Only One Forever (Only One 8)

“She left,” she says, and I look at her, not sure I heard her right.

“Is she with her parents?” I ask and take a step toward the door and stop when Julia says the next sentence.

“She got on a plane last night,” she replies. I slowly turn and look at her, my heart sinking to my feet, making it so heavy I can’t move from this spot. “She made up an excuse that there was an emergency with the rink.”

“She left alone?” I ask, shocked that she would do this.

“She refused to draw any attention to her,” Julia says. “Michael didn’t even know until this morning. He thought she was in bed sleeping.”

I pull my phone out of my pocket and call her number, not surprised it goes straight to voice mail. “I told her it was a bad idea.”

“You think?” I say, and she just glares at me. “You let her leave in the middle of the fucking night alone.”

“Hey,” she snaps at me. “I’m not the one who fucked up here. Why didn’t you come after her?”

“Because she wouldn’t have listened to me!” I shout back at her. “I was waiting for her to calm down.”

“Well, she was pretty calm when she left,” Julia says. “Calm or numb.”

I shake my head. “Did she land yet?” Julia just shakes her head. “Can you tell me when she gets home all right?”

“I will,” she says, and I put the phone back into my pocket as I turn and walk out of the villa. I walk down the path going to the only place I know that I can be me. I knock on the door, my heart is beating so hard in my chest I feel like I can’t even breathe. I put my hands on my knees as I try to calm down. The door swings open, and he stands there, his face going from a smile to white as he takes me in.

“Dylan?” my father says. “What happened?”

I shake my head; not sure I can talk when he comes to me and walks me into the house. “Let’s get you some water.” He puts his arm around my shoulder as he walks me into the villa. He sets me on the couch and rushes over to the fridge, grabbing a water bottle. He comes over to me, and I sit here with my head in my hands. “Here,” he says, handing me the water bottle and sitting in front of me on the coffee table.

My hand shakes as I reach out and grab the bottle, bringing it to my lips. The cold liquid hits my tongue as I look at my father. The worry is written all over his face, and he gives me a chance to find my bearings. He leans forward, putting his hand on my shoulder squeezing it. “Thank you.” My voice comes out in almost a whisper as I look at the water bottle in my hand.

“What happened?” he asks, and I shake my head.

“I don’t even know where to start,” I say honestly, my voice cracking as my heart feels like it’s going to come out of my chest. “I don’t know what to say.” I look at him with tears in my eyes. “I don’t know.”

“Hey,” he says now, his own tears forming in his eyes. This man who saved me from my private hell and took me into his life and loved me like I was his own. I took it all, and I’m going to ruin it by admitting this to him. But I can’t live like this anymore, especially now that I know she loves me.

“I’m so sorry,” I start by saying, the tears just pouring out of me.

“Dylan, whatever it is,” he assures me, squeezing my shoulder. “We will get through it.”

“I really fucking hope so,” I say, wiping my eyes. “Because what I’m about to tell you could change everything.”

“You’re my son,” he says, choking on the words. “Nothing, and I mean nothing, will change that, ever.”

I take a deep breath in and look at him, straight in his eyes when I say the next words. “I’m in love with Alex.” My father just looks at me, his eyes blinking—once, twice, three times. I wait for him to say something, and all he does is look at me.

“I’m sorry?” is all he says as he watches me, blinking.

“I’m in love with Alex,” I say it again, and this time when I say it, my chest is less heavy. The pain is less constricting than the last time.

“Alex?” he asks, sitting up as he looks at me, and all I can do is nod my head. “Like Alex Alex?”

“Dad,” I say, and I get up because I can’t sit still anymore. “Alex Alex.”

“But when?” he asks, and I shrug.