DUMPED

by Lucy Hawkins

  So, this was what heartbreak felt like. Hank had thought he’d felt it before, when years passed and Alex never once looked his way in high school, but this was so much worse. He’d finally had Alex, finally seen what was beneath that haughty surface, and now it had been ripped away from him. The future he imagined with the two of them growing old in the inn would never pan out because Alex didn’t want him. He’d chosen the ex who’d left his heart in pieces.

  “Hank?” Gentle hands guided him inside to a soft couch, and he sank down into it. “Hank, what’s wrong? Rhiannon, get him some water.”

  Someone—Daniel, his brain supplied—sat next to him, one arm supporting him. He didn’t even try to stop the tears from falling. A sob tore through his body, and Daniel guided him to his shoulder.

  Stop it, said a voice that sounded eerily similar to his father. What are you, a sniveling little girl? People go through worse every day.

  But he didn’t care about other people. Right now, all he cared about was how badly it hurt. Once, during a college game, he’d taken a tackle that had broken his clavicle. He thought then it was the most painful thing he could ever endure. He would give anything for the pain to lessen to that degree now.

  Minutes passed, or hours, Hank wasn’t sure which. When he finally pulled away from Daniel’s shoulder, there was a large wet patch where Hank’s tears had soaked through the fabric.

  “Sorry,” he croaked.

  Daniel shook his head. “It’s okay. Here. Drink this then tell me what’s going on.”

  He took a sip and spluttered as whiskey stung the back of his throat.

  “Figured you needed something to help calm you down more than you needed water,” Daniel explained.

  The care in the gesture surprised Hank, and he took another sip. “Thanks.”

  They sat in silence as Hank finished his drink with Daniel waiting patiently. When he was finally finished, he set the glass on the table. “Alex and I aren’t together anymore.” He forced the words out.

  “What?” Daniel yelped.

  Hank tried and failed to choke back a sob. “Don’t make me say it again, Dan.”

  Daniel nodded. “Okay. I just—what happened? You said you were gonna work things out with him.”

  “I tried,” he said. “I really did. I went over there, and I was going to ask him to come back with me, but Grant was there—”

  “Hang on. Grant, Grant? As in, Alex’s ex-fiancé Grant?”

  “Not-so-ex, actually. He told me he and Alex got back together and that Alex didn’t want to see me.”

  That wasn’t exactly what Grant had said, but it was close enough. He wouldn’t have stopped Hank from going inside if Alex had wanted to see him.

  “I don’t understand,” Daniel said. “He’s not even been gone a week.”

  “What’s going on?” Rhiannon asked, walking over to sit in the chair across from them.

  “Hank went to see Alex and found his ex-fiancé instead. Only it looks like they’re back together, and I don’t know how that’s possible, ‘cause you said the guy was a dick,” Daniel said. “Did I get everything?”

  Hank nodded. “That pretty much sums it up.” His voice was thick. “He must have realized he wants things I can’t give him, and Grant can.”

  “Like what, a loveless relationship? ‘Cause I got news for you, buddy, anyone who can cheat on their partner multiple times and still sleep at night doesn’t love them.”

  “There are other things,” Hank protested. “Alex always wanted to live in the city. He always wanted to get out of Redwood and be well known and respected.”

  “That’s not the basis for a relationship, Hank,” Rhiannon said. “And why are you even defending this guy, anyway? You and I both saw what Alex was like when he first showed up at the inn, and that was a few months after Grant left him at the altar. He isn’t good for Alex.”

  Neither was Hank, apparently. At least, not good enough. “He’s rich. Seriously rich. You should have seen this guy’s car. And he’s hot. Like Alexander Skarsgård or an older Chad Michael Murray.”

  “You sure you’re not into this guy?” Rhiannon asked dryly. Hank glared at her. “Right. Sorry. Not a good time for a joke.”

  “He just… He can give Alex things. Everything he wants. And I can’t.”

  “But Alex doesn’t love him,” Daniel protested. “He loves you.”

