PENALTY by Annika Sturm (best contemporary novels TXT) 📕

look. Then he smiled at Emma, 'thank you Em.' She took Alex’s hand and pulled him towards the sofas. 'Come on, don't be so grumpy. They're our guests.' Alex could feel her cold hand and saw the worry in her eyes. 'Fine.' He smiled at her and reluctantly sat down next to Tom. He took a glass of wine from the table and looked at Markus. 'Did you have a fun afternoon?' Markus asked and sipped his wine. 'Not too bad.' Alex said coldly. 'What did you do?' 'We went go-karting,' Alex shook his head and forced a laugh, 'this is ridiculous. Why are you asking us this?' 'I'm making conversation Alex. That's what people do.' Alex was getting stressed and drank some of his wine. Then he took a deep breath.

'So,' he said calmly trying to sound polite, 'I'm assuming you're not here to chat about our afternoon activities. What would you really like to talk about?' Markus grinned and Alex could feel the panic in him rise again. 'Shouldn't the question be what you want to talk about Alex?' Alex stared at him. 'Stop playing games.' He said quietly. 'Ha. I couldn't have said anything more appropriate!' Markus said and laughed. 'I don't understand,' Emma frowned, 'what are you talking about?' She looked at Markus. 'Do you want to tell her? Or shall I?' Markus asked. Tom and Alex tensed up and almost forgot to breathe. 'I don't know what you mean.' Alex said quietly and gulped staring at him.

'Your wonderful boyfriend over there is responsible for my injuries.' He said pointing at Alex. Emma frowned surprised. Then she looked at his hand again and put two and two together. 'My God, you did have an argument. A fight even! But why?' Alex gasped looking at Markus. 'Nothing too serious.' Markus said. Emma hugged Max more tightly in her arms. 'Alex,' Emma said reproachfully, 'you can't just go around punching people!' 'Please Em.' Alex said irritatedly. 'Is this linked with Markus no longer being captain as well?' She asked him. Alex took a deep breath. 'Vaguely.' He nodded. 'Vaguely?', Markus frowned at him, 'absolutely!' 'Look, I'm sorry about what happened, alright? Can we drop this now?' Alex was breathing hard with stress.

There was a moment of awkward silence. Max was getting unsettled on Emma's lap. She stroked his hair and sat him on the floor but he crawled straight towards Alex, who picked him up and held him closely. Max giggled and settled on his dad's lap, cheekily smiling at Tom. Alex was feeling stressed but was desperately trying to stay calm. 'What a great dad you are,' Markus said, 'look at him. Such a natural. Isn't he?' He said to Emma pointing at Alex and Max.

'I think we talked about everything. You should go now.' Tom said calmly. He stared at Markus intently, who stood up and helped himself to more wine. Tom shook his head in frustration. 'Is this your house?', Markus asked surprised, 'I don't think you can tell me what I can and can't do here?' Alex handed Max to Tom, who grabbed him protectively and kissed his cheek. He stood up and faced Markus. 'Tommy is right. It's time to go. And it is my house after all.' He looked at him with angry eyes.

'You're all crazy,' Emma said annoyed, 'what is it with boys?', she looked at Tom, 'you always used to be the sensible one. What is going on Tommy?' Tom didn't respond. Instead he pressed his nose into Max's hair avoiding any eye contact. Markus sipped his wine and sat back down. Tom pulled Alex by his hand for him to sit down again as well.

Markus smiled at her. 'Have you ever wondered why Alex hangs out with Tommy all the time?' Emma laughed and drank some of her wine. 'Why should I? Those two have been inseparable for years. They get on like a house on fire. Always have done.' Alex and Tom gave Markus a threatening look. They knew exactly where this was going. Markus laughed. 'Yes they have, haven't they?', he paused, 'only that it may not be as innocent as it looks.' He smiled and took another sip of his wine. Emma looked at the boys confused. 'What does that mean?'

Alex jumped up and was close to punching Markus again. 'Watch your mouth.' He spat through his teeth. 'Alex, you scare me.' Emma gulped. She took Max off Tom and stood up facing Alex holding her son in her arms. Alex walked towards her and hugged her. 'It's okay. I don't mean to scare you. I'm sorry.' He stroked her and Max's hair. He felt so stressed and desperate, he could have started crying again.

'You know I thought exactly the same. That they are just exceptionally good friends. Until very recently when I found out the truth,' Markus paused and Alex felt like his heart was about to stop, 'Emma, I am really sorry to tell you this but I feel you deserve to know what's really going on here,' he had stood up and looked at her intently, 'your boyfriend is gay. And he's sleeping with Tom behind your back.' Emma stared at Alex in shock. 'What?', she muttered and almost laughed in disbelief clutching Max in her arms, 'is this true?' She mumbled as her eyes were welling up with tears. Her whole body was shaking and Max started crying as he sensed the desperate situation. Alex carefully stroked her hair. He smiled at her sadly.

