Until Alex - J. Nathan Page 0,68

me.”

I understood her frustration. I’d been in the same situation with Hayden. He didn’t tell me anything. It was a huge mistake to believe any relationship could work that way. People actually needed to open up. Talk. Share.

“I’m just sad,” I whispered.

My aunt leaned down and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, honey, of course you are. It’s to be expected.”

“I feel so alone.” The flood gates opened and nothing could be done to stop them. “I miss them so much. I try not to think about them because then it doesn’t hurt as bad. But then I feel guilty for not thinking about them. Then there’re my friends. Who aren’t even my friends anymore. I’m not sure they ever really were. But I miss…having friends.” I couldn’t continue. The tears were too much. The hurt too great.

My aunt could have said something to console the blubbering mess beside her, but she didn’t. She sat there, comforting me with her gentle touch as I sobbed in her arms. She understood I just needed her presence. Because nothing she said would take away the pain. Nothing she did would bring my parents home.

My sniffles were the only sounds in the room for a long time.

Maybe the distance between my aunt and me was all my fault. I’d made conversations difficult, sticking solely to the superficial. I hadn’t confided in her. I hadn’t asked her for help when clearly I needed it.

I wiped away the tears lingering on my cheeks. “Why’d you and my mom stop talking?”

Her sharp intake of breath told me I caught her off guard. “Why do you think?”

“I have no idea. She never said.”

Her lips twisted in contemplation as she sat up, settling into the spot beside me. “Your dad.”

“He wouldn’t let her talk to you?”

She shook her head. “No, no. Nothing like that. Your dad and I had…well, we had history.”

“You dated?”

She nodded. “For almost two years.”

My head recoiled. “I didn’t know that.”

“Of course you didn’t. It was a long time ago.”

“How’d he end up with my mom?”

Her eyes shot away, clearly averting my inquisitive eyes. “Oh, sweetie. No use drudging up the past.”

“Please, Katherine. I need to know.” Whining hadn’t been my intention, but in that moment I needed to understand. Katherine had shown me nothing but kindness. Why had my parents kept her out of my life?

She took in as much air as humanly possible before expelling it. “He cheated on me with your mother. Nine months later you were born.”

My eyes widened on a gasp. “Oh my God.”

She nodded. “My exact reaction.”

“But they always seemed so in love?”

“Oh, sweetie. They were in love. You just sealed the deal for them.” She closed her eyes for a long moment, the memory visibly paining her. “I wasn’t stupid. I saw the way he looked at her when he’d come to our house. And I saw the way she looked at him. The way she loved his attention. I was the one stopping them from being together. But I loved him so much. I needed him to let me go. Because I would’ve held on to him forever.” She forced a sad smile. “But, had they never gotten together, there wouldn’t be you.”

“You didn’t want anything to do with them after that?”

An insincere laugh left her. “Oh, it took me some time. That’s for sure. But when I tried to reach out—forgive me for saying this—your mother didn’t want to reconcile. Mutual friends claimed she felt threatened. So I kept my distance. Only making contact with you, or at least trying to. You were the innocent party in our tangled mess.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you. No one should be deceived like that.”

“We were all so young.” She shrugged. “You do stupid things when you’re young.” She sounded so nonchalant, but her pain was real. And for over twenty years, it lingered.

“Doesn’t make it right, though.” I turned to her, hoping she saw the sincerity in my eyes. “I’m sorry I’m here. I must be a terrible reminder. I must be making your life—”

“Stop,” she cut me off. “Having you here is the most excitement I’ve had in years,” she laughed.

“Well then you missed a boatload last night while you were out,” I mumbled.

Katherine’s head whipped around, her eyes searching her apartment for signs of damage.

I tightened the blanket around me. “I didn’t throw a party.” Who would I have invited? Sophia went to the formal. “Hayden asked me to a dance.”

Her head pulled back. “Hayden?