Page 62 of Diluted Truths

Jackie

I had finally made it off of the floor and showered for the day earlier. I had even gone grocery shopping. I was putting them away when the pounding on my door began.

“Jackie! Open the door!” Fai yelled.

Why was he here?

He wasn’t expecting me back at work for another day. He knew I needed time off. Yeah, he thought it was for family reasons, not for the case I was actually working. I had ignored his phone call earlier today, but I was hoping he would assume I wasn’t home.

Confused, I opened the door when he burst through and slammed it behind him. He was vibrating with anger.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I watched him pace my living room before coming to a stop in front of some of my pictures.

Slowly he hung his head and turned towards me.

“Is it true?” He asked in a whisper still facing away from me

“Is what true?” I asked.

“You and Will. Is it true?” he asked again, turning towards me and finally meeting my eyes. Eyes I almost didn’t recognize they were so full of anger.

I didn’t know how to respond, because well, I wasn’t sure. After another phone call with Theo earlier today, I had fully accepted that I wanted it to be true. I wanted Will. I couldn’t explain the pull between us, but I wanted all the mornings, nights, and everything in between with him.

“I don’t know yet, but I hope so.”

“You’re fucking kidding me.” Fai sighed as he began pacing again. “You cannot be serious. Will? William Fucking Bly?”

I sighed and sat on my couch. This was one of the reasons I didn’t want to tell Fai about the case. I knew he would react badly. “Yes, Will. Why do you hate him so much anyways?”

“Because he’s not a good guy, Jackie!” Fai yelled, catching me by surprise.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Fai breathed and sat next to me. “I have something to tell you.”

I turned to face him waiting for him to continue.

“His father beat him and his family.”

I waited for the rest.

The explanation of what made him a bad guy, but nothing came.

“I knew that, Fai. He told me when we first met.”

Fai was obviously shocked. “And you’re still interested in him? Even knowing that?”

“Yeah?” I was confused. Fai was not making any sense. “Why would his fathers actions dissuade me from having feelings for him?”

“Because he could be a fucking abuser just like his dad!” Fai yelled at me.

He was scaring me. This wasn’t normal for Fai to react this way. I knew he would be upset, but not this… unhinged.

“Fai, you need to leave,” I stated firmly. I refused to allow anyone in my house who spoke to me that way.

“I’m not leaving until you see some sense. He isn’t good for you. He could hurt you!”

“So you’re saying that if your parents are abusive, you could be?” I asked, hoping to make him see the errors of his way.