Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

#Chapter 45: Bad Taste

Abby

“Adam… Are you cheating on me?”

The anticipation of what Adam is about to say feels like a giant pit in my stomach. He stares down at

his hands, his fingers worrying each other in the dim light of the bar.

“Abby,” his voice starts with a tremor, “I’m not cheating on you. I would never do something like that.

Not to anyone, and especially not to you.”

The sound of the soft jazz music I’ve got playing on the speakers almost seems to die down, replaced

by a poignant silence. I’m a little relieved, but not completely. In an odd way, I think that I almost wish

he was cheating on me. It would make things easier. But now, I think that it must only be an even more

complicated explanation, and whatever it is, I’m not sure if I’m ready for it.

“What is it, then?” I ask. Every fiber of my being is attuned to him, waiting.

Adam hesitates for a moment, raking a hand through his hair, a gesture I’ve come to associate with his

nervousness.

“I’m not into women.”

His words crash over me like a tidal wave. I struggle to keep my composure, trying to grasp what he’s

just admitted. My mind goes blank, and then rushes in with a barrage of thoughts.

Confusion, hurt, and disbelief lead the charge.

“You’re… g ay, Adam? And you knew all this time?”

Adam nods slowly. I feel like I’m drowning. “You knew all this time, and yet you still put a ring on my

finger,” I murmur, shaking my head in disbelief. This has got to be some kind of sick dream. “Why did

you get together with me so quickly, then?”

After a moment of tense pause, Adam speaks. “I got together with you so quickly because…” He sighs,

his voice barely above a whisper. “…It made my family happy. It was a way to keep my secret buried

deep.”

A lump forms in my throat. Tears well up, threatening to spill. “But why me, Adam?” I croak out. “Why

would you do this to me, of all the people in the world?”

He takes a shaky breath, his gaze filled with remorse. “It wasn’t planned, Abby. When we met, I was

lost. The pressure from my family was suffocating. Being with you, it gave me an escape. Our

friendship, our moments… they all felt genuine. But as things progressed, it became about maintaining

a lie. A lie I trapped myself in.”

I feel sick. “That’s not fair,” I mutter, blinking away the tears that threaten to come. “You toyed with me.”

Adam sighs deeply. “I know it’s not fair,” he murmurs. “And I know it’s s hitty of me. I realize that now.

But I guess throughout our relationship, I just kept telling myself that I could be happy with you. That

even though I wasn’t S**ually attracted to you, you made me laugh and smile and you’re my best

friend. I thought that I could get over the other stuff and just spend my life with someone who makes

me happy.”

The bar around us fades, and it’s just the two of us in our bubble of truth and revelations. He’s

vulnerable, and as much as I want to rage at him, I find myself filled with a strange understanding. Not

acceptance, but an understanding of the chains society can wrap around someone, chaining them to

expectations and norms.

He’s still speaking, words tumbling out. “I’m so, so sorry, Abby. I’ve been untruthful, and you didn’t

deserve any of this. I care about you, deeply. But not in the way you should be cared for. Not in the

romantic way you deserve.”

I rub the heel of my hand into my eyes, trying to stem the tears. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I

whisper, pain evident in my voice. “Why let it go on for so long without so much as a hint?”

His eyes are glistening, mirroring my own emotions. “Fear,” he chokes out. “I was afraid of losing you,

of losing the one person who made me feel normal.”

The gravity of it all weighs on me. “So, all this time, every touch, every moment, was it all a lie?”

He shakes his head, quickly, “No, not a lie. Distorted, yes. But I’ve cherished our moments, Abby. I

just… I couldn’t offer you the kind of love you expected.”

I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Here is a man, torn and twisted by societal expectations, trying

to find his place. But at my expense? The juxtaposition is jarring.

A long, heavy silence stretches between us. The distant sounds of people passing by on the street fills

my ears, but it all sounds so far away. I feel like I’m trapped in a vacuum chamber.

Without thinking, my fingers slide to the engagement ring on my finger. The cool metal feels foreign

now, a symbol of a love that wasn’t truly mine. With tears blurring my vision, I carefully slide the ring off,

the finality of the gesture not lost on me.

I open my palm, displaying the once treasured ring to Adam. He looks down, his eyes reflecting the

same pain I feel.

“Abby…” His voice c racks, and I can tell he’s struggling with his emotions.

“Take it,” I whisper, pushing the ring towards him, my tears now streaming down my face. “It doesn’t

belong to me anymore.”

Adam’s gaze shifts from the ring to my eyes, and in one swift movement, he pulls me into a tight

embrace. The world fades away as I bury my face into his shoulder, our shared grief enveloping us. His

warmth, even in this moment of heartbreak, offers a strange comfort.

We sit like that for what feels like an eternity, two souls bound by a story of love, truth, and regret.

Sometimes, the hardest goodbyes are the ones that bring the most closure.

When we finally pull away, we’re both wiping tears out of our eyes.

“Can we still be friends?” he eventually murmurs, breaking the quiet. “Especially in our professional

world?”

Taking a deep breath, I finally respond, “It’s going to take time, Adam. But… yes. We can try.”

Relief washes over his face, but it’s short-lived. He suddenly becomes introspective, his gaze distant.

“There’s something else,” he starts hesitantly.

“What now?” My heart feels like it can’t take any more shocks tonight.

“It’s about Karl.”

My heart sk ips a beat. “What about him?”

Adam hesitates, choosing his words carefully. “From our interactions, from what I’ve gathered… Abby,

he loves you. Truly.”

I stiffen, not expecting this at all. “Why would you bring this up now?”

Adam takes a deep breath. “Seeing you two together, the history you share, it’s palpable. I might not

love you romantically, Abby, but I do care about your happiness. And I think… I think Karl might be a

part of that.”

I stare at him, a myriad of emotions washing over me. Anger, confusion, and a touch of hope. Why

would Adam advocate for Karl? Especially now?

“I just…” Adam trails off, struggling to find the right words. “I want you to find the happiness that I

couldn’t give you. And if Karl is the answer, then I hope you find it in yourself to give him another shot.”