Chapter 200 - Secrets

Jack 

I made things weird. 

I can tell. 

He is not acting right at all and it is all because of me and that fucking nightmare of a kiss. I thought telling him the truth was the right thing to do and yes, it takes a weight off me but now, I have this version of Trick that I didn't even know existed. 

The version that texts me so many times in the day, asking me interrogative questions, the one that wants to know where I am at all times. I don't like it because the one thing that we have that I have always been proud of is mutual trust. 

I trust him with my whole being. I don't wonder what he is doing at work, I don't question his actions but ever since I told him about the kiss, he has been all up in my business and I mean that literally. 

After the medical tests, I started work the next day and it has been going smoothly. I have been able to avoid Gill because I don't even want to see him or even talk to him about what happened. 

The good thing is that Trick doesn't know that the person that kissed me is Gill. I don't think he would allow me to stay at the job if he knew. 

I don't know if this will come back to bite me in the ass but I think it is best he doesn't know. I don't have any feelings for Gill. I don't plan on acknowledging the night at the club. so, there is no harm, as long as I stay away from Gill. 

My phone rings as I head out of the building. it is five o clock and work for the day is done. I haven't met any likable colleagues. the people in my department all seem stuck up and too in their jobs, so I have accustomed to their traits and been all up in my job too. 

I press the green button as Lance's face blares up on the screen "I need you,'' he shouts into the phone loudly. 

I close my eyes for a second, I am outside in the parking lot. "I am so tired right now, what is the emergency?"

"Can you just get here now?'' he ends the call and I know I have no choice but to go to his house. 

I haven't had the chance to spend time with Trick all week. our times have been colliding. I go to work early and most nights he comes back late. it is expected, I mean that is how it was with my previous job but this time I am worried because of the guilt. I know I don't have anything to feel guilty for. I didn't kiss Gill; I didn't lead him on--at least I don't remember doing that. 

I get to Lance's house in less than fifteen minutes, he opens the front door just as I get out of my car "Come on,'' he drags my hand in his and leads me into the house.

"What is going on?'' I ask him. we get to the kitchen and I see Arlo on the counter seated and looking at his leg. 

Lance leads me to a corner and whispers "He hurt himself today and I don't know what to do,'' he cries but to me, it seems like an exaggeration. 

"What do you mean hurt himself?'' I ask him curiously. 

he lets go of my hands "I took him outside for a ride on the new bike I got for him, he fell off,'' he tells me. I see the pain in his eyes as he explains. 

"Is it bad?'' 

He shakes his head "yes, it is, I helped him clean it up.''

I walk away from him and go to Arlo "hey Arlo,'' I call his name and he looks up from the interesting thing going on, on his lap. his blue eyes shine brightly as he waits for me to speak up. "Can I see where you fell?'' I ask him. 

He nods immediately and raises his hand up, and I see the scratch. I turn to Lance "Really Lance, is this the emergency?'' I ask him with a raised brow. he looks guilty and I know that he is being dramatic.

"Does it hurt?'' I ask Arlo who just shakes his head. I see that the scratch is not deep and it is not bleeding. I look at Lance "You didn't have to call me over here,'' I tell him.

"I know,'' he replies "Come on Arlo, go get ready for a bath, I will be up in a second," he tells his son and I can't help but smile at how beautiful this is. 

Once Arlo is up the stairs, I face him with a glare "Do you have any idea how exhausted I am, why didn't you call your husband?'' 

He raises his hands up in the air "I am sorry, I just needed to talk to someone. I noticed something when he fell, he didn't cry. why didn't he cry?'' he asks me like I would have the answers he is looking for. 

"I don't know, maybe because it didn't hurt. this is not a big problem. why are you looking for one?'' I ask him and he pauses for a moment.

"I am not looking for one, but it is just weird,'' he tells me and I sigh.

"It is not weird, don't look for trouble with him. just be happy,'' I tell him because I don't want him panicking over the small things. 

I look at Lance and maybe I am doing the same thing, panicking over the little things. There is nothing wrong with my relationship with Trick. the ring on my finger can be a testament to that. I don't want to get paranoid and let the guilt eat me up. 

"What is going on with you, you have been acting like a jerk all week,'' Lance points out. 

I shake my head because I realize that I have actually not told Lance about the kiss with Gill. I told him I was going to tell him after the club but I guess saying it out loud has been terrifying. 

"You know, you have been acting weird since that night at the club. did something happen?'' he raises a brow in question.

I look at him and I know that I have to tell him. he is my best friend; he would tell me whatever was bothering him. 

He opens his eyes wide "I knew you were acting sus. what happened?'' he grabs my hand "Come on, we can have this conversation while I prep Arlo for bed.

We get to Arlo's room and he is in front of the television watching a cartoon. I smile at him as he looks up at us. I think Lance and Ford got the perfect child for themselves. I have not met anyone more perfect for the two of them. 

"Now tell me what happened,'' he bellows as he opens the tap of the tub for Arlo. I watch the water as it pours into the tub just as my phone beeps in my pocket. I reach for it and there is a message from Trick. 

"Your man?'' he asks. 

I nod. 

I reply his message by telling him that I will be home soon. 

"You are avoiding my question. you have to spill it sooner or later,'' he raises a brow "Come on Ar," he calls Arlo into the bathroom. I walk out of the bathroom to give him some privacy with the kid. after a couple of minutes, he walks out of the bathroom and leaves the door slightly open. 

"You haven't told me what happened,'' he reminds me. 

I take a deep breath as I tell him what happened. he watches me with his eyes wide as I tell him about the kiss and keeping this crucial information from Patrick. 

"You are seriously not going to keep the fact that you work with the guy from him... right?" he asks me as if he is not understanding something.

he shakes his head "I don't get it, why are you avoiding this? listen, if you feel guilty about that kiss then just come clean.'' he tells me. I sigh and I know that he is right about this. Patrick deserves to know but I just don't want to make things worse. 

I don't want to add more to his insecurities right now.

Does that make any sense?

"I can't, he will not let me keep the job if I tell him the truth.''

he rolls his eyes "The way you are saying it, someone would think he is controlling.'' he walks back into the bathroom and I wait for him again. He comes out of the bathroom with Arlo in a towel "look, I can't understand why you think the best thing to do is to keep part of the truth from him. This will only create problems in the future. Secrets ruin relationships.''

I know he is right but I don't know how to tell him--especially now that I have lied in the first place. 

God give me the strength.