  “Why would you think that? He walked out. He packed a bag and left, and he didn’t even say when he was coming back.”

  “He didn’t pack everything,” Daniel said. “Half his clothes are still hanging in your closet, and a pretty significant chunk are in his. He left papers and photos of his family, clearly things he meant to get back. It wasn’t ever going to be permanent.”

  “That still doesn’t mean he loves me. At best, it just means he didn’t have room to pack everything and he had to prioritize. He’s probably going to come back for them once he finds the nerve to tell me he’s back with Grant.”

  “No, listen to me. Listen, Hank. Even if you ignore the clothes, you have to see the way he looks at you, right?”

  “If he were a meme, he’d be the ‘heart-eyes-motherfucker’ gif,” Rhiannon said with a nod. She pressed her lips together at a glance from Daniel. “Right. Not helping.”

  “Actually, you were. She’s right. He looks at you like you hung the fucking moon, even before he’s had coffee. And he doesn’t like anyone before coffee.”

  A small glimmer of hope flickered to life inside of him, but he did his best to squash it out. Hope was pointless. Alex had walked away, and now he was back with the man who’d caused him more pain than anyone else. Hank didn’t know how to compete with that.

  “Look, you said you talked to the fiancé, but you didn’t actually talk to Alex, did you?” Daniel asked.

  Hank shook his head. “Grant said I didn’t need to see him.”

  “So all you heard was Grant’s side of things?” Daniel groaned. “Did it ever occur to you that Grant had every reason to lie to you? If you didn’t get to talk to Alex, you wouldn’t find out that they weren’t still together.”

  “Then what would Grant be doing at his house? It’s not like he was just in the neighborhood.”

  “I don’t know,” Daniel said. “I just think it’s a bad idea for you to accept what Grant said at face value. And if they are back together, it’s a really bad idea for you to let Alex go without telling him how you feel. It’s not like he could guess or anything. You aren’t exactly forthcoming with your feelings.”

  That was a valid point, but Hank didn’t know if it was worth it. If he went to Alex and Alex turned him down, all he would have done was make a fool out of himself.

  “I’ll give him more time,” he said eventually. “If you’re right and they aren’t back together, he’ll come back, right? At least to get his stuff.”

  Daniel sighed and shook his head. “Just don’t leave it too late. I don’t want you to lose out on the guy you love just because you can’t use your words.”

  Thirty

  Alex

  “What the hell are you still doing on my porch?” Alex stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips. The sun had started to set, casting a hazy golden glow on everything. Grant’s shirt was damp in places where sweat had soaked through, and his hair stuck to his forehead. He might have been impressed with Grant’s endurance, if he wasn’t still pissed that Grant had ambushed him.

  Grant stood and made a small, abortive movement with his hand. “I told you I was willing to wait. I’ll stay as long as it takes for you to see how much I want you back.”

  A year ago, Alex would have given anything to hear those words. Now, they only added to his anger.

  “Oh for fuck’s sake. Do you see how desperate you sound? What are you going to do, sleep on my porch? That’s creepy as hell. Now get out of here, before I get a restraining order.”

  “Why can’t you see how much I want you?” Grant asked, his voice breaking.

 
; Alex rolled his eyes. “If you think that’s the biggest problem here, I really can’t help you. Go home. And don’t even think about emailing me again.”

  “Alex—”

  “I don’t love you!” he snapped. “And I’m not even single, so why the fuck would you think I would take you back?”

  Grant took a step backward. “You’re… You’re not?”

  “No, I’m not. I met someone else three months after I moved back home. We’ve been together for a while, and I really don’t think he would appreciate you coming and stalking me.”

  To be honest, he didn’t know what Hank would have to say about it, but given how angry he’d been on Alex’s behalf, he liked to think Hank would have told Grant exactly where he could stick his apology.

  “You could leave him,” Grant said.

  The words stung more than Grant could know. He’d done exactly that—left the one man who’d ever treated him the way he deserved to be treated. Hank had never hurt him, never embarrassed him. Never done anything but love him.

