SUCKER PUNCH 🛶 PACEY WITTER [book one]

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SEXUAL IDENTITY CRISIS

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WHILE Pacey moped in Dawson's room and Gail worked her contacts through the PTA, Heather was thankful for even a little normalcy to her life, even if it was a dinner shift at The Icehouse.

But something the Leery girl wasn't so happy about, however, was the McPhee family sitting right by her section, especially since Mrs. McPhee wasn't present, just their suddenly returned father. Heather avoided Andie's gaze as she topped up the water for the table next to them whilst the McPhee man scoffed at his son's denial that anything was wrong "If everything was alright, Mr. Milo wouldn't have called and I wouldn't have had to come all the way to Capeside and disrupt my life."

"Sorry to be such an inconvenience." Jack muttered, pushing his fish around his plate.

"Are you gay, Jack?

Heather almost dropped the jug of water at Mr. McPhee's blunt question but it was Jack's knowing reply that broke her heart "Would you care?"

"That is not an answer." Mr. McPhee scowled "And yes, I would. I think this family has enough problems. We don't need to add to them."

"And it would be, a problem?"

Mr. McPhee shook his head "You're the only son I have now, Jack. You don't have Tim to hide behind anymore. People notice you now."

"Daddy, I think you've made your point." Andie mumbled, glancing to Heather nervously.

"Andie, this does not concern you and I will have made my point when your brother gives the appropriate response to the question. If Jack really cared about this family and all that we have done for him, he'd realise that we already have enough to deal with in the way of problems we can't help. And those that we can help, would be best resolved immediately."

Andie swallowed before putting on her best smile as she stood up and grabbed Heather's arm, pulling her towards the table "Er, Dad, this is Heather. She uh, she's the one who got Jack the job here at The Icehouse."

"Right." Mr. McPhee looked her up and down, taking in her stained apron and messy ponytail "Heather... that sounds familiar." His eyes widened before narrowing "You were one of the little show off's that made a fool out of my son."

"Excuse me?" Heather gawked in disbelief.

Jack shook his head "Dad, no, stop. She's Andie's—"

"Andie's what?" Mr. McPhee raised a sharp eyebrow at his daughter "Andrea?"

Heather looked to the blonde and she swallowed thickly "She uh, she's just a classmate."