Triple the Love

Truth Revealed

Corey

“f**k, f**k, f**k,” I muttered as I paced my living room. My stomach felt like it was in a constant knot that twisted tighter and tighter with every passing minute. The nerves had been building up the whole day and this was it. I had already been on my individual dates with Jack and Hank, and now I had invited them both over. The weight of what I was about to do felt as if it was crushing me, but I didn’t have any more options. One thing had been made very clear, Jack and Hank were both suspicious. So, now there was no more hiding. No more secrets. I had to tell them the truth, even if it meant losing everything. Losing them both. Jack was the first one to arrive, right on time, and as I opened the door for him, I tried to relax as much as possible.

“Hey, boy,” Jack greeted me as I stepped aside to let him inside and as I shut the door behind him, I realized that this could be the last time things would be cool between Jack and me. That depressing thought made me sigh sadly as I led Jack into the living room. We got comfortable on the couch, but, of course, I couldn’t relax.

“So…ah, how is Tori doing?” I asked as I tried to make casual conversation. Jack smiled brightly as he thought about his sister.

“She is doing very good. Her counseling practice is up and running, but things are slow…not that it bothers Tori. She thrives when she has a lot going on,” Jack explained, and I nodded just as there was a knock at the door. I froze as my heart started to pound even faster in my chest. That was Hank. Jack frowned as he glanced over his shoulder. “Are you expecting someone?” he asked.

“Ah…I’ll be right back,” I said as I hopped off the couch and just about ran to the door. I pulled open the front door and Hank looked devilishly handsome but clearly confused.

“Is that Jack’s car?” he asked and all I could do was nod. Hank didn’t say anything more as he stepped inside and headed straight for the living room. I shut the door and hurriedly followed him. Hank took one look at Jack sitting on the couch and, at first, he seemed confused, but then the realization dawned in his eyes. “This is…interesting,” Hank remarked as he took a seat. Jack looked bewildered and confused, and I knew there wouldn’t be any time for chitchat. The moment had arrived. Both Hank and Jack looked over at me and I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair.

“Ah…we need to talk,” I said, my voice was barely above a whisper. I sat down across from them and took a deep breath. Neither of them looked very relaxed as I considered how to start. Neither of them said anything as they waited for me to start. I felt as if I was about to walk into a firestorm. “So…I’ve been keeping something from both of you,” I finally started, and my voice was shaky. I took another deep breath to try and calm my nerves, but it was pointless. “I care about both of you…a lot…but the truth is…the truth is…” my voice trailed off as I struggled to get the words out. Hank looked as if he was a flight risk and that he was going to make a run for it at any second, whereas Jack continued to look at me, confused and concerned. “I’ve been secretly dating both of you,” I then blurted out. Jack’s face went pale, his eyes widened in shock. Hank’s expression twisted into something darker, and I hurriedly continued. “I didn’t mean for it to happen this way…I wanted you both, and I had no idea how to choose between the two of you,” the tension in the room was so unbearable and the silence that followed was suffocating. I could see the hurt and betrayal on Jack’s face, but it was Hank who stood up and spoke first.

“You have got to be kidding me…right?” he asked, his voice was low and dangerously angry. “You have been dating both of us this whole time? Lying to our faces?” I winced as I looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you-”

“But you did, Corey,” Hank cut me off and there was no denying just how angry he was. “You hurt me. You hurt him. You have been dating us both…doing what? Weighing your options so that you can eventually make a choice?” tears pricked at my eyes, but I held them back. I needed to do better. I needed to explain.

“I wasn’t trying to-”

“Stop,” Hank said, and I glanced up at him. “You lied to me. You lied to Jack. You betrayed me and what is this?” he looked over at Jack and then back at me, his fists clenched at his sides. “What is this, Corey? Did you finally make a decision, and this is how you decided to break the news to us? What exactly is going on? What are you expecting? For me to forgive you? To be ok with whatever this is?”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I desperately tried to keep the tears at bay. “It’s not like that…I haven’t…I can’t…I care about you both,” Hank shook his head, the disgust and anger was written all over his face.

“Just stop, Corey. This is done. I’m done. I’m done with this…and I’m done with you,” Hank said, and then he looked over at Jack. “And you…I thought better of you, Jack,” Hank was now disappointed in Jack, and I sighed softly. This wasn’t at all what I had expected, but as Hank threw up his hands and stormed out of the house – the front door slammed behind him with such force that it rattled me to my core. The tears I had been trying to hold back finally started to fall as I waited for Jack to follow Hank. I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t blame either of them. I deserved this. I deserved to lose them both. But Jack didn’t move. He merely sat there, his expression a mix of shock, disappointment, and sadness. I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t look angry. Not like Hank had been.

“Jack, I am so sorry,” I sobbed as I wrung my fingers in shame. “I never meant for this to happen…I never wanted to hurt either of you…I just…I didn’t know how to choose,” Jack didn’t say a word, his gaze now fixed on the floor. When he finally looked at me, his eyes were softer somehow.

“I just need some time, Corey,” he said quietly. “I need to think about all of this,” I slowly nodded as my heart continued to break.

“I understand,” I whispered. Jack then stood up and left me alone. I felt helpless. Heartbroken and alone. Everything I deserved.