“Kevin,” Jacob speaks up. “Don’t do this. Don’t take your anger with me out on anyone else.” His voice is calm and even despite having just been choked by the very man he’s attempting to reason with.

I chance a glance at Chloe and I see the hurt on her face at my father’s harsh words.

“Are you kidding me? Fuck you, Jacob.” He looks away from us and then back to me. “How fucking long and don’t you dare fucking lie to me, Whitney?”

Jacob presses off the wall and gets in front of me. Jacob and my father are about the same height so they’re now staring at each other eye to eye. “Do not use that tone with her. I let you do that bullshit choking move but you and I both know I let that happen. Do not push me.”

“Then you tell me, tough guy. When did you touch my daughter for the first time? Was it even consensual or—”

“How could you even ask that?!” I interrupt. “Dad… what makes you think JP would ever do anything to hurt me?”

“You hear that, JP?” he snarls, looking at Jacob. “That name she called you because it was easier than saying Jacob when she was learning to talk?” His eyes well up with tears as he shakes his head in disappointment. “Almost thirty years we’ve been best friends. You were there when she was born.” I feel like the boiling anger is slowly starting to fall away and we are crossing into pure hurt. “That’s my little girl, man. And… you! YOU! Of all people!”

“I know.” Jacob’s voice breaks and I wonder if seeing my dad cry is triggering something in him. “I know… but I love her. She’s everything to me.”

“YOU CAN’T LOVE HER!” my mother screams with a look of horror. “SHE’S NOT FOR YOU TO LOVE!” She lets out a sob and takes a breath. “Answer him,” she grits out before gesturing toward my father. “How long?”

“I was eighteen. I was eighteen.” I look back and forth between both of them. “I swear. I… swear.”

“And this… whole time?” My mother asks. Her eyes are narrowed as if to say how did you hide this from us for so long?

“No. No. He left. He went to Mexico, and we broke up. He said we couldn’t be together because of you two.” The tears have started flying down my face rapidly. “It crushed me.” I let out a shaky breath. “He chose you two over me and it crushed me!” I scream.