Before It's Too Late (Troubled Hearts Book 3)

by Savannah Brooks

  “Anyway, you ready?” Zach asked.

  “I am, but are you?”

  Zach twisted his lips and gave a short nod.

  Cael reached across the console and clasped Zach’s hand on his thigh. “I love you.”

  Zach pressed his lips into a tight smile. “I love you too.”

  “Okay, let’s go, before we look suspicious.”

  ***

  The late afternoon sun shone through the back windows, lighting up the eat-in kitchen as Zach wandered in and dropped the diaper bag on one of the dining chairs. Cael followed with Taylor in his arms. The house seemed empty, but muffled voices echoed nearby. Zach approached the sliding back door, and through the glass, he saw his parents and grandparents sitting out on the back patio, talking.

  Zach took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped outside.

  All four heads turned, smiles on all of them, until Cael stepped out behind him. Two smiles faded, and the expression on his grandfather’s face hardened. Fuck, this was going to be a long visit.

  “Hey, we’re here,” Zach said. He skirted around the back of the patio chairs to each his grandparents. His grandfather stood and gave him a quick hug. “Hi, Abuelo.”

  “Zach.”

  Zach moved around to his grandmother and bent to give her a hug. “Hi, Abuela.”

  Zach grabbed the empty chair between her and his mom and took a seat, casting a cautious glance toward Cael. “You both remember my friend, Cael, don’t you?”

  Abuelo made an affirmative grunt.

  “Of course we remember him, mijo,” Abuela answered, the slight disapproval in her voice making Zach’s stomach turn.

  “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Rivas. It’s nice to see you again,” Cael said, a fake smile plastered on his face. “Taylor, can you say hi?”

  “Hi,” Taylor said, her high-pitched, sweet voice cutting through some of the tension.

  “Cael’s been helping Zach take care of Taylor,” Zach’s mom said.

  “Mom, don’t,” Zach muttered, covering his mouth.

  “Why?” Zach’s grandmother asked. “What happened to that pretty girl you were going to marry? Why isn’t she helping?”

  “Megan broke up with me, Abuela.”

  “Lita. Lita,” Taylor said, oblivious to the conversation.

  Cael set Taylor on her feet, and she ran to Amy. Alex scooped her up and set her in Amy’s lap, then stood, turning toward Cael. “Cael, can I get your help for a minute inside?”

  “You bet.”

  Zach watched discreetly as Cael followed his dad back into the house.

  “Good riddance,” his grandfather grumbled. “You really should find different friends, Zach.”

  Zach’s jaw tensed as he clenched his fists beneath the table. “Cael’s my best friend.”

  “I don’t like the idea of him being around my great-granddaughter.”

  “Cael adores Taylor, Alejandro,” Zach’s mom interjected. “And she adores him.”

  Zach pressed his lips together, giving him mom a frustrated but grateful smile.

  “Well, I don’t like it,” his grandfather spat.

  “I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but it’s not up to you,” Zach replied, forcing himself to keep calm.

  “What your grandfather is trying to say is, you’re never going to find yourself a nice, young lady if you spend all your time with Cael.”

  “I have other priorities right now, Abuela. I’m focused on taking care of Taylor and managing things for Abbey until she comes home. I don’t have time for dating.”

  Christ, the thought of actually having to date again left a sour taste in his mouth. He hated dating. Hated meeting new people, going out places. Thankfully, Zach didn’t have to worry about that ever again.

  Zach saw movement out of the corner of his eye and looked up, catching a glimpse of Cael and his dad through the sliding glass door with plates of food in their hands. Cael slid the door open for Alex and they both stepped out, Cael closing the door behind them.

  “Oh, mijo, there’s always time for dating. How else are you ever going to start a family?”

  “Food’s up,” Alex proclaimed. He and Cael set down several partitioned dishes loaded with carnitas, cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, and homemade refried beans on the large round teakwood table. “Be right back with plates and shells.”

  “Mom, would you like some more iced tea,” Cael asked, reaching toward her nearly empty glass.

  “Yes, thanks, honey,” she answered, smiling up at him as Cael picked up her glass.

