Archive of Our Own

Every morning at 4:30 AM, Henry Fox is yanked out of sleep by his blaring alarm clock. And every morning at 4:30 AM, Henry Fox wishes he had a different life.

Henry stumbles out of bed, nearly slipping on the crumpled paper he threw on the ground last night when he was trying to remedy his insomnia with writing. He hobbles through his apartment like a zombie, getting ready for the day ahead. Wrapping a scarf around his neck as if preparing for battle against the chill of winter in New York City, Henry gives his beagle David a few pats on the head and is out the door.

An average day at work consists of Henry, alone in his booth, filling his downtime with stories and poems. Now and then he is interrupted by the rare question from a confused tourist at his window. He watches the thousands of commuters come in and out of the station, often making up backstories for the people who look particularly interesting.

Henry has always loved writing and telling stories. Which is why he dreamed of being a writer ever since he was young. But when his dad died and the rest of his family eventually returned to London, he couldn’t bare the thought of going back to the place he’d grown up, knowing the man who raised him wouldn’t also be there. To afford to stay in the city, he took a job with the Metropolitan Transport Authority. So, here he sits, day in and day out, watching busy people stream on and off the train platform, wishing that could be him one day.

“Excuse me! My card isn’t working, please let me through.”

Henry is pulled out of another daydream by a woman frantically tapping at his window. He takes in her striking features and long, dark lashes before his eyes land on the ID badge hanging around her neck.

June Claremont-Diaz, Writing Staff, The New Yorker, it reads in bold letters.

“Hello? I’m kind of in a hurry!”

“Right. Sorry.” Henry murmurs, fumbling for the button to let her through the turnstile.

“Thank you!” she yells behind her while throwing a dazzling smile in Henry’s direction. Before he knows it, she is running onto the train, the doors narrowly missing her heels as they close behind her.

Henry spends the rest of his shift jotting down notes about the fantastic life of June Claremont-Diaz. He can picture her as an investigative journalist, uncovering hidden truths she believes the world deserves to know. His imaginary version of June is witty and determined, but caring and fun-loving. Henry thinks they could actually be quite good friends.

And so, the one-sided friendship blossoms. Henry sees June on a fairly regular basis, much like he does with the thousands of other commuters who rely on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to get them where they need to go every day. He catches glimpses of her having animated phone conversations, pulling her dark hair into a loose bun, or lugging around what he assumes are gifts for the Holiday season.

Henry is almost envious of June Claremont-Diaz. He can imagine all the thrilling exposés she must write, the interesting people she must meet, the fulfilling life she must live. Henry never actually interacts with her beyond their initial exchange.

Until, one day, he does.

As is the case with most major holidays, Henry finds himself working on Christmas Day. It doesn’t feel right getting the day off when he doesn’t have anyone to spend it with. His boss, Mr. Srivastava, promises Henry extra holiday pay. Henry doesn’t mind all that much, the station is usually pretty empty on Christmas anyway.

So, Henry is surprised to see June Claremont-Diaz enter the station, acting as if it’s another regular work day.

She stands at the far end of the platform, head down looking through a folder in her hands, which is why she doesn’t spot the man approaching her from behind until he already has a hold of her bag. Henry launches out of his booth onto the platform, worried he won’t be able to reach the opposite end of the platform in time. June is trying to wrestle her bag from the man when he releases his grip on the strap after spotting Henry coming toward them.

The struggle must have caused June to lose her balance because she stumbles backward, one step, then two steps.

Henry is still a ways away from her, but even from where he is, he can see a look of confusion on June’s face when her foot fails to make contact with the platform as expected and instead continues to fall through the air. Henry and June both realize simultaneously that she is going to fall onto the tracks.

Several thousand thoughts race through Henry’s mind as he continues to run toward the end of the platform. The sound of a horn registers in his mind before the darkness of the tunnel ahead is broken up by two glowing lights that are growing bigger and brighter as an inbound train barrels toward the station.

Henry’s mind switches into autopilot, and before he knows it, he’s on the tracks, looking down at a semi-conscious June Claremont-Diaz.

Henry knows he won’t have enough time to get them both back on the platform before the train comes, so he maneuvers their bodies to the side of the tracks, closes his eyes, and holds his breath as the train approaches.

