49. Chelsi
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
chelsi
My brain is on autopilot as I make the forty-minute drive to Kate’s house while tears pour down my face. It’s impossible to stop crying or breathe normally. Everything fucking hurts.
When I pull up to the gate, I punch in the code on the keypad, grateful to see it still works even though I don’t live here anymore. It’s barely been two months since I moved, thinking my life was headed in the right direction, yet here I am—completely heartbroken.
After stumbling out of my car, I slowly walk up the steps and ring the doorbell, praying someone is home. Although I could easily let myself in, I don’t want to shock anyone with my sudden arrival. I’m already going to disrupt whatever they had planned with the shitshow that has become my life.
The shitshow that is apparently always going to be my life.
The door opens. Kate stands in the entryway with a look of confusion and concern on her face. “Chelsi, what’s wrong?”
I try to get the words out, but none will come. All I can do is crumble to the ground and let the sobs consume me.
“Jake! Hurry quick! There’s something wrong with Chelsi,” Kate shouts, quickly coming to my side and wrapping her arms around me. “What happened?”
An uncontrollable wail comes out of me as my entire body shakes. My ability to communicate is gone—only pain remains. The type of anguish that destroys your soul. Makes you wish you were never born. Causes you to question how someone you loved could hurt you like this. How he could do this to me.
After everything we meant to each other. All the promises he made.
It was all a lie.
Nestled on the couch in Kate’s living room under a pile of blankets, my breathing eventually returns to normal, and the tears slow down. I don’t remember much of the last twenty minutes, but at some point, Jake picked me up and carried me inside.
“Ready to talk about it yet?” Kate asks softly, sitting next to me and holding my hand. Jake’s across from us on one of the oversized chairs, his jaw clenched so tight he might crack a tooth. “Did you and Alex have a fight?”
I shake my head.
“Did something happen to your parents?” A look of alarm crosses Kate’s face, followed by Jake’s.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re remembering the accident that happened almost two years ago, when Jake’s mom died and Kate’s mom was seriously injured.
It was a horrific time for both of them, but also what led to them reconnecting and falling in love.
“My parents are fine,” I croak, attempting to exhale deeply and wincing. “It’s… Alex lied to me.”
“What?” Jake’s brow furrows as he leans forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees. “That doesn’t sound like him. He has the most integrity out of anyone I know.”
Kate glances at Jake with a look that’s hard to read. “Yeah. That does seem odd. What did he lie about?”
“He’s… he’s married.”
“What. The. Fuck,” Jake roars, standing up and starting to pace in the living room. “What do you mean he’s married? The man hasn’t dated anyone since I’ve known him.”
“Probably because he’s married,” I murmur, pulling the fuzzy blanket higher to hide part of my face. “Apparently, I’m still a magnet for walking red flags.”
“Oh, Chelsi.” Kate leans her head against mine. “None of us saw this coming. Jake’s known him for a decade and had no idea. We never would’ve suggested you date him if we thought…”
“That I’d end up being his mistress. That’s what I am, right?” I cover my face with my hands, and the tears fall faster. “I’m in love with a married man. What am I going to do? Where am I going to live? How did this happen?”
“Are you sure there wasn’t some kind of misunderstanding? I don’t know how Alex could hide a wife from everyone for so long,” Kate says calmly, rubbing my arm softly.
I shake my head, meeting her gaze. “Her name is Claire. I spoke to her on the phone when she asked me to give Alex a message to call his wife.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him.” Jake balls his fists as he paces. “I warned him about the consequences of hurting you. He knows you’re family.”
“Let’s all take a breath for a minute. You said her name was Claire, right?” Kate asks calmly.
“Yes. That’s what she told me. Apparently, she’s been calling him, but he isn’t returning her messages.”
“Isn’t Claire his old girlfriend from high school?” Kate cocks her head in Jake’s direction. “The one who was in the foster care system with him.”
Jake stops moving and drags a hand down his face. “I think so. But honestly, everything is jumbled up right now. I don’t know whether I can believe anything Alex has said at this point. Not after this.”