  “Mrs. Rivas, anything I can get you?” Cael asked.

  “A Sprite please. Thank you.” Abuela’s answer was polite and direct, bordering on unfriendly, as if she were speaking to a waiter at some restaurant.

  “Mr. Rivas, would you like something to drink?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  Cael looked toward Zach, raising his brows. “Beer?”

  “Yeah.”

  Cael furrowed his brow. He did a sweeping glance around the table then mouthed the words, “You okay?”

  Zach’s eyes flickered toward his grandparents, making sure their attention was elsewhere, and gave a quick nod.

  “Alright, be right back then.”

  Cael disappeared inside just as Zach’s dad returned with plastic plates and taco shells, as promised. Zach took Taylor and strapped her into her highchair as his dad passed out plates. Everyone but Zach began filling their tacos, even his mom who appeared to be doing quite well today despite her MS. At least that was a positive to being here right now.

  “You let him call you Mom?” Abuelo scorned.

  Zach’s mom didn’t miss a beat as she spooned pico de gallo into her first taco. “He’s like an adopted son, so yes, I do.”

  “So you condone his lifestyle choice?”

  “It’s not a choice, Abuelo,” Zach deadpanned.

  Abuelo snorted derisively.

  “Alejandro,” Mom said. “No one chooses who they’re attracted to or who they fall in love with.”

  “It’s isn’t natural, if you ask me. And it’s disgusting, not to mention, a sin.”

  Fucking hell. His grandfather was going to hate him, and probably his parents, if he ever found out the truth.

  Zach looked up as the back door opened again. Cael stepped out with a glass of iced tea in one hand and a can of Sprite and a glass of ice in the other hand. Cael seemed to ignore the uncomfortable pause in the conversation as he set the drinks down and left, presumably for the beers.

  “Puto,” Abuelo muttered under his breath.

  “Fuck this,” Zach said, pushing away from the table and hopping to his feet.

  Four sets of eyes regarded him, radiating with emotion. Contempt blazed from his grandfather’s dark eyes. Shock painted his grandmother’s face. Concern all over his mom. But the most surprising was the anger burning in his dad’s eyes, and Zach worried he’d crossed a line that he’d never intended to cross.

  “Sorry, but I can’t sit here and take this any longer.” Zach wanted to put the truth right out in front of his grandparents. He didn’t care if they hated him, but he couldn’t do that to his dad. So instead, he walked away from the porch before he said something he might really regret.

  Zach headed for the gazebo in side yard, but his dad’s firm voice stopped him.

  “Zach, stop.”

  Zach halted and turned, making eye contact with his dad from about thirty feet away. His dad’s irritated gaze shifted to his grandfather.

  “Papá, you will not speak about Cael or anyone for that matter in that way in my house ever again.”

  The conversation paused once again as the door slid open and Cael joined them, three beers and a juice box in his hands.

  “Where’d Zach go?” Cael asked, using one finger to close the door behind him.

  Zach’s dad tipped his head in Zach’s direction, and Cael turned, immediate concern all over him. Cael turned his attention back
to Alex as he set the beers and juice down. Zach couldn’t see Cael’s face, but he could see his dad’s, whose eyes darted past Cael to Zach then back to Cael. His dad’s lips moved as he said something, too quiet for Zach to hear, but loud enough for the rest of the table because all eyes were suddenly fixed on Zach.

  Zach’s eyes widened as his insides clenched, but a huge part of him felt a sense of relief. He was damn certain his dad just outed him to his grandparents.

  “Zach and Cael are two amazing, successful, caring young men who love each other,” his dad said. “They’re engaged and going to get married, and you know something, Papá?” His dad paused and glanced at Zach, understanding in his eyes. “This evening aside, I have never seen Zach happier.”

  Zach pressed his lips into a grateful smile. His dad turned and looked at his mom, taking her hand. “Amy and I are proud of both of them, and we love them both. I will not have them hiding who they are nor will I have you belittling them because of your unwillingness to see past your prejudices to what is important.”

