Unraveling Secrets

BECCA

Dinner went perfectly. The food and wine were delicious, and my mom outdid herself with the dishes. I used this opportunity to learn more about their life without me. I asked a lot of questions about their work, our family's friends, and their usual daily activities.

My mom went to dance classes and was very happy with her new skills. Dad took advantage of those days. He enjoyed the silence of the house, with a good book in his hand and a glass of whiskey.

She said he was boring, but he only laughed at her. I love my parents so much. Without their support, I would have never decided to pursue my dreams in the first place.

Dad went to his bedroom around midnight, leaving Mom and me to talk. We drank a little wine and then moved to the kitchen.

I helped Mom wash the dishes. She was chatting non-stop, telling me what she planned for us when I would be back from the wedding. She said she wanted us to have dinner with Kate's parents, and I happily agreed to it. I was always close to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce; they were like family to me.

I even expected them to be here tonight, but Mom said that Kate's parents declined the offer to join us. They said it should be just us on my first night at home, while they would be happy to visit us the other day. There was truth to these words.

I climbed the stairs with my mom, and we stopped near my room. I was hesitating, and she saw it. She knew when she needed to be silent, so she gave me time to make a decision. I looked her straight in the eyes and saw that she was smiling at me.

“Mom, can you stay with me for a little while? I would like to talk to you.”

“Of course, honey.”

We went into my room and nestled comfortably on my bed. I sighed and placed my head on her shoulder. God, why was it so difficult to start this talk? Maybe, because until now, I hadn’t opened up to anyone?

Chase tried to ask me, but I gave him very little information about what had happened. Kate and Lily also were totally in the dark. It was confusing even to me, what could I say to them so that they would understand?

“Rebecca, tell me. Are you nervous about going to the wedding?”

“You have no idea…”

“Because of Drew? I honestly thought that you were able to discuss everything with him.”

“Drew isn’t a problem. Well… He is… Because… Fuck!”

“Sweetheart, relax. I won’t judge you. I’ve made that mistake once, when you were 18, I learned my lesson. You can tell me anything.”

“It’s exactly that... I don’t even know where to start!”

“Rebecca, it was so long ago. Why don’t you start with the end of your relationship with Drew? You were heartbroken, and I didn’t ask for details…”

“You’re probably right. That would be the most rational decision.”

***

I started dating Drew when we were on our winter break of my first year in college. We were happy together, enjoying dates, talks, and our passionate lovemaking. We loved each other, and I know for sure that those feelings were powerful.

He even invited me to spend time at his grandmother’s house in LA. Because I was important to him, our relationship was important to him. We cherished our relationship, respected each other, and gave each other space when it was needed.

We were young, and a few times we had very heated arguments. But they always ended up with us, tangled in bed.

Logan became my friend. My best friend. Sometimes it was complicated for him to stay neutral because he was also Drew’s friend. He tried to do his best. He was himself while he was with Melanie, even if they argued a lot. But after their breakup—he changed.

The whole summer before his final year in college, he partied, drank, and hooked up with girls. It continued when we returned to college. He acted like Drew before meeting me.

Everything changed one night. I was in Drew’s room when he received a call from one of the guys from the team. He only said that Logan was taken to the hospital. We rushed there in the middle of the night, trying our best not to freak out.

When I saw him for the first time, I slid down to the floor and stayed like that for some time for sure. Drew acted very differently; he was calm and collected.

He called Logan’s parents, but they were already on their way to the hospital. He called Lily and asked her to come. I was surprised that he was so unaffected. Until I saw his hands trembling, it was just an act. He didn’t want to show how worried he was.

Logan was beaten almost to death. He was with some guys from the team, and well, one girl decided to show her interest in him. He even encouraged it until her boyfriend showed up.

She knew who Logan was, and she wanted him, despite the fact that she wasn’t single. Her boyfriend brought his friends to “talk” to Logan. They not only beat him, one of these guys cut his lower abdomen with a shard of glass.

All of his friends and family were worried about him. When the doctors said that there was no threat to his life, we all sighed in relief. Drew and I, taking turns, spent all of our free time at the hospital, cheering Logan up and talking to him.

This situation woke him up. He realized that he was going down a road that could have destroyed his future, and he wanted to play football no matter what.

In a few months, Logan Jones was already back on top with his good grades and success in his position on the field. As a reminder of that night, he now had a deep scar in his lower abdomen. He was even asked about this in one of the interviews, and he said it was a mistake of his youth.

I didn't know how to put it better.

He didn't date anyone after that. Hookups, yes, but nothing serious or scandalous. After the one kiss we shared right after he broke up with Melanie, friendship was the only thing between us.

I was always attracted to him, but as I was in love with Drew, I never wanted to explore what could be between Logan and me. And neither did he.

After their graduation, I spent three weeks with Drew. He was going to start working for his dad in Autumn, so we were enjoying ourselves. One team drafted Logan. I can't even remember now which team it was exactly.