  “I’m not going to do that,” he said, making his decision. After all this was over, he would go to the inn and explain himself and beg Hank to take him back. “See, he cares about me. Actually cares. He would never, say, carry on affair after affair while I waited for him to come home at night. He wouldn’t find the littlest thing to scrutinize or shame me into nearly developing an eating disorder. Oh, and of course, he would never leave me on our wedding day only to show up a year later and practically demand me back like I’m some prize to be won.”

  His voice had grown louder as he spoke until he was practically shouting at the end. His chest heaved as he gulped in air. How dare Grant suggest that he leave the one good thing in his life?

  “No.” Grant shook his head and dropped to his knees. “No, I can’t let you go. Please. Come back to Manhattan with me. Marry me.”

  Alex clenched his hands into fists. “I swear to God, Grant Rutherford, if you don’t get the hell off my porch in the next sixty seconds, I’m going to call the sheriff, who’s not only going to escort you off the property but drive you to the city limits. So, unless you want to look like an asshole in front of him, leave. Now. I won’t ask again.”

  Grant reeked of desperation. His brows were knitted together, and his mouth trembled. But Alex didn’t have the patience to care how hurt he was. He’d already wasted years putting Grant’s feelings above his own. For once, he was making himself top priority.

  Nodding jerkily, he walked down the porch stairs, looking back every few steps as though expecting Alex to say he’d changed his mind. Not a chance in hell. Alex stood, arms crossed, at the top of the stairs, watching as he put the car in reverse and backed down the driveway. He didn’t move until the car had disappeared around the corner and Alex couldn’t see him anymore. With any luck, it would be the last time their paths ever crossed.

  “You would not believe who showed up at the house today,” Alex said, passing Taylor the mashed potatoes.

  She’d left soon after consoling Alex in his room and hadn’t returned until sundown, while their mom had been volunteering at the library all afternoon.

  “Who?” his mom asked.

  “Grant.”

  “Like, your ex-fiancé Grant?” Taylor held a spoonful of potato midair.

  Alex nodded. “He was here when I got back from a coffee run, and he wouldn’t go away. At first, he tried to ask me to get back together with him, but when I said no and came inside he just… stayed.”

  “What a creep,” Taylor said.

  Creep didn’t even come close to it. He’d wondered for a few minutes after Grant left what would have happened if he’d had to call the sheriff. Thank God it hadn’t come to that. Hank would be furious when he found out, though Alex didn’t know what he would be angrier at: Grant showing up unannounced or the fact that Hank didn’t get to take a few swings at him before he left.

  “You should have been there. He was so pathetic. He spent, like, four hours on the porch and then tried to propose to me before I made him go away.”

  “Jesus Christ.” Taylor rolled her eyes. “You should have called. It wasn’t like I was doing anything important.”

  Alex snickered. “Or anyone.”

  “Alex,” their mother warned.

  The doorbell chimed as Alex was taking a bite of chicken. He froze mid-chew. How many times was he going to have to tell Grant to go the fuck away before he got the message? But maybe it wasn’t Grant. Maybe it was Hank. Oh God, he needed more time. He’d planned on going to the inn, but this was too soon. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say, and the thought of dealing with even more drama today really wasn’t appealing.

  Taylor took one look at him and placed her napkin on the table. “I’ll get it.” A moment later, she shouted, “Alex, there’s a guy here for you!”

  It wasn’t Grant. Taylor wouldn’t have let him in if it were. But it couldn’t be Hank either, otherwise she would have just called him by name. He didn’t feel like talking to anyone else, but he slid out of his chair and walked into the foyer.

  “Who is—oh.”

  Daniel stood just inside the door, scowling. Of all the people Alex had expected to barge in during dinner, Daniel was pretty low on the list. If he was even on the list at all. How did he even know where Alex lived? It wasn’t like he’d ever been over for a visit. He didn’t have any reason to unless Hank—oh God.

  “Is everything okay? Is Hank—”

  “We need to talk,” Daniel said. “Now.”

