Weight of The Untold

Chapter 33

"Are you sure you don't want to come? I'm certain Zach won't mind."

I smoothed my skirt down instinctively, fingers tugging at the fabric as I glanced over at Hazel. Guilt tugged at my chest. I hated the idea of leaving her alone in this too-quiet house, especially tonight.

"Kyla, I'm fine. Go enjoy your time with your boyfriend," she said easily, waving me off. "I won't be alone anyway. I'll go see Melissa so she knows we're coming to her club on Saturday night."

"You know you could just call her," I replied, slipping my flats off their shelf.

Hazel shook her head. "I don't have her number. And besides... I want to see her in person. It's been a long time since we've actually been together."

Something in her tone made me pause. "Ever since you broke up, you haven't really seen her?"

"I have. Just not like that," she said quietly. "Since I moved here, only once. We bumped into each other at the club."

I nodded slowly, then asked the question that had been sitting on my chest. "She's the woman you were with when your parents found out you're into women, right?"

Hazel didn't hesitate. "Yeah."
Then, after a breath, "They threatened her job. She was my teacher, and they called our relationship silly. Said they'd ruin her career if she didn't end it."

My heart dropped. "Hazel..."

"They followed through when we didn't stop seeing each other," she added, voice steady but eyes distant. "Her reputation was destroyed. Her teaching license too. That's why she moved here. To start over."

"What?" I sat down hard on the bed. "They actually did that?"

"I have crazy rich parents, Kyla," she said with a hollow smile. "They'd do anything. I only got out after I turned eighteen-three months ago. Now I get to choose my own life."

I thought about how close I still was to that age. How trapped I sometimes felt without even realizing it.

"I'm glad you came to your uncle," I said softly. "Because now I have a best friend."

Hazel smiled, small but real. "Does he know?"

"Everything," I said. "He's like a father to me. A good one."

I hesitated, then asked, "What happened to his wife?"

"The twins' mom died after giving birth," she explained. "He remarried years later, but it didn't last. She left after five years. He's been alone ever since."

"That must've been awful," I murmured.

My phone buzzed in my hand.
"Sorry," I said, glancing at the screen. "Zach."

Hazel nodded knowingly.

"Babe? Are you still coming?" his voice filled my ear.

I checked the time and smiled. "I still have time."

"Just making sure you didn't change your mind."

"I'm about to leave," I said softly. "I haven't changed my mind."

"I'll see you soon. Love you."

My heart skipped.
"Love you too."

When I hung up, Hazel was already grinning.
"You are in love," she sang, horribly off-key.

I laughed and tossed a pillow at her. "Shut up."

Still smiling, I changed into black heels-the kind that made me feel older, bolder. The red set hugged me just right, confidence sliding into place with every step.