'Don't believe this nonsense Em. He's full of shit.' Tom shouted and gasped for air. 'Tommy.' Alex shook his head whilst looking at Emma's shocked face still stroking her hair. 'Tell her Alex!', Tom urged him in despair, 'tell her that we're only friends and nothing more. Of course he only loves you and Max, Em.' 'Tommy,' Alex turned around and gave him a look, 'it's okay,' he whispered as he could see Tom's desperate face. He turned back to Emma, who stared at him expectantly. He took a deep breath, 'yes, it is true,' he said quietly, 'Tommy and I are together.' Emma broke down in tears and Alex caught her just before she was about to collapse. He sat her down on a chair as she was still holding Max tightly in her arms. He bent his knees and rested his hands on her thighs checking her face with concern. 'Get off me!' She shouted angrily and pushed him over onto the floor.

Markus slowly took his coat whilst Tom couldn't take his eyes off Emma and Alex as he watched them in horror. 'I'm sorry Emma. But you deserve better than this,' Markus said quietly and slowly made his way to the stairs. The boys stared at him in disbelief, 'I'll see myself out.' He said as he put his coat on and started descending the stairs. Alex was still lying on the floor and Tom felt helpless and paralysed. Then he finally started running after Markus and caught him just before he reached his car. 'Why did you have to do this?', he shouted at him in despair, 'why couldn't you just let it go?', he was breathing hard, 'you've just destroyed three people's lives.' 'No, Tom, you are both responsible for your actions. Alex could have done the right thing and finish it. It was his choice not to.' Tom stared at him. 'It's none of your fucking business!', he shouted at him, 'you had no right to do this to him.' He was crying in frustration. 'I'd rather Emma wasn't in this state right now. But I had to tell her the truth.' 'What are you, some sort of morale apostle?', Tom said, 'I just don't get you.' 'She is a gorgeous girl, a wonderful mother. He just doesn't deserve her.' He took a deep breath. Tom stared at him with wide eyes. 'I don't believe this,' he muttered, 'you fancy her. Don't you? Was this about Emma all along?', he almost laughed in disbelief, 'what, are you trying to be her saviour or something?' Markus laughed and got into his car, 'she would never go for a loser like you!', Tom tried to stop him from closing the door but was too late, 'and you call us sick?' He shouted after him as he drove off at full speed. Tom just stared. He could hear Emma screaming at Alex inside the house. Then he took a deep breath, wiped the tears off his cheeks and ran back indoors.

Alex had stood up again and tried to take Max off Emma to soothe him. The child was still crying with stress and fear. 'Take your filthy hands off him,' Emma shouted, 'do you really think I'll ever leave him one more minute with you?' Alex felt scared and helpless. 'Em, please,' he said calmly, 'please let me just explain everything to you.' He gasped for air. She jumped up and walked to the other side of the room with Max in her arms. 'Explain?', she screamed, 'that you're gay?', she laughed, 'I'm looking forward to that.'

They both looked at Tom as he came back upstairs. Alex was relieved to see him and his presence made him feel a little less desperate. 'Ah. Super lover is back,' Emma laughed bitterly, 'excellent.' She walked towards Tom and looked at him. 'God, I'm such a daft cow,' she said quietly, 'I saw the signs and thought he was sleeping with other women,' she shook her head, 'instead it was you,' she looked at Tom in disgust. Then she turned to Alex, 'how long has this been going on for?' He gulped and cast his eyes down. 'Not long. I...' 'How long?' She shouted. Alex took a deep breath. 'Four months.' She stared at him. 'My God. Your skiing weekend in Austria. It was an excuse to shag,' the boys exchanged a look, 'did you laugh about me when you had sex with each other? About how stupid and naive I am?' 'Em.' Alex shook his head. 'You must have thought it was hilarious.' She continued. 'Em,' Alex said more assertively, 'we have always felt incredibly guilty about all this.' She stared at him. 'Oh. You poor boys.'

Tom took a deep breath. 'It's all my fault Em,' he said quietly, 'it would have never happened if it wasn't for me.' He gasped for air. 'Tommy.' Alex shook his head. 'He has always loved you and Max. He would have never wanted to hurt you.' 'Tommy,' Alex smiled at him, 'don't. It's okay.' Max had calmed down a little in Emma's arms. She looked at Tom. 'And what does Christine say to all this?', she asked him, 'oh no wait. Let me guess. She has been just as stupid as me? Am I right?' She shouted. 'She doesn't know yet. No,' Tom shook his head, 'I, I..,' he stammered, 'I was going to finish it as soon as I got back.' Emma laughed. 'Of course you were!' Alex looked at her. 'He really was Em.' He said. 'Well then he has more guts than you will ever have, you coward.' Emma spat through her teeth and Alex bit his lip, trying not to cry.

'When did you know you are gay?', she asked him, 'before we had Max?', Alex avoided her eyes, 'huh?' She pushed him. 'I never knew, really,' he said as tears started rolling down his cheeks 'it wasn't a conscious thing until...' He took a deep breath. 'Until?' Emma shouted. 'Until Tommy kissed me for the first time.' He whispered quietly. Tom held his head in despair. 'Were you ever going to tell me Alex?', her and Alex’s faces were inches from each other, 'don't lie to me.' She said coldly. 'Yes.' He nodded. 'When.' 'I don't know.' Emma smiled sadly. 'You would have just kept cheating on me. Still sleeping with