Page 54 of Hello Forever
“It’s not yourfault.”
“I’ll tell the truth,” he said. “I’ll go into that hearing and tell everyone that I love you, and that my father can’thandleit.”
“You might not have to do that. I’m not supposed to talk to you about this, but yesterday Isigned—”
“Don’t tell me if you shouldn’t,” he said quickly. “But know this—I will tell the truth, even if it makes my life more difficult than italreadyis.”
My chest felt tight just thinking about that. “I don’t want you to get cut off from yourbrothers.”
“Iknowthat. But I might, and it won’t be your fault. I’mgay, Axel. And my father has always known it. For years I’ve been avoiding this showdown, but it was always coming for me. I’m almostrelieved.”
I snorted. “What you are is sexually satisfied. For the firsttimeever.”
Cax poked me in the ribs. “Andyou’resmug.”
“And sticky. Come on.” I tugged his hand. “Time for theclean-up.”
* * *
We were getting dressedwhen there was a knock on the door. I checked Cax’s face and saw panicthere.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Iwhispered.
His expression went sheepish. “I’ve been afraid my whole life. That’s not going to turn around onadime.”
“I know.” I liked the way he put that, though. As if he was looking forward to a different future. “Why don’t you step into the bathroom until I see whoitis?”
He slipped past me and I went to the door. Whoever it was knocked again just as I turned theknob. “Axel?”
I opened the door to Josh. “Hey. Morning. Somethingwrong?”
He frowned. “I’m not sure. I just found the weirdest letter in yesterday’s mail. Someone must have stuck it into our mailbox—without postage. I haven’t showed it to Caleb yet. But the whole thing looks scammy.” He offered me a piece of paper that had been folded intothirds.
It was printed on Barmuth College stationery.“To whom it may concern: Mr. Axel Armitage has been accused of sexual harassment by his employer. Should the accusation result in his termination, his landlord should be aware that he will no longer have sufficient funds to afford his lodgings. Sincerely, the Human ResourcesDepartment.”
I sighed. “Motherfucker.”
“What did he do now?” Cax came out of the bathroom, blowing his owncover.
Josh’s eyes got wide before he recovered, hiding his surprise. “Good morning, Mr.Williams.”
“You don’t have to call me Mr. Williams anymore. You’re no longer in my section.” Cax crossed the room and read the letter over my shoulder. “That is just ridiculous. I’m going tokillhim.”
Josh crossed his arms. “Can Iaskwho?”
“My father,” Cax grumbled. “He’s trying to railroad Axel. This isn’t the worst of it,either.”
Josh’s face softened. “I’m sorry. Is it because you two…?” He left the questionunfinished.
“Absolutely,” I said. “But I’ve hired a lawyer, and I’m trying to get him to back off. As of right now, there’s no reason to assume I won’t maketherent.”
“I’m not worried,” Josh said quickly. “I understand what you’re going through. Where Caleb and I come from, they would have come after us with a shotgun. Just let us know if we can help inanyway.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Really—Iappreciatethat.”
Josh smiled. “Come for dinner tomorrow night. Bothofyou.”
“Okay,” Cax said quickly, surprising me. I raised my eyebrows at him. “I want to,” he said quietly. “I’m done trying topleasehim.”