  Abuelo remained silent, glaring up at his own son, but Zach’s dad didn’t waver under Abuelo’s stern, judgmental gaze.

  “So, you can stay and accept that your grandson has fallen in love with another man, or you can leave.”

  “Fine.” Abuelo stood, his chair scraping the concrete.

  “Alejandro!” Abuela said, her voice rising as she spoke his name.

  “Let’s go. We’re leaving,” he growled.

  “No, we are not.”

  “Fine. You can stay for now. I’m going to bed. We’ll leave in the morning.” Zach’s grandfather said nothing else, and he went inside.

  Zach stared at Cael, wondering if he’d done something wrong in his life to deserve this. He’d fallen in love with his best friend and because of it, his grandfather wanted nothing to do with him or his family any longer. It’s not at all what he’d wanted to happen. He could have dealt with his grandfather wanting no part of his life, but he couldn’t handle being responsible for Abuelo disowning the rest of their family.

  Cael made his way to Zach, stopping in front of him. Taking one at a time, Cael clasped Zach’s hands, threading their fingers together. “Pook, stop. What happened just now isn’t your fault.”

  “Yeah, it fucking is.” Zach closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh. “We shouldn’t have come tonight.”

  “Your parents wanted us to come, and as worried as you were about us, I know you wanted to see your grandparents. You hadn’t seen them in years.”

  “Still.”

  “Pook, you told your dad you were hiding our relationship in order to keep the family together. Your dad made the decision to tell your grandparents because he knew how miserable this whole thing was making you. We all saw it. We should have done a better job of talking you out of it.”

  “I hated it. I fucking hated that I couldn’t touch you or kiss you or even look at you like you meant something to me. I didn’t even last ten fucking minutes listening to my grandfather’s bigoted comments about you.”

  Zach let his head tilt forward and closed his eyes. Less than a heartbeat passed before Cael pressed his forehead to Zach’s, pulling him closer.

  “Hey,” Cael whispered. “I love you.”

  Zach’s heart warmed. He lifted his head and pressed his lips to Cael’s in a tender, barely-there kiss. “I love you too.”

  Cael smiled. “Come on. Our secret’s out. There’s a table full of food over there and a fridge full of beer inside, and I know you’re starving. Let’s go eat.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  Hand in hand, Cael led Zach back to the patio table where only his mom and Taylor remained. Zach figured his grandmother had gone inside after his grandfather and perhaps his dad had followed.

  Cael and Zach sat down beside each other. Zach reached for one of the unopened Dos Equis and popped the top. He took a long pull of suds, willing the tension from his body as he sank back into the chair. Staring at the bottle as he held it with both hands, Zach swiped his thumb over the condensation that had formed.

  “Zach, honey, you okay?”

  Zach hesitated, blowing out a breath. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  He took another drink. As he stared at the food, debating on whether he was in the mood to eat or not, his stomach growled. Giving in, Zach set the bottle on the table, grabbed plate, and piled on a little bit of everything. He took a few taco shells and, breaking them into pieces, began eating as if they were loaded nachos.

  One bite settled Zach’s nerves. His dad’s tacos, with the carnitas and homemade pico de gallo, had always been one of his favorite meals growing up, and that hadn’t changed. The food tasted amazing and filled the hole in his stomach, even if it didn’t do anything about the one in his heart.

  “You know, your dad really is proud of you, Zach.”

  Zach paused and looked at his mom.

  “He’s so proud of who you are and the man you’ve become. He didn’t want you to hide any of it.” His mom pressed her lips into a tight smile. “That’s how much he loves you.”

  ***

  Zach slumped alone on the front porch swing, rocking slowly as the eastern sky darkened, the glow from the city lights drowning out all but a few bright stars. He’d left Cael inside with Taylor and his parents to get some fresh air, still shaken from what had happened earlier. Neither of his grandparents had come out of the guest room since disappearing during dinner, and Zach took that to mean they had no intention of speaking to him, probably ever again.

  At his parents’ request, Zach and Cael had stuck around instead of leaving after the whole incident. His dad had tried to convince his grandparents to come out and visit, but they didn’t. The very thing Zach had tried to avoid had happened anyway. His grandparents hated him, would probably leave tomorrow to drive home to Texas, and never speak to Zach or his parents again.

