All Chapters of A Love Mess: Who loves who?: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Cade slowed down as the traffic light glowed red. He laid the back of his head on the head rest, closing his eyes before opening them again. He was very confused. Yesterday when he saw Justin with his bags and everything, he had quickly concluded that Arlen must've invited Justin just to piss him off, considering what had happened back at the resort. But when he read the shocked expression on Arlen's face, he realized he was mistaken. Even Arlen was as surprised and shocked as he was. But that was not the confusing part, he didn't understand what Justin was trying to do. Agreed, Justin had a terrible relationship with his siblings, but his family owned a couple of hotels where he could stay for months if he wanted to. Even Arlen's apartment was open for Justin to stay. But he decided to show up here without even letting his own boyfriend know he was coming. That part was what confused him. He kept thinking about it over and over again, the way he'd think over a contract clause that

The front door opened around eleven in the night with more noise than it needed to, a fumbled key, a stumble against the frame, a muttered curse before it finally swung shut. Cade looked up from the couch, one earbud still in, thumb paused over his phone. The television murmured low in the background, some show he'd stopped following twenty minutes ago, more noise to fill the house than anything he actually cared to watch. Arlen didn't seem to notice him at first. He crossed the living room in an unsteady line, shirt untucked on one side. He smelled like whiskey from halfway across the room, the kind of smell that clung to a person after hours of drinking rather than one. Cade pulled the other earbud out, watching as Arlen swayed and stumbled on his way. There was something almost hypnotic about it, the way a person who normally carried himself so carefully could come apart like this, all sharp edges gone soft and unpredictable. His steps were heavy and uneven, like the floor kept s

Cade's phone rang just as he hit the send button on the email he had just typed. He checked it. Mom.He almost let it go to voicemail, still busy with his work, but guilt won out and he answered on the fourth ring. "Hey, Mom.""I thought Mr CEO would be so busy not to pick up his own mother's call," she said but there was no edge to it, just something playful.Cade dragged his palm down his face, "I don't have time for this, mom.""You never have time for anything. Anyway, we'll be having dinner at Mr Clifford's house today by 6:30pm.""Is there a special occasion?""Yes, a gala is coming up but we'll discuss more of that at the dinner table.""Can't it just be said through the phone?""No, Mr Clifford insisted. You know how your father and his friends like to have everyone around."Cade sighed, "okay, fine. I'll be there.""Just you? You're coming with Arlen so don't forget to let him know. I tried calling him but his line is not going through. Did he change his number?""Fine, I'll

The emergency room was too bright, all white tile and fluorescent hum, the kind of light that made everyone look a little bit like a ghost. Cade sat forward on a hard plastic chair in the family waiting area, elbows on his knees, staring at a closed door with Arlen's name typed onto it.Max and Brennon stood and leaned on the wall just a few feet away from him. Nick was still at the gala, searching for what had caused this whole thing in the first place. Faintly, he could hear the voices of their parents, making calls and questioning what Arlen had gotten in contact with at the party. But no one has been able to get an answer to it yet. Even Cade was confused. The only weird thing he noticed was the faint faint drop of water by that waiter. But it was wine that had splashed and it also got on him too. So he was confused why Alren had gotten this kind of reaction. Cade brought out his phone, scrolling through the news. The reporters were having a field day with this embarrassing occu

Justin showed up at the hospital the next afternoon with a bouquet of white lilies and a face arranged into exactly the right shape of worry. He'd chosen the lilies deliberately, standing in the flower shop for nearly fifteen minutes looking over the different arrangements before landing on the whitest, most unassuming bunch on the shelf, the kind of flowers that photographed well and said nothing incriminating. Arlen was still propped against the pillows, color mostly back in his face now, the swelling reduced to a faint puffiness along one cheek, enough that he looked like himself again, tired but recognizably Arlen. He glanced up when the door opened and something in his expression eased, relaxed and happy, the way it never was for anyone but his boyfriend."You're here!" Arlen said, like a kid who just saw Santa."I'm sorry I wasn't here last night," Justin said, setting the flowers on the windowsill with the kind of care that looked, to anyone who didn't know better, like real t