Adam

It's full dark by the time I park in front of my home. I've been riding around town in circles for the past two hours trying to get my nerve up to face them. It seemed so easy when I rushed out of Taylor's cabin, ready to turn a new leaf with my family and stand by them through this. Became impossible the closer I got to the house.

The light in the kitchen is spilling out onto the front yard and Pat's truck is still parked beside Theo's station wagon. But I wanted a family meeting, and that's what I'm getting. My desire to turn and run is so strong, I can taste it. But my mind's made up now. No more running, not until this shit is settled.

I make a lot of noise entering the house, and Pat, Theo and Brad are all staring at me when I finally reach the kitchen.

"Forget something?" Brad asks, clearly wishing to pick a fight.

"Yeah," I say and take a seat between Theo and Pat. "The fact that whatever you're all planning to do, you can't do without me."

That earns me a chuckle from Theo, but he raises his hands as I turn to glare at him, like he's warding me off. "You're probably right."

He sounds sincere enough, so I decide not to press it.

"So, you've just been sitting around chatting all this time?" I ask instead.

Theo and Pat exchange glances, and Brad gets up noisily to pour himself a glass of water.

"I went to see Cyril," Theo says, digging his nail into the wooden tabletop. "The Iron Knights are certain Dad's been talking while in prison."

"To the cops?" I ask. “He wouldn’t.”

"Yeah, I thought so too," Theo says. "But it seems the DUI wasn't all they had on him this time. But they let the rest slide, because he gave people up. And now those people found out. Hell, some of them even wanted to hold me until he came out of hiding."

"Why didn't they?" I ask, maybe a little too mockingly.

Theo flashes me a look that is filled with all the meanness he once possessed. But it goes away just as quickly. "Me and Cyril go way back. And he owes me. Besides, I had nothing to do with any of that stuff for a long time."

It explains a lot though. Like the fact Dad was going on and on about doing one last job when I saw him last.

"So he’s probably still alive," I say, more or less just voicing my thoughts. It means Mom needs to go into that home, but I don’t say that.

"Looks that way," Brad says, staring at me pointedly but I ignore him.

"How much does Dad know about the Knights' business though?" I ask instead.

"He knows a lot," Pat says. "And not just about Cyril and the Knights."

"Who else?"

Pat and Theo exchange a glance.

"We all know what cousin Rick is involved with, the girls and the meth, and Dad knew too. I’m thinking that’s what he told the cops about."

I do know about all that, but I like to pretend I’m not related to Rick most of the time.

"Maybe the cops put him in protective custody, or something," I say.

Theo leans back and adjusts his man bun. Eventually I’ll tell him how ridiculous it looks, but right now I’m going for civil.

"Hopefully," he says. "But I think we should go talk to Rick anyway."

"Not your best idea, Theo." I’m trying hard not to say Hell no right out. I’m supposed to be helping them work this out.

"It’s an idea," Theo says, maybe hearing what I’m not saying. "But first, I'm meeting my friend from the Sheriff's office tomorrow morning. You should come too."

"Why?" I ask. "A couple of days ago, the sheriff really wanted to nail me for this."

"No, he just wanted to talk to you," Pat says.

"Not what it seemed like, but whatever," I say and get up, turning to Theo. "When are you meeting him?"

"The diner, at nine," he replies. "You leaving already?"

"I got better places to be," I say, trying real hard to fight down a stupid grin at the image of Taylor naked in bed with me.

Theo gets up too. "I'll walk you out."

I shrug and let him follow me. Words won't cure the bad blood between us, but neither will arguing, or blows.

"I meant what I said before, Adam," he says as the screen door shuts behind us. "I would like to turn a new leaf with you. I know I've done and said some god awful things to you, but do you think we can?"

The dog starts barking from the darkness at the edge of the yard, as though to answer his question. He made that dog hate me, and with each bark the reasons why I shouldn't beat the shit out of Theo right now get fuzzier.

"God awful?" I echo. "That's one way to describe it."

"I'm sorry," he says.

I know he's sincere, because his face is like a glass mask ready to shatter.