  “O-okay.” His heart beat faster. He hadn’t spoken to Hank in days. “Will you please tell me if Hank’s alright?”

  “Not really. And what you say to me is going to determine if he stays not all right. So can we please talk somewhere?”

  Taylor hovered beside him, looking in between Alex and Daniel.

  “It’s okay,” Alex said. “We’ll be in the living room.”

  He led Daniel to the room off the hall and closed the door behind him, giving them at least the semblance of privacy. It wasn’t, really. His mom and Taylor were probably on the other side of the door already listening in. He stood, arms crossed, his heart thumping like a rabbit’s foot.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, eyeing Daniel warily.

  “I thought you might like to know that Hank’s spent the better part of the afternoon crying.” Daniel’s voice was icy. “And Hank never cries. I watched him slice his hand open on a chef’s knife, and he didn’t even tear up.”

  Alex’s stomach twisted. “What… What does that have to do with me?”

  “It has everything to do with you. You think you can just get back together with your ex and not tell Hank because you two were taking a break? That’s sick.”

  “Wait, what?” His mind lurched, as though he’d skipped a step on the stairs. Clearly, he’d missed something. “I’m not… Why would Hank think I was getting back together with Grant? How did he even know Grant was here?”

  “Because he came to see you,” Daniel said. “He wanted to try and work things out, so he drove over to talk to you.”

  Oh no. “I take it he talked to Grant?”

  Daniel nodded. “According to him, Grant said you two were engaged again and that you didn’t want to see Hank.”

  Fury boiled in Alex’s veins, but he forced it down. Grant was gone. He didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was fixing this. “Did he not think for one minute to try and talk to me anyway?”

  “No.” Daniel shifted, some of the fight seeming to leave him. “That’s not who Hank is. You walked away and said you needed space, so he gave you space. He heard you didn’t want to talk to him, and he respected that, even if it killed him inside.”

  Taylor was right. Hank wasn’t one of the guys he’d hooked up with in the city. He was better than that. Better than Alex deserved, that was for sure. And yet, for some reason, Hank wanted him anyway. Or had wanted him. Grant had gone and messed everything up, yet again.

  Alt
hough if he were being honest with himself, he couldn’t pin this completely on Grant. The situation never would have played out like this if he’d just tried to work things out with Hank from the beginning instead of running away.

  “I guess the most important thing to say is I’m not engaged to Grant. Even if Hank and I weren’t together, I wouldn’t be.”

  “Oh?”

  Alex relayed the entire story to Daniel, including the part where he’d told Grant to get the hell out of Redwood and never come back. But the entire time he spoke, his mind was on Hank. He couldn’t imagine the pain Hank had to be going through, to finally get the guy he’d wanted for years only to think he’d lost him again. One way or another, Alex had to make this right.

  “Just so we’re completely clear, you’re not with Grant,” Daniel said, once Alex had finished talking.

  “Right. Not with Grant. Never want to be with Grant again.”

  “And you still want to be with my brother?”

  Alex nodded. “If he’ll have me. I realize I haven’t been the easiest person to be with. I’ve made a mess of pretty much everything, and to be honest, I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t want me anymore.”

  Daniel laughed. “Trust me, he still wants you.” He crossed his arms and stared appraisingly at Alex. “Look, I want to like you. You’re funny, you’re hardworking, and it’s pretty clear to anyone who has eyes that you love my brother. But I need to know you’re not going to hurt him again. I get you have a hard time trusting after what Grant did to you. Hank told me about it and to be honest, I kind of wish I had gotten to meet the guy. We would have had a nice chat. But you can’t go through the rest of your life not being able to trust people, especially your boyfriend. If you’re going to be with Hank, you can’t run off every time you make a mistake or you two get in a fight. You have to stay and fix it. Is that something you think you can do?”

  Alex nodded. How could he say no when the alternative was not being with Hank? “I screwed up. I wanted to come home days ago, but I was waiting for him to come to me, which my sister Taylor pretty much told me was the stupidest thing I’d ever done.”