Ex—Factor

The breakup was humiliating. Not because Evan cried—though he did, it was loud and ugly—but because it happened in front of Liam’s entire friend group at a bar.

And now, three weeks later, Evan had the nerve to show up at the Fitzgerald estate.

Rain plastered his clothes to his body as he stood on the stone porch, shivering and fuming. He never should’ve taken Liam’s father up on his old offer. 

He'd told him after a huge fight with Liam, “If you ever need space, the pool house is yours.”

And there he was standing in the rain with his duffel bag, in front of this beach house belonging to his Ex's father whom he'd informed of his arrival two days ago.

He rang the doorbell and soon the door opened.

And there stood him—Daniel Fitzgerald. Fifty three, greying hair. Fit physique, tall and breathtakingly good looking even for his age.

“Evan.” Daniel’s voice was low, quite surprised even.

“Hi, Mr. Fitz,” Evan shivered. “I thought you got my text.”

“Oh, I did. I'm only surprised you actually showed up."Daniel stepped aside, his lips twitching in amusement. 

“I'm sorry for barging in like this, your son is an asshole.” Evan apologized, stepping into the house. He took off his wet shoes and put them on the shoe dryer and then went to wipe his feet on the mat.

“Ah! Your clothes are wet, you're gonna have to take them off, I just don't want water everywhere in the house,” Daniel said, pointing out his dripping self. 

Evan stared up at him with confusion, “My clothes?” He asked and Daniel nodded, gesturing that he took them off.

“I'll dry ‘em for you.” 

“Oh okay.” Evan said with confusion, as he took off his jeans and polo t-shirt, leaving himself half naked, save for his pair of Rio tights. 

Daniel took the wet clothes and immediately began to walk away but not before announcing; “There's a room down the left of the hallway, I've prepared it for you, you can use it.”

“T—thank you.” Evans replied, shivering between his words. He picked up his bag and went down the hall, tiptoeing so he wouldn't slip and fall on the polished floor.

When he got into the room he immediately navigated his way to the bathroom and took a quick hot water shower. He stepped out of the shower, and rummaged his bag for some dry clothes but they had all gotten wet from the rain. 

Evan remembered that his phone too was buried with the pile of clothes and he dug for it, when he got it out, he turned it on waiting patiently for messages to load. While he waited he opened his last messages with Liam, and a blue box sat there left on being delivered. 

[Good night, babe. :♡]

A knock came at the door, and Evan jumped at the startle.

He turned just as Daniel stepped in, holding a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeve tee.

“These should fit,” he said simply. “I keep a few spare clothes in the closet for guests. Or emergencies.”

Evan nodded, voice caught in his throat. “Thanks.”

Daniel didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he looked at Evan for a moment—his gaze skimming just low enough to make Evan's stomach tighten.

“You look like you’ve lost weight,” Daniel said.

Evan blinked. “Breakups do that.”

Daniel gave a small smile. “Your breakup. Others fatten them up, especially when they are being drained.”

“Yeah…are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here?” Evan asked, glancing over. “I know things with Liam…”

Daniel leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed. “What Liam did was cruel. He humiliated you in front of people who should’ve had the decency to look away.” His voice softened. “I meant what I said, Evan. If you needed space… it’s yours.”

Evan looked down, he felt his throat tighten. “You’re the only one who said that. Everyone else just… took his side.”

“I didn’t,” Daniel said, staring intently at Evan who stood with a towel wrapped around his mid-section. “Dinner will be ready in a bit, you can come out if you need something hot, you're shivering like a rat.” He added, rapping on the doorframe before he left.

The guest room smelled faintly of sandalwood and cider, especially after Evan tugged the borrowed sweatshirt over his head—it was a little loose, but soft, like it had been worn a couple of times. He took a deep breath and stared at himself in the mirror above the dresser. His hair was damp, curling slightly at the edges and his eyes were very tired.

He padded barefoot out into the hallway, following the warm smell of food toward the kitchen.

Daniel was standing at the stove, stirring something in a pot. He’d changed into dark lounge pants and a long-sleeved henley that fit snugly across his chest and forearms. He looked relaxed and focused. And for some reason, that unsettled Evan more than anything, he'd never seen Liam’s father for more than he was—Liam’s dad, Daniel.

“You’re just in time,” Daniel said without turning. “Hope you still like chicken soup.”

“I’ll eat anything warm at this point,” Evan replied, sliding onto one of the stools by the kitchen island.

There was a pause. Then Daniel set two bowls on the counter, poured the soup, and dropped a few buttered slices of sourdough between them.

They ate quietly for a minute. Rain still tapped a little less violently at the windows.

“Do you miss him?” Daniel asked finally, not looking up from his bowl.

Evan’s stomach clenched. “Sometimes. Mostly I just miss... who I thought he was.”

Daniel nodded slowly. “He hides behind a screen, and it faded quite opaque. I used to think he’d outgrow it.”

Evan looked up. “You’ve never talked to me about him like that.”

“You were in love with him,” Daniel said, dipping his bread in his soup, with his left forearm resting on the table. “And I respected that. Even when he didn’t.”

“Why'd you invite me here?” 

“I invite all of Liam’s exes here,” Daniel said, swirling his soup with a spoon. “Safe to say that none of them who came here—” he paused to meet Evan's expecting gaze, “—ever left the same.”