Two days later....
Kade's dad stands by the open bay doors, his arms crossed, rain dripping off his jacket. He'd heard enough. Rumors spread like oil stains in this town. But this one? It was acid.
Kade steps inside.
"Dad?"
He turns. Silence.
Jesse appears behind Kade, walking in, wiping his hands on a rag like nothing's wrong.
"Hey, man—"
The punch comes quick.
Right across Jesse's jaw.
Kade shouts. "Dad, what the hell?!"
"Don't you dare." His father's voice is gravel and flame.
"Don't you dare stand here, in my garage, beside my son, like you didn't cross a line."
Jesse steadies himself, hand on his cheek. He doesn't fight back.
"I didn't mean for—"
"Didn't mean to?" His father scoffs. "You're ten years older. You've known him since he was what—twelve?" Kade's dad yelled at Jesse.
"Jesus, Dad!" Kade shouted, stepping between them.
"You—both of you," his father growled. "You think I'm blind? You think I wouldn't hear about my son sneaking around with my best friend like I'm some goddamn idiot?"
Jesse straightened, blood on his lip. "I love him"
Kade's dad didn't let him finish his statement before he threw him a punch on his nose again..
Kade steps in front of Jesse now.
"Stop treating me like I'm a kid."
His dad's eyes pierce him. "You could've told me. You should've told me. I thought we were past hiding shit, Kade."
Kade's voice cracks. "I didn't know how. You'd never understand."
And . "We didn't mean for it to happen like this."
Silence stretches between them, tense and pulsing.
Then, to Jesse:
"And you. You were my brother's apprentice,you were like family. My friend. I trusted you."
Jesse's voice is quiet. "I never touched him until he was of age."
"That's not the point." He looks away. "You think just because you waited, it makes it okay?"
Kade trembles. "I love him also,Dad."
His father's breath catches.
His father looked at them both—two men, two liars, two people he never expected to wound him in the same breath.
Without another word, he walked out into the rain slamming the door behind him.