“Me neither,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around my legs and pulling them to my chest. “I thought he was my soulmate. We were supposed to be together forever. That’s what he promised. Why was I so stupid?” The pain overwhelms me once again as my tears morph into full-on sobbing.
“I’m so sorry, Chelsi,” Kate murmurs, gently rubbing my arm. “I’m so very sorry.”
My cries are broken momentarily by the incessant ringing of the doorbell, pounding on the front door, and the muffled voice of a man.
He’s here.
My stomach drops, making me want to throw up. Confronting him is not something I can handle today. Maybe not ever. He’s broken me in a way I didn’t think was possible. Ripped my heart out. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.
Jake glares at the entryway. “What do you want me to do about him?”
Kate sighs, shifting her attention from me to her husband.
“Answer the door and find out what he wants. See whether he’ll tell you what the hell is going on.
How he could lie about being married for so long to you and then to Chelsi.
” She shakes her head as her eyes become glazed over.
“He broke our trust. He needs to atone for it, Jake.”
Jake nods and walks toward the front door. There’s enough space between the living room and entryway to make it impossible for Alex to see me, but close enough that I should be able to hear the majority of their conversation.
Not that I want to hear his voice. The sound of it might break me further, if that’s even possible.
“I need to talk to her, Jake. Please let me inside,” Alex begs.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re lucky I didn’t punch you the second I saw you,” Jake yells.
“Maybe you should. I’d deserve it for how much I know she’s hurting. It’s killing me to know I caused her any pain. That’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.” Alex’s voice is strained, almost broken.
Is he hurting like I am? Does his heart feel like it’s been shattered into a million pieces, beyond repair?
Jake scoffs. “Seriously. You didn’t want to cause her any pain. Then, perhaps you shouldn’t have bothered dating her, making her fall in love with you, or asking her to move in when you’re fucking married. How could you do this to her? How could you lie to me?”
“I’m sorry. It’s not what it seems,” Alex croaks. “Please, let me explain.”
“I don’t know who you are anymore, Alex.
I don’t know how we can work together after this breach of trust.” Jake pauses.
“I let you into my inner circle. Practically invited you into my family when I set the two of you up. You know how much Chelsi means to Kate and me. You broke my little sister’s heart. I don’t know how we can get past that.”
A broken sob comes out of Alex. “Fire me if you want. I don’t care about the job. I only care about her. Please, let me talk to her.”
“No,” Jake answers sternly.
Kate takes my hand, holding it tightly as we listen to the conversation, both holding our breath because we’re not sure what will happen next.
“There was a time when you were in my shoes. A couple of years ago, when you were standing outside Kate’s door, begging Chelsi to let you talk to Kate. I know how much walking away destroyed you. How devastated you were for months.”
Kate gasps, covering her mouth with her hand.
My mind flashes back to the scene Alex described, two years ago.
Standing in my condo in Chicago, while my best friend sobbed in her bedroom, and Jake pleaded with me for a chance to talk to her.
To fix what happened between them. Their situation was different.
There weren’t any lies or poor choices. It was only bad timing.
Kate needed to learn how to stand on her own two feet.
She chose herself even when it broke her own heart, along with Jake’s.
Thankfully, their love story didn’t end there; it was merely a blip in their journey to happily ever after.
“You’re playing dirty by bringing up what happened between us. This situation is different, and you know it,” Jake fumes.
“All I’m asking for is a chance. Hear me out yourself. If you don’t think what I have to say is worth telling Chelsi, I’ll leave and hand in my resignation in the morning. Just one chance to explain. Please, Jake.”
There’s a minute of silence. I’m waiting on bated breath to hear how Jake will respond.
Part of me wants him to kick Alex’s ass to the curb.
The other part of me is desperate to listen to his explanation.
Needing to know what possessed him to lead me on for so long.
To make promises he never intended to keep.
“Fine. You have five minutes,” Jake replies.
The door slams shut, and Kate and I are left in the living room to wait it out.