Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Darryl
I pulled into my parents’ driveway, the car engine ticking as it cooled, the night settling dark around us after leaving Ashley’s wake.
Her breakdown over Carol’s video had gutted me, her sobs still ringing in my ears, and I’d left her with Riva, her face buried in her friend’s shoulder as I’d walked off with Mom and Dad.
Ashley had asked me to explain everything to them, somewhere away from the crowd, and I’d nodded, needing to lay it all out, get it straight after the mess of the day.
The porch light flickered on as I stepped out, Mom and Dad climbing out behind me, their steps quiet, their faces tight with the weight of what we’d just been through.
“Come inside,” Mom said, unlocking the door, her voice low as she held it open, Dad following with a grunt, his hands shoved in his pockets.
“Yeah,” I said, stepping into the familiar warmth of the house, the smell of wood polish and coffee hitting me as I kicked off my shoes, heading to the living room.
The couch still had Jen’s old blankets piled on it, Dad’s armchair waiting, and I dropped into it, rubbing my neck, waiting as they settled in, Mom on the couch, Dad leaning against the wall, arms crossed, both watching me closely.
“Alright,” Dad said, breaking the silence, his voice rough but steady. “Spill it, Darryl. Ashley said the wedding’s off, that it was fake. What’s going on?”
“Yeah,” I said, leaning forward, elbows on my knees, hands clasped tight. “It’s a long story. Started with her ex at the mall, a while back, maybe a month ago.”
“Her ex?” Mom said, sitting up, her brows lifting. “Who’s that?”
“Guy named Troy,” I said, nodding slowly, running a hand through my hair. “Didn’t know him before then. Ran into him shopping one day, he was with some new girl, bragging about being engaged, throwing it in Ashley’s face. She grabbed me, acted like I was her boyfriend, kissed me to shut him up.”
“Kissed you?” Dad said, his frown deepening, shifting his weight. “Just like that?”
“Yeah,” I said, shrugging a bit, keeping it simple. “Caught me off guard, but I played along, made it look real, sent him packing. That’s where it kicked off.”
“Okay,” Mom said, folding her hands in her lap, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So that’s how this whole thing started? With some guy?”
“Pretty much,” I said, leaning back a bit, my hands resting loose. “She was pissed at him, wanted to one-up him. Worked, too. Then it shifted.”
“Shifted how?” Dad said, his voice gruff, crossing his arms tighter. “What’s that got to do with us?”
“Got complicated,” I said, my throat tightening a bit as I looked at them. “After that, you kept pushing dates on me, Mom. Lisa from church, Sarah from the bakery, all those setups.”
“Pushing?” Mom said, her brows lifting higher, a small frown tugging at her lips. “I just wanted you settled.”
“I know,” I said, nodding quickly, keeping my tone even. “But I didn’t want them. Ashley was around, we were flying together a lot, and I figured I’d use her to stop it. Told you she was my girlfriend, made it look good.”
“So you dragged her into that?” Dad said, stepping closer, his voice low. “To dodge your mom?”
“Yeah,” I said, meeting his eyes, then Mom’s. “Started as a favor to her, then a shield for me. Worked both ways. You backed off, and she got back at her ex. Wasn’t serious at first.”
“At first,” Mom said, leaning forward now, her hands clasped tight. “What changed?”
“The hospital,” I said, my voice steadying, the memory sharp. “Carol, her mom, was dying. Cancer had maybe three months left. Ashley wanted her to see her happy, settled before she went. Carol kept talking about a wedding, wanting her in a dress. So we took it further.”
“Further?” Dad said, uncrossing his arms, his frown softening a bit. “The wedding?”
“Yep,” I said, rubbing my hands together, nodding slowly. “Made it a fake wedding. Planned it quick, backyard thing, told you it was real. Wanted Carol to have that before she passed.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Mom said, her voice soft but pointed, sitting back a bit. “We were all in on it, Darryl. The whole family bought it.”
“Didn’t want to mess it up,” I said, shrugging, my hands spreading slightly. “Ashley needed it to work for Carol. Figured we’d sort it out after, call it off quietly, say we split. Didn’t think she’d go so soon.”
“So soon,” Mom said, her voice softening, nodding slowly. “That’s why today was such a shock for her.”
“Yeah,” I said, swallowing hard, the image of Ashley sobbing in my arms flashing clear. “Found her on the couch last night, gone in her sleep. Hit her hard, real hard.”
“Poor thing,” Dad said, his tone gruff but gentle, leaning against the wall again. “Explains a lot. But this fake stuff, how’d you keep it going?”
“Just did,” I said, leaning back in the chair, my hands dropping to my lap. “Acted close at work, took her to see Carol, played it up. Got easy, felt normal after a while. Vegas was part of it, made it look good.”