  The front door swung open and shut. Zach turned his head and looked up. His grandfather, short like Zach and still in good physical health for a man in his eighties, glared over at Zach with a look of utter disgust and disappointment.

  Zach looked away, fixing his gaze on the night sky.

  His grandfather grunted, turned around, and went back inside.

  For the first time all evening, tears stung Zach’s eyes. Having his grandfather silently disown him solely because of who he loved hurt more than he’d expected. He didn’t understand how anybody could do that, especially to family. Zach couldn’t imagine what he would have done if his parents had done the same.

  Zach reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring Cael had given him several days earlier. He slid it on his finger, breathing in deep. Cael was the best thing that had ever happened to him. No one in his life could compare to the man who’d been at his side for so long. Zach didn’t care anymore. He wasn’t going to hide the fact that he was in love with his best friend.

  Zach’s phone rang. His heart stopped when he saw Dr. Cruz’s name flash on the screen.

  He cleared his throat before answering. “This is Zach.”

  “Hi, Zach. It’s Dr. Cruz. I’m sorry to call so late.”

  “It’s fine, doctor. How’s Abbey?”

  “Why don’t you come down and ask her yourself? She’s awake.”

  Zach almost dropped the phone. Tears rolled down his cheeks. “She is?” He choked out the words.

  “Yes. She’s been awake for the last thirty minutes. We’ve been running tests. She seems to be comprehending the situation and talking. She’s asking for Taylor.”

  Zach cried, unable to find the words to respond. He sniffled, forcing himself to calm down. “I’ll be down there as soon as I can.”

  “We’ll see you shortly.”

  Zach palmed his phone and ran inside, forgetting the whole situation with his grandparents. Everyone was in the living room, gathered around the coffee table, even his grandmother who was sitting beside Cael, talking to him, with Taylor in her lap. For a moment, Zach wondered if h
is brain was playing tricks on him.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” his mom asked.

  Everyone looked at him. Cael jumped up and came toward him.

  “Abbey’s awake. She’s asking for Taylor.”

  Tears sprouted in everyone’s eyes as Cael reached Zach and wrapped him in a hug. Zach squeezed his arms around Cael as tightly as possible and buried his face against his neck, crying hard.

  “Told you she’d come back to us,” Cael whispered, his voice strained. He kissed Zach’s hair, hugging him long and hard. “We should go, shouldn’t we?”

  Zach nodded and rubbed his eyes then wiped the tears from his cheeks. “I told Dr. Cruz we would be there as soon as we could.”

  Zach and Cael took off with Taylor with the understanding that Alex would bring his mom and grandparents in a few minutes. Walking into the hospital with a different sense of urgency than before, Zach clutched Cael’s hand in a tight grip as he carried Taylor with one arm.

  Dr. Cruz stood at the patient information desk as if waiting for their arrival.

  “Hi, Zach. Cael.” Dr. Cruz gave them a genuine smile. “Hi, Taylor.”

  “Hi, Dr. Cruz.” Zach glanced at Cael. “So, how is she?”

  “Abbey is doing quite well considering. She’s a little slow to comprehend and respond, but she is responding appropriately, though she is having some difficulty forming her words. She also doesn’t recall anything from the day of the accident, which is perfectly normal. We haven’t tested her motor skills yet, but she was able to grasp a cup and drink from it, so that’s promising. She is waiting for you. Just try to be patient with her. I’d like to limit the number of visitors at first so she’s not overwhelmed. The three of you can go in and see her.”

  “My parents and grandparents will be here shortly.”

  “The nurse will be able to inform you when they arrive so you can switch. Let’s keep visitors to two at a time, plus Taylor.”

  “Thank you, doctor.”

  Zach held Taylor as Cael opened the door to Abbey’s hospital room for them. He entered slowly with Cael right behind him, his hand on the small of his back. Fresh tears came to his eyes when he saw Abbey sitting upright in her hospital gown, wide awake looking at him.