Love At First Hate (Love At Firsts Book 2)(62)

“If you are then that means something bad happened to him.” Worry laces my voice.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. If you haven’t heard back from him by Monday, we’ll do something. His phone is still on since he’s checking his messages, so at least you know he’s still alive. Unless they have service in the afterlife. How cool would that be!”

“Trust you to be excited about that.” I roll my eyes at him. “It’ll be a week since he disappeared then; that’s long, don’t you think?”

“I’ll ask around. Just try to stay calm and positive. I barely recognize my own brother.” He squeezes my shoulder.

“I love him.” I shrug and hold back the tears that are threatening to fall.

“I know you do, and he loves you too. He wouldn’t leave you just like that.”

“I hope not.” I let the tears fall freely.





May 11, 2016

This is a bad f*cking idea.

Standing outside of my parents’ house, I take in a deep breath, trying to gather up the courage to ring the doorbell and tell them what’s been going on. I know it’ll end badly, but I have to put this masquerade to f*cking rest.

Not only are they against what I’ve always enjoyed and every choice I’ve made, but they are trying to rule mine and my siblings’ lives. I can’t let that happen again, especially not to Maddie.

My heart is still breaking for the way I left Matt without an explanation like the coward I am. I didn’t have any other choice; I just hope he’ll be able to forgive me once I go back to him. If he doesn’t want me, I’ll have to accept it and let him go, but I won’t without a fight. I love him too much to just give up. I’m doing this today so we can hopefully live our life together in peace and without having my father and the weight of my family casting a shadow over our happiness.

“Are you going to stand there long or are you going to come in?” My father’s rough voice resonates behind me.

“No, sir.” I turn to him and follow him inside.

“What are you doing here? Finally came to your senses?” he scoffs.

“You could say that.”

“About time.” He sits in his chair positioned in the corner of the living room, giving him a view of the entire room and the adjacent rooms. “We’ve already set up everything for you and Lindsey. You just have to be there and say I do on the big day,” he says coldly.

“Yeah, about that, it’s not gonna happen,” I say, trying to keep my voice from wavering.

“Excuse me?” he sneers at me.

“See, I’ve never loved Lindsey, and I never will. I’m no-”

“She’s a very respectable young lady. Why can’t you just accept being with her like your siblings have settled with their spouses?” he shouts.

“Because I’m gay.”

“You just have to marry Lindsey and have kids with her. I’m doing this so you’ll have a set future and family.”

“What don’t you understand in the fact that I do not want to spend my life with a woman?”

“Because you weren’t taught that way! It’s a sin, and it’s disgusting!” he bellows.

“So two people loving each other, having actual feelings for each other is disgusting?” I knew my father was set in his ways, but I didn’t think he was this stupid.

“Yes, it’s not natural or normal. Men shouldn’t kiss, hold hands or do God knows what.” He physically shudders.

“Tough luck, I love a man. I love sucking his dick and having mine sucked. I love every single second of it, and the sex is mind-blowing. Much better than with any woman I’ve ever been with. Maybe that’s what you need. A big cock shoved deep in your ass,” I say calmly. Yelling at him won’t have any effect on him.

“I will not allow this to happen! Not now, not ever!” he yells.

“You don’t have a say in how I choose to live my life and whom I choose to love. That’s not how life goes. I don’t know what kind of crazy plan you have to set all your kids up for a life of unhappiness, but I won’t be a part of it and neither will Maddie. She’s far too good for any of that shit. If you as much as try to force her to marry someone I swear to God, I’ll end your miserable life myself,” I spit at him and get up. I’ve had enough of this. It’s pointless to talk to him about anything. It’s always been this way, and it’ll never change. I don’t even know why I bothered coming. A phone call would have been enough.

As I walk out of the room and toward the door to leave, something connects with the back of my head, and my world turns to black.



Opening my eyes slowly, my head is pounding like a motherf*cker. I don’t remember ever getting a headache this bad. I try to move to reach up and rub the sore spot on the back of my head, but my movements are restricted. I look down and see I’m tied to a chair. I try to move, but it’s pointless. Whoever tied me up, knew what they were doing.

“You’re not going anywhere, son.” Robert’s voice resonates in my head.

“What the hell am I doing tied up?” I look around and see him standing to my left. I’m in an empty garage or warehouse or something.

“See, you do not want to cooperate with my plans so I won’t have any other choice but to force you to accept them.” He circles me.