The Enemy Lives Next Door (bxb)

Part Twenty

Part Twenty

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The words hang between us, heavy and unanticipated. My mind races, struggling to make sense of Adam's revelation. The restaurant's ambient hum fades into the background as the pounding in my ears grows louder, a cacophony of unspoken emotions.

Adam's face flushes crimson, his gaze fixated on the table. My heart pounds so fiercely I almost expect it to break through my ribcage. What should have been a perfect evening now feels like a cruel twist of fate. Confusion, embarrassment, and a peculiar sense of relief churn within me, an unsettling cocktail of emotions.

"I—" I start, but the words catch in my throat. I look down at my plate, the untouched food now a blurred mess of colors and shapes. My appetite vanishes, replaced by a hollow sensation.

"I'm sorry," Adam's voice trembles, breaking the silence like a fragile glass. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just needed to be honest."

I draw a shaky breath, struggling to steady my racing heart. "It's okay," I murmur, my voice barely audible. "I didn't know. I thought... I thought we had something."

Adam's eyes, shadowed with regret, meet mine with a depth of sincerity I hadn't anticipated. "We do have something," he says quietly. "Just not the kind I thought we did."

I nod, trying to absorb his words. The tension between us feels almost physical, wrapping around us like a tight coil, squeezing the air from my lungs.

Disappointment tugs at my chest, a relentless weight threatening to pull me under. The evening, once full of promise and potential, has disintegrated into a reality I wasn't prepared for. My heart feels like it's shattering under the strain.

"Maybe we should go," I suggest, my voice quivering. I avoid making eye contact, not wanting him to see the turmoil reflected in my eyes. "I need some time to think."

Adam nods, understanding in his silence. We gather our things with subdued movements, our eyes carefully avoiding each other's. The weight of unspoken words hangs heavy between us as we leave the restaurant, the cool night air doing little to soothe the discomfort.

When we arrive at my house, Adam pauses, his face a mix of sadness and hesitant hope. "I'm really sorry, Dale. I hope you can forgive me."

I manage a weak smile, though it feels more like a grimace. "I appreciate your honesty, Adam. I really do."

All these years.

In love with someone who loves someone else? And not just anyone—my own fucking brother. It's beyond comprehension.

It feels like a thousand knives are piercing my heart, each one a reminder of the impossibility of this situation. My mind whirls with the intensity of my feelings. Even if someone could offer solace, what good would it do? You can't slap a band-aid on a broken heart.

My thoughts spin wildly, each new realization adding weight to the burden I'm already struggling to carry.

"I'm so sorry," he says softly, his voice filled with deep remorse. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

I spin around, facing him directly. His blue eyes, usually so bright, are now darker with guilt, etched deeply into every line of his face. "I can't believe this," I whisper, my voice trembling uncontrollably. "I liked you for so long, and... and I really thought that we..."

"I know," he says, taking a hesitant step toward me. His usual smile is absent, replaced by an expression of worry and fear. "That's why we need to talk about it now."

I bite down on my tongue, trying to suppress the anger bubbling inside me. "You want to talk about it? After all these years, Adam—how does this make any sense? No, wait. I'm the fool. I didn't see this coming."

Reluctantly, Adam takes another step closer, closing the gap between us. "It's not your fault, and you're not a fool," he tries to reassure me, his voice pleading. "The thing with your brother... it just kind of happened. I didn't expect it."

Tears sting my eyes, blurring my vision. I run a hand through my hair, struggling to absorb what he's saying. Who in their right mind would choose to date my brother? He doesn't even have a sense of humor—or dignity, for that matter.

Adam's voice drops to a whisper, almost drowned out by the storm raging inside me. "I know this is a shock, but I can't choose who I fall for. He's just such a great guy."

I blink, trying to process his words. "What?" I turn away, but Adam grabs my wrist, holding me in place. I can't believe this is happening.

I meet his gaze again, desperate for answers. "I never thought this day would come. This is so much to take in. Who else knows about you two?"

Adam looks surprised by my question. "You're the first person who actually knows," he admits, releasing my wrist and running a hand through his hair. "It's hard to come out when there are expectations."

I try to absorb all this new information. He takes my hand, squeezing it gently. "Please don't tell anyone about this," he pleads earnestly. "My sexuality is important to me, and I'd like to come out on my own terms."

I understand that, but my brother? I came out years ago, and he was furious with me.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm myself before reopening them. "Okay," I say, exhaling slowly. "I won't tell anyone. But I need to confront my brother about this. It's only fair."

Adam nods, a look of relief washing over him. "I don't want to come between you two," he says softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "I'm truly sorry for not telling you sooner."

"It's okay," I reply, though my chest still aches with a dull, persistent pain. "I understand. And thank you for trusting me with this."

He gives me a lopsided smile, a rare glimmer of his former self. "You're a great guy, Dale. I'm sure the right person is closer than you think."

I furrow my brows as he pulls me into a hug. It feels good—comforting, even—though the solace is fleeting. He pulls away, offers a small, encouraging smile, then gets into his car. The engine roars to life, and he drives off into the night, the tail lights fading into the distance.

As I stand there, watching him leave, a wave of introspection washes over me. Is it normal for my heart to ache this much? The emptiness of the night mirrors the void in my chest, and I am left alone with the remnants of a broken dream.

The realization settles in: love is messy, unpredictable, and often cruel. And tonight, it has carved a deep, painful mark on my heart that will take time to heal.

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