The Confession by Sierra Kincade

me to move on because Alec already had.
    It occurred to me Amy may have known Alec was dating Janelle when she’d seen him, months ago.
    I would deal with that later.
    I straightened, lifted my chin. He had a world of secrets tucked away. I could see them, right behind his eyes, and yet here he was trying to get
me
to bare
my
soul.
    â€œI’m fine.” I glanced around. The waitstaff was all busy on the other side of the kitchen, preparing more hors d’oeuvres for the guests. “Just hungry. Kitchen seemed like the appropriate place.”
    He gave a small smile. “I saw you called last night. I was . . . on the other line.”
    â€œOh.” I waved my hand, overjoyed that there was no apparent end to tonight’s humiliation. “It was an accident.”
    He nodded. “I called you back. Your phone was off.”
    â€œYou did?” I clenched my fists, irritated at how eager I sounded.
    He pushed off the table, came a step closer. I bit the inside of my cheek. His fingers were twitching against his thigh. I wanted them on my waist, sliding around to my back and then lowering. His jaw flexed, as if he was in physical pain.
    Silence.
    I tucked my hair behind my ear, wishing I had a rubber band, or even a chopstick, so that I could knot it out of my face. I had to show him I wasn’t some poor sad puppy.
    He leaned closer.
    â€œYou look . . .” He laughed dryly. “Christ. You know.”
    I closed my eyes. Why did he have to say that stuff? He shouldn’t have been. He was here with someone else.
    â€œJanelle, huh?”
    He cleared his throat. Looked at the floor. “It’s complicated.”
    No,
we
were complicated. I refused to believe they’d been through anything like what we had.
    â€œDo you love her?” I asked.
    I could hear him breathing.
    â€œDon’t ask me that,” he said. “You know the answer already.”
    It felt like I’d run full force into a brick wall. Every part of me hurt.
    â€œI called to tell you you’re doing the right thing with the trial.” I forced myself to look up at him, at his perfect mouth that I used to kiss whenever I wanted. “Don’t give up.”
    Before I could say more, I skirted past him, and made for the door. I didn’t hear if he followed.
    It didn’t take long to find Marcos, and he didn’t ask questions when I told him I wasn’t feeling well. He told me in the car he’d seen Janelle, but even if he knew she’d brought a date, he didn’t mention it.
    Twice, he tried to convince me to stay out with him. We could go get drunk. We could rent bad horror movies and go back to his place. I told him I was tired.
    He walked me to the door, and waited until I was inside to leave. Luckily, my dad was already asleep, so I didn’t have to face the questions about what had happened or what I was about to do. As soon as I saw Marcos’s lights disappear down the street, I grabbed my keys and headed back downstairs.
    It was pain that guided me to that bar. Pain that had me freshening up my lipstick in the rearview mirror when I got there. I had a picture message from Amy of Paisley and Chloe dressed like farmers. She’d asked for a selfie of me in my dress, but I didn’t respond.
    Alec and I were over. Whatever was left inside of me that still clung to him needed to be severed. Tonight.
    I barely looked as I crossed the parking lot. A white car nearly hit me, and though I waved a halfhearted apology, I couldn’t see the driver through the tinted windows. A couple standing outside asked if I was all right, and I smiled and said something about needing a drink. I went straight to the bar and sat down, and when the bartender asked what he could get me, I said a Long Island iced tea.
    I swiveled on the bar seat, staring blankly at the fancy bottles on the mirrored shelf straight ahead of me. It was the first time I didn’t feel