Page 10 of Heal Me, Love Me

“I need to borrow a car.”

“Come inside.” She took my hand and pulled me over the threshold before shutting and locking the door behind me.

Dad appeared in the entryway wearing a faded T-shirt and sweats. The faint scent of dinner still hung in the house, and I realized I hadn’t eaten in several hours, not even after my fight. “What’s going on?”

I set my duffel near the door. “I need to get my stuff from the rental house.”

Mom frowned. “You’re moving?”

“Yeah.”

Dad lifted a brow. “You couldn’t wait until morning?”

“No.”

“Rowan,” Mom started carefully.

“I can’t wait, okay?”

Her hand closed around my arm. “All right, but you need to tell us what happened first.”

“I just need the keys.”

“And you’ll get them.” She searched my face again. “Did something happen with Keaton?”

I almost lied, but I didn’t have the energy. “Yes.”

Mom’s grip softened. “Come sit down.”

I followed them into the living room, where Dad picked up the remote and muted the TV. I sat on the edge of the couch, and Mom settled beside me, keeping one hand around mine. Dadtook the chair across from us, leaning forward with his forearms on his thighs.

“What happened with Keaton?” my mother asked.

Everything was spiraling, but I went with the truth. “I saw him with Devon.”

Mom’s brows knit together. “Devon from the gym?”

“Yeah.”

“With him, how?” Dad questioned.

I stared at my hands. “Devon kissed him.”

The words sounded too small for how much damage they’d done, especially when my parents didn’t understand what they meant. They didn’t know Keaton was gay, or that I was too.

“Okay?” My mom hesitated, and I looked up.

Dad glanced at her, then back at me. “I’m not following.”

“Rowan,” Mom said carefully, “why would Devon kissing Keaton make you leave LA and fly home?”

My heart hammered in my chest as I considered how to answer because once I explained, there would be no taking the words back. They’d know about me and Keaton, about the part of my life I’d kept hidden for years. “Because Keaton and I were together.”

Mom blinked, and Dad stared at me for a long second, trying to make sense of what I’d just said. “Together?” Mom asked softly.

I nodded, unable to look away from her.

“As in …?” She stopped, as if she were afraid the wrong words might hurt me.