Chapter 44 THE CONFRONTATION
Elias
Elias knew something was wrong the second he woke up.
Alex’s side of the bed was cold. Empty. The apartment was too quiet.
He found Alex in the kitchen. Standing by the window. Coffee mug in his hands. Staring out at nothing.
“Morning,” Elias said.
Alex didn’t turn around. “Morning.”
“You’re up early.”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
Elias poured himself coffee. Watched Alex’s reflection in the window. His face was blank. Closed off.
“Are you okay?” Elias asked.
“Fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“I said I’m fine.”
The words came out sharp. Cold. Not like Alex at all.
Elias set down his mug. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Alex. Talk to me.”
Alex finally turned around. His eyes were red. Like maybe he’d been crying. Or hadn’t slept at all.
“Did Carter call you?” Alex asked.
Elias’s stomach dropped. “What?”
“Carter. Did he call you? Text you? Contact you in any way?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Just answer the question.”
Elias’s throat went tight. “He texted. A few nights ago. I didn’t respond.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. I saw the messages, Elias. He sent me screenshots.”
The air left Elias’s lungs. “He what?”
“He called me yesterday. Sent me proof that you responded to him. That you’ve been talking to him.”
“I haven’t been talking to him. It was one conversation. One night. That’s it.”
“You lied about it being a work email.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you.”
“So you just lied instead?” Alex’s voice was getting louder. “On our first night living together, you lied to my face?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what? From knowing that your ex is trying to get you back? From knowing you’re still talking to him?”
“I’m not still talking to him. It was one time. One conversation where I told him I’ve moved on.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Elias ran his hands through his hair. “Because I knew you’d react like this. I knew you’d spiral and assume the worst.”
“I’m not assuming anything. Carter literally sent me proof.”
“Proof of what? That I told him to leave me alone? That I said I’m with you now?”
“Proof that you’re keeping secrets. That you’re lying to me about your ex.”
“I lied about one thing because I didn’t want to upset you on your first day living here. That’s it. That’s the whole story.”
Alex set down his coffee so hard that it sloshed over the rim. “You don’t get it. It’s not about the messages. It’s about trust. How am I supposed to trust you when you’re hiding things from me?”
“I’m not hiding things.”
“You literally hid this.”
“Okay. Yes. I should have told you. But Alex, it was nothing. Carter is nothing. You’re the one I’m with. You’re the one I love.”
“Then why is he still contacting you? Why does he have your number? Why is he calling me?”
“I don’t know. I blocked him. I told him to stop. I don’t know how he got your number or why he’s doing this.”
“Maybe because he knows something I don’t. Maybe because you’re not as over him as you claim.”
Elias felt like he’d been slapped. “That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it? You hesitated before. With his first text. And now you’re lying about responding to him. What am I supposed to think?”
“You’re supposed to trust me. You’re supposed to believe me when I say I love you and only you.”
“I want to believe you. But you keep giving me reasons not to.”
They stood on opposite sides of the kitchen. The space between them felt like miles.
“What do you want me to say?” Elias asked.
“I want you to tell me the truth. All of it. No more protecting me. No more lying.”
“Fine. The truth. Carter texted at 3 AM three nights ago. Asked to talk. Said he missed me. I told him no. Told him I’ve moved on. He kept pushing. Asked if I was settling. I didn’t respond after that. Blocked the number. That’s it. That’s everything.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it was our first night in this apartment. Because you were happy and I didn’t want to ruin it. Because I thought I could handle it myself without dragging you into my past.”
“I’m already in your past. I live with you. We’re building a life together. You don’t get to decide what I can handle.”
“I know. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Alex’s hands were shaking. He crossed his arms. “Did you want to respond? To Carter?”
“No.”
“Be honest.”
“I am being honest. I didn’t want to respond. I wanted him to disappear. I wanted to pretend that text never happened.”
“But part of you was curious. Part of you wondered what he wanted.”
Elias couldn’t lie. Not anymore. “Yes. For like two seconds. I was curious. But then I remembered what he did to me. How he made me feel. And I remembered you. And the choice was easy.”
“Was it? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re still hung up on him.”
“I’m not hung up on him. I’m with you. I chose you. I’m here.”
“Physically. But mentally? Are you really here? Or are you still thinking about him?”
“I think about him sometimes. I think about what went wrong. But that doesn’t mean I want him back.”
“How am I supposed to know that?”
“Because I’m telling you. Because I turned down grad school for you. Because I moved you into my apartment. Because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
Alex’s eyes were wet. “Then why does this hurt so much?”
“Because Carter’s trying to get between us. Because he wants what we have. And you’re letting him.”
“I’m letting him?”
“Yes. You’re letting his words matter more than mine. You’re letting his lies make you doubt us.”
“They’re not lies if they’re true.”
“They’re not true. I told him to leave me alone. The screenshots prove that.”
“They also prove you responded. That you engaged with him instead of just blocking him immediately.”
“I should have blocked him immediately. You’re right. But I didn’t. And I’m sorry. But I can’t change it now. All I can do is promise it won’t happen again.”
“How many times are we going to do this? How many times is Carter going to show up and cause problems?”
“I don’t know. But we have to stop letting him win. We have to trust each other.”
Alex wiped his eyes. “I want to trust you. But I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“That you’re going to wake up one day and realize he was right. That I’m not enough. That you settled.”
Elias crossed the kitchen. Took Alex’s face in his hands. “You are enough. More than enough. You’re everything.”
“Then prove it. Block every way he can contact you. Change your number if you have to. Show me that I matter more than your past.”
“I will. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“I promise you.”
They stood there. Foreheads pressed together. Both shaking. Both scared.
“I’m sorry I lied,” Elias whispered.
“I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions.”
“We’re a mess.”
“Yeah. But we’re trying.”
Elias kissed him. Soft and desperate. Alex kissed back.
When they pulled apart, Elias’s phone buzzed on the counter.
They both looked at it.
Unknown number. Again.
Elias grabbed it. Opened the message.
Unknown: She deserves better than you. Both of them do. - Carter
Alex read it over his shoulder. “Both of them?”
Elias’s blood ran cold. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
But his phone buzzed again. A photo this time.
Carter with a girl. Pretty. Blonde. Smiling.
And a caption: Thought you should know. I’ve moved on. You should too. Stop holding onto what we had.
Alex stepped back. “What the hell is this?”
“I have no idea.”
“Is he trying to make you jealous?”
“Maybe. Or he’s just messing with us.”
“This is insane. He’s insane.”
Elias blocked the new number. “I’m changing my number. Today. Right now.”
“Good.”
But as Elias started the process, his phone rang. Katie.
“Don’t answer it,” Alex said. “Not right now.”
But Elias saw Katie’s text preview.
Katie: Is Carter harassing you again? He just called me asking about you and Alex. What’s going on?