Page 118 of Commit

“Do you know if he’s had his x-rays yet?”

“Yeah, he’s had them. We’re just waiting for the results. The cops will want to talk to him too.”

I look at him sharply.

“It was a hit-and-run. Whoever did this left the scene. The cops want to know what he saw.”

“You know an awful lot for a friend I’ve never heard of.”

“I told them he was my fiancé,” he whispers.

I freeze for a moment before turning to look at him fully. The guy’s big and built like a quarterback, but there’s something about him—something I can’t quite put my finger on—that makes him seem vulnerable.

I raise my eyebrow at him. In an act of defiance, he slips his hand into Abbot’s and glares at me.

Huh, I might end up liking this kid after all.

“I’m not sure you’re his type.”

“And I’m sure you’re wrong.”

I look from him to Abbot as pieces of the puzzle fall into place. “He’s bisexual.”

“I’m gay,” Abbot’s broken voice rasps out.

“But Starling?—”

“Only Starling,” he murmurs, leaving me to fill in the blanks.

“She’s the only woman you’ve slept with, and she knows. She knew all along.”

“Protected me. Loved me,” he whispers.

“Of course she loves you. She told me you’re the only man she’s ever loved. I hate you a little for that. Okay, I hate you a lot for it.”

He makes a noise that sounds almost like a snort. “Hate me like…like Mom now?”

I look at Lewis, who I don’t think Abbot realizes is here. He shrugs his shoulders.

“Your mom didn’t hate you.”

“Hated me… because I’m gay.”

I blow out an angry breath. Really, in this day and age? “If you’re asking me if I hate you because you’re gay, the answer is no, Abbot. Not even a little. I hated you because you fucked my wife first. But as long as you stick to dick from now on, we’ll be fine.”

Lewis grins but stays quiet.

I squeeze Abbot’s arm gently. “Starling wasn’t with you, was she?” I already know. She never said in her letter; I just assumed. I forgot she’s pissed at him too.

“No. Home.”

“Yeah, about that. You missed a lot. She got hurt at school. Some bitch took a baseball bat to her.”

His body jolts, but I hold him still.

“She’s okay, just bruised. But she got angry with me for something and left. And I thought she might come find you.”

He shakes his head, agitated.