“What in the actual fuck is going on?” she questions, raising off the couch, stepping closer to us, hands on her hips.
“Oh, uh…” Elias fumbles over his words, clearly panicking.
“I just stopped by really quick to—”
“To what, Zeke?” Eyes narrowed on me, she crosses her arms over her chest. “Pray tell, what could you possibly be here for at nine in the morning with no shirt on and hair that looks like you just rolled out of bed?”
My gaze darts to Elias, all color drained from his face. He looks like he’s seen a ghost. I try to talk, but I can’t think of a single thing to say to make this any better. Not only that, but my mouth is drier than hell, my tongue feeling three sizes too big for my mouth.
“You know,” Katie continues, when neither of us offers up anything for her. “When I got home this morning, I thought it’d be fun to hit up the Saturday morning brunch with you.” She looks at Elias. “And imagine my surprise when I walk into your room to find yourstepdadasleep in the bed with you.Naked!”She glances at me. “Because I totally wanted to start my day seeingyourflaccid dick.”
Jesus Christ, this is bad.“I think I’ll go,” I mutter, pointing toward the door.
“Yeah, I think you’d better,” Katie blurts out as Elias groans, dragging a hand down his face.
***
Elias Carnell
This cannot be fucking happening.
If the ground opened up into one of those massive sinkholes right now and swallowed up this house, I wouldn’t be upset. In fact, I’d welcome it.
Zeke jogged upstairs a minute ago to grab his things while Katie stormed into the kitchen. The energy in the house is uncomfortably tense, and I don’t know what to do or how to fix this.
This is bad.
Really fucking bad.
Nuclear bomb exploding in our face bad.
Footsteps behind me have me turning, seeing Zeke in his weird slipper shoes, pajama pants, and no fucking shirt. Seriously, why would he leave the house with no shirt?
Rubbing the back of my neck, I say, “I’d offer you a jacket or something, but…”
“It’s fine. I’ll talk to you later and we can figure this out.”
I nod. “Yup.”
I’m still trying desperately to cling to the bliss I felt this morning, waking up beside Zeke. Trying to hold on to the feeling of having him so wholly in my space, saying all the right things. It’s futile. There’s no“figuring this out,”our situation still stands. He’s still married to my mom, regardless of how he found comfort inmeand notherin his time of need last night. Last night doesn’t change that.
The door clicks softly as it shuts. With him gone, I drag in a deep breath, preparing to face whatever is waiting for me in the kitchen.
Katie is standing at the island, her phone in hand. She looks up as I walk in, setting her phone down. “I don’t even know what to say to you,” she breathes out.
The lump of shame in my throat makes it hard for me to speak. Clearing my throat, I tell her honestly, “I’m sorry this was how you found out.”
“Uh, yeah,” she quips. “When you told me about the married guy you were talking to, you seemed to have left out the part where he’s married to your fucking mother!”
I wince at the tone she takes. It isn’t one that’s ever been directed at me before, and I can’t say I love it.
But I also can’t say I don’t deserve it.
“How could you do this to your mom, E?” The way she looks at me with disappointment in her questioning eyes makes me want to throw up.
“It is more complicated than you think.” It’s about the most honest answer I can give her right now.
Huffing a laugh, she repeats under her breath, “It’s more complicated.” Katie runs her fingers through her hair; something I know she does when she’s pissed off. “How long has this been going on, Elias?”