"Look, I don't think we can talk this out. We'll see how it goes." In my mind, when I pictured him apologizing like this, I was always way harsher, meaner, told him to fuck off straight out. Not sure why I'm not doing that now, but I think it’s because of Taylor. I can’t bring any hate or rage back to her cabin tonight.

"I'm going now," I add, because he's just staring at me like he wants to talk some more.

"Alright, have a good time," he says. "But please come to the diner tomorrow. I need someone I can trust to ask the right questions, and Brad and Pat ain't it."

He chuckles as he says it, and I think this could well be the first nice thing he's ever said to me. It kinda takes my breath.

"Sure, whatever," I say and walk away, too stunned to make sense of all the thoughts whizzing around in my head.

I don't even remember a time when Theo and me got along. He hated me from the moment I was born. And now, twenty four years later, I think it's too late to go changing that. But maybe we can at least be civil to each other. And maybe I don't need to hate him for the rest of my life.

* * *

Taylor

Loud knocking wakes me, though I don't remember falling asleep. I stagger out of bed, not even bothering to turn on any of the lights, since I'm sure it's Adam come back, that we'll get to start again right where we left off.

"You?" I stammer as I open the door and come face to face with Henry.

"Yes, me," he says and strides into the house. "You know, your boyfriend? Why are you naked?"

The comforter is draped over my shoulders, and I reach for the ends, wrapping it tightly across my chest. "I was sleeping."

"Go put some clothes on. It's cold," he barks. "I swear, I have no idea what's going on with you."

He feels along the wall for the light switch, flipping it on. Adam wouldn’t tell me to put my clothes on. He'd fall on me right here, in the hallway, if I greeted him naked. I'm still stuck in the fantasy of exactly that happening, the fact that Henry is here instead of Adam not quite registering.

Adam could be back any moment!

The thought finally sobers me enough to run to the bedroom and get dressed. Henry is in the kitchen when I return, drinking a glass of wine.

"You should go," I tell him. "I told you not to come."

He slams the glass into the table so hard I'm fully expecting it to break. But it doesn't. "I came because you are my girlfriend, and you can't just run out on me like that."

The harsh tone of his voice is the same as would subdue me once, make me agree with him, do as he wants. Now it just makes my blood boil, my cheeks turning hot from it.

"I told you, I was in love with someone else," I say. "It wouldn't be fair for me to stay with you."

"Fair? OK, then," he muses, swirling the wine in his glass. "I forgive you for cheating, because I cheated first."

His words are making no sense. Until they click into place.

"So there was a woman in France? I wasn't just imagining it?"

I walk over to the counter, and drink some wine directly from the bottle, ignore his disgusted frown at me doing so.

"Yes, I admit it. The neighbor and me had a brief fling. But it meant nothing, and it is over," Henry explains.

I fully realize I can't be angry with him anymore, not after Adam, but I am.

"You had me believe I was just imagining it. You would keep on having me believe that if I stayed with you." I'm so flabbergasted I don't even pause for breath.

"It seemed for the best," he says, taking another sip of wine like we’re just having a normal, inconsequential conversation.

I gasp, feel my eyes bulging. "You really have no respect for me, do you?"

"Respect is earned, not an entitlement."

That statement is so foul, I don't even know how to argue it. It's all beside the point though. "Be that as it may, I'm in love with someone else. And I don't even feel guilty about it, since you cheated on me first."

"Right, OK, I’ll play along.” He looks around the kitchen like he’s searching for something, then back at me. "So, where is this mysterious prince of yours? Hiding somewhere? Did he just find you in this cabin? Is that why you're naked? Seriously, Taylor, I think you might be insane, not just childish."

My heart's beating so fast, I'm having trouble breathing. How dare he speak to me like that?

"He's very real, but he's no prince. And he'll be back any minute," I know I sound stupid, but I don't care. "And he loves me for who I am. The way you never did."

Henry stands and lunges toward me so fast I freeze. He grabs my arms and pushes me against the counter, his hands digging into my flesh painfully.

"You actually slept with someone else just to get back at me? You whore." His spittle is hitting me in the face. I'm shaking now, or maybe he's shaking me, I can't even tell. I've never known him to be violent. I'm so scared my head is spinning and I can’t move.

