We Go Together Or We Don't Go Down At All

Who is This?

Alex and Zack had been 'seeing' each other about a month or so now. Sneaking away for lunch dates, including Zack sweetly planning a picnic in the grassy courtyard next to Alex's office building. Rian even watched Everly when Alex had a sleepover at Zack's house last weekend. And that was a great and pleasurable weekend.it made Alex fall further for Zack. Alex was in deep. He was deeply infatuated with Zack, and hoped Zack liked him back just as much.

They weren't official or anything, neither Zack not Alex asked the other to be their Boyfriend. But Alex was thinking it was about time to tell Zack his big secret.

"I think I want to tell him. I am ready. I want him to meet Everly."Alex said into his phone, on the phone with Rian while he parked. Getting ready to load Everly into a cart at the grocery store.

"Well I support that. I think it is about time. I know you really like him. Call me later tonight if you need. Have fun at the store." Rian said cheerfully.

"You bet."Alex said as he hung up.

He opened the car door and pulled Everly from her car seat.

"Ready to get some groceries honey?"Alex said sweetly as he sat her in the child portion of the cart so she was facing him.

"Yes daddy. Can we get cookies?" She asked excitedly.

Alex laughed as he pulled up a coloring book app on her tablet he made sure to bring to the store. Everly playing in her tablet made things much easier and he didn't care if it was a bad dad moment. He was a single dad, he had no one else to run interference. Besides Everly and him do this often enough, His sweet 3 year old girl knew what to do and how to behave in the store.

"Yes we can Princess." He said as he kissed her forehead.

He was shopping and calculating the totals on his phone, he was in his own little world as he and Everly ran their errands. Alex was trying to decide which brand of noodles to get, trying to  making sure to stick to his budget. He didn't even see Zack approaching him.

Suddenly he heard the familiar voice behind him. "Hey Handsome." Zack said sweetly. Tapping Alex on the shoulder.

Alex tensed up. Alex felt all the air leave his lungs. Oh.Shit. Fuck.Fuck.Fuck. Not like this! Alex can't control the environment in the grocery store, he can't spring this on Zack here. This was all wrong.

"Hi Zack." He said through gritted teeth.

"You ok Alex?" Zack asked. Noticing Alex's change in demeanor.

Alex nodded slowly. Preparing himself for the rejection.

Zack suddenly noticed Alex was not alone. He looked at the little girl with Alex and he smiled and waived at her. "Hi there.Who is this adorable girl? What's your name?"

Everly smiled sweetly, kindly. Looking up from her tablet. "Everly Marie Gaskarth." She said proudly.

Alex couldn't even be excited that Everly nailed that. She normally stumbles through that.

Zack went wide eyed hearing the last name, knowing it was also the same as Alex. He tried not to draw conclusions. Maybe it was his cousin or something, or his sibling.

"How do you know my daddy?" Everly asked innocently.

Alex squeezed his eyes shut. Trying to hold back tears. He'd been caught. "Fuck" he mumbled under his breath, but Zack heard it.

"Ummm we are friends." Zack said as calmly as possible.

Alex winced. "Ouch."

Zack looked at him. A mix of emotions on his face. But Zack was mostly hurt. Alex never told him he had a daughter.