“Vegas,” Mom said, squinting at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. “That trip was fake, too?”
“Started that way,” I said, my throat tightening again, looking at her, then Dad. “Not anymore. That’s where it’s different.”
“Different how?” Dad said, his brows lifting, stepping closer. “What about the love part? That fake too?”
“No,” I said, my voice firming up, looking straight at him, then Mom. “That’s not fake. I love her.”
“Love her?” Mom said, her eyes widening, leaning forward again. “For real? Not just part of this act?”
“For real,” I said, nodding quickly, my chest tight but sure. “Didn’t plan it, didn’t see it coming. Started as a favor, then a dodge, but it’s more now. I love her, have been falling for her a while.”
“Wow,” Dad said, uncrossing his arms, his voice softening a bit. “That’s big, Darryl. Does she know?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head, my hands clasping tight again. “Haven’t told her. Don’t know what to do next.”
“Why not?” Mom said, tilting her head, her voice gentle. “If you love her, tell her.”
“Can’t,” I said, my voice dropping, looking down at my hands, then up at them. “She’s too broken right now. Carol just died; she’s a wreck, barely holding on. I can’t dump this on her, not when she’s like this.”
“Fair,” Dad said, nodding slowly, leaning back against the wall. “She’s hurting. Needs time.”
“Yeah,” I said, rubbing my neck, the tension sitting heavy. “And I don’t even know if she feels the same. Could be just me, this love thing. She’s been playing it too, might be better at it than I thought.”
“Better at it,” Mom said, a small smile tugging at her lips, leaning back a bit. “She’s all over you, Darryl. Doesn’t seem fake to me.”
“Maybe,” I said, shrugging, my throat tight. “Hope so. But I can’t tell. She’s numb, shut down since last night. Don’t want to push her, make it worse.”
“Smart,” Dad said, stepping over to sit on the couch beside Mom, elbows on his knees. “Give her space. She’s got to breathe.”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding, leaning back in the chair, my hands resting loose now. “Just don’t know what’s next. Weddings’ off, obviously, but me and her, I’m lost on where we go.”
“You love her,” Mom said, standing, stepping over to sit on the couch arm beside me, her hand on my shoulder. “That’s a start. What do you want?”
“Her,” I said, quick and simple, looking at her, then Dad. “Want her, for real. But she’s too busted up to hear it now, and I don’t know if she’d even say yes.”
“She might,” Dad said, leaning forward, nodding at me. “She leans on you hard, Darryl. That’s not nothing.”
“Hope you’re right,” I said, managing a small grin, my chest still tight. “Guess I’ll wait, see what she does.”
“Yeah,” Mom said, squeezing my shoulder, her voice gentle. “She’s tough, that girl. She’ll figure it out.”
“Guess so,” I said, nodding slowly, the weight still there but lighter with them. “Feels weird, though. Went from faking it with her ex, to dodging your dates, to this wedding thing for Carol, and now she’s broken, and I’m stuck not knowing.”
“Not stuck,” Dad said, leaning back, stretching a bit. “You’re there for her. That’s what she needs now.”
“Yeah,” I said, taking a deep breath, my hands running through my hair again. “Been there since it happened, holding her up. Riva’s got her now, said she’d stay.”
“Good,” Mom said, standing to grab a glass of water from the kitchen, handing it to me. “She’s got people. You, too.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking the glass, sipping slow, the coolness settling me a bit. “Appreciate you guys not flipping out about the fake part.”
“Flipping out?” Dad said, chuckling softly, sitting back. “Surprised, sure, but we get it. For Carol, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding, setting the glass down, my voice steadying. “All for her. Worked too, made her happy. Just didn’t think it’d end like this.”
“Never do,” Mom said, her voice soft, sitting back down beside Dad. “Life’s messy. You did well by her.”
“Hope so,” I said, my throat tightening again, thinking of Ashley’s tears, her clinging to me, then Riva. “Just want to do good by Ashley now, whatever that means.”
“You will,” Dad said, smiling small, reaching over to pat my knee. “You’re solid, Darryl. She’ll see it.”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding slowly, managing a grin back, the tension easing a bit with them. “Guess we’ll see.”
“Guess so,” Mom said, leaning back, her hands folding in her lap. “Beer?”
“Sure,” I said, taking one as Dad handed it over, cracking it open, the cold fizz cutting through the haze.
We sat there, sipping quiet, the house settling around us, Mom asking about Vegas, me telling them about the fountain, keeping it light, but Ashley’s face stayed in my head, broken and numb, my love for her real and stuck, waiting for her to catch up, if she ever would.