Twenty-Two

As we walked through the park, heading back home. I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in my chest. I knew I needed to talk to Jack, to clear the air and figure out what we were going to do. But I also knew that doing so would force me to confront my feelings for him, feelings that were growing stronger with each passing day.

When we finally returned to the house, I was relieved to find that Jack was nowhere in sight. I needed more time to gather my thoughts before facing him. I needed to find a way to untangle the web of emotions that had ensnared me, before it was too late.

As Alex and I stood at the door, he leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. It was a sweet, gentle kiss, filled with all the affection he had for me. But as much as I wanted to lose myself in it, my mind was elsewhere—on the man who was waiting inside, the man who had already claimed a major part of my heart.

"See you tomorrow?" Alex asked, his eyes full of hope.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.