"Whore? How dare you?" I ask, surprised at how steady my voice is.

He pulls me toward him, wraps his arms around me tightly. "You're mine. I'm not letting you go."

My breath catches in my throat painfully. Over Henry's shoulder, I lock eyes with Adam. He's standing at the kitchen window, staring back at me with eyes wide open, but so dead I want to cry.

Then he turns and disappears.

I fight against the hug Henry has me in, stomping on his instep which finally lets me escape his grip.

But I'm too late. Adam's gone, only the sound of his bike still echoing in the trees.

"You won't run from me," Henry says, and pulls me back into the house, a sharp pain piercing my ankle as I twist it again. "We're talking about this."

"No!" I beat him back and run to the bedroom, ignoring the pain in my ankle.

Everything went wrong, and now Adam hates me and I'll never see him again, and I just lost my one real chance at love, the kind that lasts forever, because I'm an idiot. Because I didn't tell him about Henry, while I selfishly made him tell me all his darkest secrets.

I slam the door shut and lock it before Henry reaches it. He slams his fists into it, making the whole room shake. But I'm shaking worse.

What have I done? Can I fix it?

If Adam's cold glare is anything to go by, I probably can't. I don't even know where he lives. And he could be halfway out of town by now, like he's always saying he'll do. Running away. From me this time. And I'll never get him back.

"Open the door, Taylor!" Henry's yell rattles through me.

"Go home! I don't want you here. I'm calling the cops!" I scream back.

"The cops? You crazy woman," he says, but at least he stops banging on the door. "No, I'm staying right here, and you will hear me out."

I'm still shaking, sobs racking through me. Henry's talking, but I can't understand much of what he's saying. He never noticed how I spaced out during his many and long monologues, and he doesn't notice it now. He's not asking me any questions, just telling me how it will be.

That we belong together. That we'll go back to the city tomorrow, rent that apartment, start a family like we planned. How we both got to act out one last time before finally settling down. Because that's the only thing that makes sense for both of us.

It makes no sense to me. None whatsoever.

But by the time his voice is all dry and hoarse from talking, I'm calm too. I will find Adam, whatever it takes. And he will still love me. The universe demands it, there can be no other way. I'll make him see this was just a misunderstanding. And once it's cleared up, we'll be together forever.

* * *

Adam

Shit. I should've known. Everything I start in this fucking town turns to shit. No two ways about it. What the fuck was I even thinking? Girls lie. Everyone knows that. She's been sitting on the fence this whole time, and I'm the one that fell flat on his face. Some fucking justice. And I told her everything, more than I ever told anyone. Let myself fall for her. Open up. Even though I knew it wouldn't end well.

Hell, I knew telling her would end it. Of course she ran straight to her boyfriend after hearing about my nasty secret. But I did it anyway. Like the idiot that I am.

Nausea is washing over me in waves at the thought of never seeing Taylor again. Going my whole life, or the rest of it, however long that'll be, without touching her.

I'm working on ending it sooner rather than later right now. Doing well over 150 on the highway, destination not quite clear. Washington, I guess. Join up again, if I can.

But instead of fleeing, the nausea keeps intensifying, blurring my vision. It gets so bad I have to stop, because the pull to go back is so strong it actually feels like a thick rope wrapped around my stomach, growing tighter with each mile I travel.

I can't even run away from her. And I could always run. It's the one thing I'm really good at, the perfect solution to each and every one of my problems.

All I see when I close my eyes is Taylor hugging her boyfriend. My whole chest aches like I just took a bullet.

Run, my mind was screaming. And I did. But it feels so wrong. Like the most wrong thing I've ever done.

I can't leave. Not without seeing her once more, telling her I love her again, even if it’s for the last time. I'll never be alright, if I don't. I know that like I'm looking out all the way to the end. The real one, when all choices are spent and there’s no more running. She has to tell me to leave, else I'll never be able to, not really.

The nausea disappears once I make that decision, and turn around, head back home. And I know that's because I think Taylor won't tell me to leave, but I don't dwell on that hope. One step at a time. And right now, it's going back. Right now, that step is not running away from this.