25. Fessing Up
Chapter twenty-five
'Fessing Up
Sal
A lbany bursts into Sweet Alchemy as the last student is leaving. Her eyes are swollen and puffy. Her hair is a mess, broken blades of grass and clumps of mud strewn throughout dripping strands. She's wearing a dry sweatshirt, but her skirt is a sodden mess. Her feet are bare. She stumbles in and heads straight to the back. I follow her, and she falls into my arms, shuddering. I hold her and stroke her dirty hair, patiently waiting until she is ready to speak.
The sight of her in such a state sends a wave of concern and anger through me. What happened to her? Who hurt her? The questions swirl in my mind, but I keep them to myself, knowing that she needs comfort more than an interrogation right now. I can feel her body trembling against mine, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she clings to me tightly. I continue to stroke her hair gently, murmuring soft words of comfort, trying to soothe her.
As I hold her, I can't help but notice the marks on her neck, angry red patches that stand out against her pale skin. My anger grows, a fierce protective instinct rising within me. Whoever did this to her will pay. I will make sure of it. But for now, I focus on being there for her, providing the comfort and support she needs.
Albany's shudders slowly subside, her breath evening out as she begins to calm down. I can feel the tension in her body easing, her grip on me loosening slightly. She takes a deep breath, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. The pain and fear in her gaze cut deep, and I can't help but pull her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
"I'm here for you, Albany," I whisper, my voice steady and reassuring. "You're safe with me. Take your time, and when you're ready, you can tell me what happened."
She nods slightly, her eyes filling with tears once more. I continue to hold her, my arms wrapped tightly around her, providing a safe haven for her to find her strength. Whatever happened, whatever she needs, I will be here for her. That is a promise I make to myself and to her.
The minutes tick by, and I can feel the weight of her emotions slowly lifting. She takes another deep breath, her eyes focusing on mine once more. I can see the determination in her gaze, the strength that I have come to admire in her. She is ready to speak, ready to share what happened. And I am ready to listen, ready to be the support she needs.
"Sal," she begins, her voice soft and trembling. "I...I need to tell you something."
I nod, my gaze steady and encouraging. "I'm right here, little dove. Take your time."
She takes a deep breath, her fingers clutching at my shirt as she begins to speak, but she only opens and closes her mouth helplessly. Gently I unwind her fingers from my shirt, stepping away to make a quick detour into a closet. Swallowing hard, I come back out with a small stack of clothing and towels and go to work. Wordlessly, I strip her down, dry her off, then dress her in black pants and a chef coat. Then I lean against the counter and take her into my arms. Rubbing her back in soothing circles, she nuzzles into my chest, resting her ear against my heart. Swallowing hard, her throat tight, she begins her confession. "I went to visit Jake today. Like I do every year on this day."
My heart rate slows as my panic abates. I take a second to breathe, knowing she’s about to raise it again. As she continues speaking, telling me about placing the basketballs and sitting behind Jake's memorial, my body stiffens with realization.
She clutches me tighter as I stiffen. "Haze showed up," she whispers. My fingers clench, digging into her back before I force myself to loosen my grip. Gently, I push her back two steps, then lift her up on the island. She immediately parts her legs so I can step between them. She tries to snuggle back up into my arms, but I take her face into my hands.
"Did he hurt you?" I demand, my voice tight with barely contained fury.
She shakes her head. "No, not like that. When he first saw me, he was furious. But then...then he recognized me. Not as Anise Twist, but as Jake's Albany. His son's girlfriend."
My jaw clenches. Poor guy. On the inside, I’m aching for Haze, even though I want to knock his lights out. "What happened?" I ask, dreading her answer. The marks on her are unmistakable. I know what’s coming.
She swallows hard, pressing her lips together tightly to keep in a sob. Shaking her head, she lays a hand on my chest, so I step back and give her some space to think, working desperately to unfreeze the dread frozen on my face. I almost put a halt to the conversation. She knows I know. Her eyes well. Tears overflow, running down her cheeks like streams of lava. And then she hangs her head. "Sal, if you never want to see me again, I'll understand. But I need you to understand." I close my eyes just enough for a cleansing breath and fill my lungs, breathing in mud and sex, unable to avoid the evidence. "We had sex. Haze and I." My eyes skate across her face as she closes hers. My heart breaks as I watch her replay memories in her mind. Even though there is nothing I want more than for Haze and Albany to come together, this feels like raw betrayal. She sobs, then continues confessing. "It was angry. Raw. Primal. He fucked me like he hates me, Sal, but it was consensual. I won't lie and tell you I didn't want it. Just like I didn't lie to him when he asked."
She picks up my hand and laces her fingers through mine, but I don’t grip hers back. "I wanted him, Sal, because you made me want him. I can feel how much you long for him. It practically radiates out of you." My eyes rove over her face, examining her closely for the first hint of a lie. She sighs in frustration before trying again. “I'm not getting my point all the way across. I want him, Sal, because I think I've fallen in love with you. He’s part of you." She shrugs, lifting her palms, then letting them fall to slap her thighs. "I want the people I love to be happy. If that means getting to know Haze, I'm all in. For you and for what the three of us could be." She rubs a finger under each eye and then wipes her sleeve under her nose. “I can admit that what happened today was probably not the right way to go about things. I visit Jake’s grave every year on this day, and I’ve never run into him once. Maybe today was kismet.”
Fuck. She’s right. And what I’m feeling… I’m not mad. I’m just jealous as fuck. Literally green with envy. "What?" she asks. My eyebrows lift in fake outrage as I nod at her arm.
"You snotted on a chef's coat. It's yours now. You bought it. With hot, drippy snot."
A wobbly laugh shakes loose at the joke. I step back into her and hug her, slinging one arm around her neck and one around her waist. When I exhale, my body sinks into her, melding us together. "I think I’m in love with you, too,” I admit. “Since the moment I saw you giggling over your double boiler."
We rock together until her breathing calms and the dread of confessing her sins evaporates. Eventually, I unwind my arms and step back. "Little dove, tell me how Haze hurt you."
She bites her lower lip as she considers what to say. "How he left afterwards. He just...walked away. Left me there…like a piece of trash." Her voice cracks. "And now I feel like I've betrayed you."
Running a hand through my hair, I think hard about what I say next. A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. And then my face turns grim. What I say next could make or break us. The words need to be right.
"I don't feel like you cheated. At all. A confrontation was bound to happen between the two of you eventually, especially once Haze figured out who you were. The fact that it turned sexual… I think I'm more upset I missed it." I chuckle, and the jealous burn eating away at my inside begins to recede, as if my own confession has stolen its power. "He's got to be feeling stupid as hell right now." I pick up a piece of her hair. "He must really be suppressing a lot of memories if this didn't trigger exactly who you are the first time he saw you."
I drop a kiss on her forehead, and then gently press mine to hers. When she speaks, her sweet, warm breath curls between us. "It's going to be okay, Sal. However this pans out, all I want is your happiness." Tears start to well in her eyes again.
"Let's take it day by day. This is going to knock Haze for a loop. This is difficult for you to process, and you are by far the most emotionally advanced person out of the three of us.” She gives me a small smile at that. “It’ll be so rough for him that I might even forgo breaking his nose for hurting your feelings."
She shifts her weight, shivering. Even though she’s dry, she’s emotionally wrung out. It’s time for me to take her home. "That's enough for today. How does a nice soak in the tub and some Carbonara sound?"
"Pretty stinkin' perfect," she admits. "If you sit in the tub with me, and we cook it together."