He went to live in another state, so our friendship faced a lot of challenges while my relationship with Drew was blossoming.

We had been together for more than a year. I started wondering what I would do if he wanted to marry me. I was ready to quit college as soon as he asked me to.

With the start of my third year in college, Drew and I couldn’t spend as much time together. Yes, his hometown was close to college, but he was busy with work, while I was under a lot of pressure with my studies.

We talked and messaged a lot during those days and tried to visit each other on the weekends. But, as I was used to seeing my boyfriend daily, these changes were too hard for me. I missed him badly.

Drew suggested that I come to his hometown on my winter break, and I eagerly agreed to his proposal. I dreamt about spending time with him in his house, about going on dates and doing all of the naughty things in bed we loved to do so much.

Before that, we hadn’t seen each other for almost a month. We were going to celebrate being together for two years, and I was so excited!

So when Kate proposed that we go there one evening earlier, I agreed. She wanted to surprise Tim, while I wanted to do the same to Drew.

I dropped her at Tim’s place and drove my car to Drew’s house. I called him just to know where he was, but he didn’t pick up his phone. I saw that his car wasn’t there, which meant that he was somewhere in town.

So I just stayed in my car, reading a book on my iPad while waiting for Drew to come. Thinking back to that day, I am confident in one thing. I should never have come earlier.

My car was parked on the opposite side of the road from Drew’s house. I spent two hours there before I saw his car pulling up. I put my iPad into my backpack, looked at myself in the rearview mirror, and was ready to leave the car when I froze on the spot.

Drew wasn’t alone. He wasn’t even the driver. It was a girl—a girl with a stunning body in a black bodycon dress.

He held her hand as they walked into the house together. They were chatting and smiling at each other. When he opened his front door, I saw the girl lean in and kiss him on the lips. Quickly. He let her do that and just ushered her inside.

Fifteen minutes later, I was still sitting in the car. I wanted to drive back home. I wanted to go to Drew’s house and look into his eyes. I did neither of those things. I called Chase, but he didn’t answer my call. It was late, so it wasn’t surprising. And then I called Logan.

“Rebecca! It has been so long…”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I exhaled a heavy sigh. The last time that I had talked to Logan was probably more than a month ago.

“It’s okay. I remember how tough studies are in college when you are a junior.”

“How are you, Logan?”

“Excited. Tired. I never thought that it would be like that.”

“Lily told me about your success. Who knows, maybe soon you will be drafted by one of the most famous football teams in our country? Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles as you always dreamed.”

“Keep dreaming, babe,” he laughed, and I would love to join him, but I couldn’t.

“Rebecca, are you alright? You don’t sound like it.”

“I… It’s Drew…”

“Where are you?” Logan’s voice sounded demanding, and I almost automatically answered him.

“In my car. Near Drew’s house.”

“Stay there.” He hung up.

Was he going to call Lily? I had no idea. I just stared at Drew’s house from my car. It was dark. He was supposed to be home alone since he told me that his parents went to LA for the Christmas holidays. Well, alone, but not lonely.

I couldn't wrap my mind around what had happened there. I know he loved me. I felt it. But then, why? Was he so desperate because of a lack of sex? One fucking month without seeing me, and he decided to cheat on me?!

I heard a knock on my window and turned my head. When I saw who it was, I was stunned.

It was Logan. He was wearing a black hoodie and black sweatpants. I opened the door and climbed outside. Without giving it a second thought, I just wound my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. His hands instantly wrapped around my waist. I hid my face in his chest and started crying.

All this damned time, I didn't let myself shed even a single tear, but in Logan's arms, I broke down. I was sobbing, and my whole body was trembling, while I couldn't even say a word.

This situation broke me. It was tough for me to cope with my second boyfriend cheating on me. Was I that bad? Wasn't my love for Drew enough?

“Rebecca, let's get you back in your car. Will you let me drive it?” Logan whispered to me, and I only nodded my head at him.

I went to sit in the passenger's side, while Logan climbed inside behind the steering wheel. I bent down and hid my face in my knees. I felt Logan's palm on my back; he was running his hand up and down. He tried to calm me down.

“Becca, tell me. What did he do?”

“I saw him with a girl. He brought her home, knowing that I won’t be there until tomorrow evening. He wasn’t expecting me to show up today.”

“Maybe she’s a relative?”

“Logan, I know what you are trying to do. So don’t. She kissed him on the lips, and he let her do that. Why, Logan? Why couldn’t he stay faithful to me?”

Logan was silent. He was staring at the road in front of his eyes while I observed him. Then he just took his phone and called Drew. His call went unanswered. He cursed and hid his phone in his pocket.

Then, he just started the engine and drove my car to his house. He didn’t ask me anything, hadn’t said a word in Drew’s defense. Logan just let me be, and I was grateful to him.

After he parked my car, he took my backpack from the backseat while I stood outside looking at his house. It was dark and silent. Where were his parents and where was Lily?