going to tell me your side?”
I won’t look at him, choosing to stare ahead. I’ve too many emotions running through me right now. “Not tonight, Gage, I won’t bring down your night.”
“You’re already bringing it down, bro!” He punches my arm and I get pissed off all over again. “Listen, BK, just say it quick, get it off your chest and then we can get drunk tonight.”
I groan, “The last thing I wanna do is drink. I had too much last night and I’m paying for it.”
“You’re still avoiding the topic, but before the rest of them come over here, I’ll say that Chessy already filled me in on what she knew. I know what happened wasn’t your intention. Give it a few days, she’ll cool off.”
I shake my head. “She’s holding him hostage from me.Moved back in with her sister. I can’t even stand being in my house. I don’t know how they took it over in just a few short weeks, but being there without them, even for one night, is enough to break me.” Fuck. I didn’t want to spill all of that, especially tonight, but I could never keep anything from Jackson. “I’m sorry, bro, I don’t want to get into anything heavy. Tonight, we party, I’ll pretend to hate you for marrying my sister, and tomorrow we’ll deal with my bullshit.”
He throws his arm around me, pulling me in close. “Fucking right, man, there’s my best friend. I’ll take it easy on you, ok? I won’t even mention how your sister is the best sex of my life.”
I turn on him so quickly I almost knock the stool over, but he dodges away from me telling the bartender to put everything on my tab.