There’s a moment of nothingness after the rumble of the train leaves his ears.

And then…

“Hey! Are they okay?”

“Did he save her life?”

“What the hell happened?”

Henry stills his breathing and keeps his eyes closed for one more second, just in case the yells coming from above are a figment of his imagination. He slowly blinks open his eyes, taking in the dim lights of the subway station.

He lets out a sigh of relief while turning to glance at an unmoving June Claremont-Diaz. Henry is once again overtaken by adrenaline when he scrambles to find a faint pulse at her wrist, yelling for someone above to call for help.

The ride to the hospital is stressful for multiple reasons. First, the thought of going to a hospital fills him with all the feelings he experienced as a teenager every time his dad was in the hospital.

Fear, dread, loss. To name a few.

It all comes flooding back to him in an uncontrollable wave. Once the initial wave passes, his second thought is that he’s not even sure why he is accompanying the woman to the hospital. Sure, he helped her, but he doesn’t really have a good reason to accompany her.

Either way, he is sitting next to June Claremont-Diaz in an ambulance flying down the street on Christmas Day, trying and failing to answer questions about the women he has created an elaborate imaginary life for in his head but only spoken to once.

After they arrive at the hospital, there is a quiet moment while the paramedics prepare to unload the stretcher from the back of the ambulance. Henry feels something soft brush against his hand and realizes June’s eyes have flickered open, and they hold Henry’s own gaze for a fraction of a second.

He takes her hand and a soft smile appears on her face. But the smile is gone as quickly as it appeared, June's eyes roll back into her head, and the hand in Henry’s grip is once again limp.

June remains unconscious as the paramedics wheel her into the Emergency Department. Henry attempts to follow them but is stopped at the entrance by a nurse.

“Only immediate family allowed” the nurse repeats several times while blocking Henry from following June.

He keeps his eyes on June as she moves farther and farther away. A pounding in his ears drowns out the nurse’s words, he is starting to panic. All he can think about is making sure that June will be okay. So, Henry doesn’t think too much when he tells the nurse that he needs to stay with June.

“Erm. I am family.” Henry hears himself admit.

“You are?” The nurse gives him a quizzical look.

Henry tries to think of the most logical scenario that will get this nurse out of his way as fast as possible, but he’s coming up empty. Any type of romantic situation is an immediate no. One glance at Henry and you can tell there isn’t a heterosexual bone in his body, or so his best mate Percy tells him.

“Are you two married or something?” The nurse demands. Maybe Percy wasn’t right about it being so obvious after all.

“No, not exactly. Look, I desperately need to make sure she’s alright.” Henry is frantic at this point, and June is almost all but gone from his view.

“I’m sorry. Rules are rules.”

Henry has had his head hanging between his knees in a waiting room for what feels like an hour, hoping he might be able to overhear even a minor update about June. He’s almost ready to give up when he is approached by a woman in scrubs and a white lab coat, who introduces herself as Dr. Bankston, the head of June’s medical team. She has an update on June’s condition. Henry shakes her hand and gives her his name.

“One of my interns overheard your conversation with the nurse at intake earlier and spoke to the paramedics from your ride over. They filled us in on the whole situation, and how it was a complete misunderstanding. If we had known the nature of your relationship with Ms. Claremont-Diaz, you would have certainly been able to accompany her.”

What?

Henry tries to ask what the doctor is talking about, but she continues on.

“Ms. Claremont-Diaz sustained minor injuries to her brain due to her fall and is currently in a comatose state. Comas are very common after traumatic brain injuries such as this, and there is a high likelihood she will come to in a couple of days.”

Relief rushes over Henry. She’s going to be okay.

“However, there is no way to be certain about these kinds of things. The best we can do is keep her under close observation while we administer drugs and continue to watch for any signs of swelling or bleeding.”

Henry feels a familiar tightness in his chest. June is in a coma. He recalls the way she looked at him in the ambulance and wishes he could have done something to keep her from closing her eyes again.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, Henry. You are welcome to come back and see her now if you’re up for it.”

Henry quickly stands to follow Dr. Bankston. He’s still confused by what she meant about the nature of his relationship with June, but after the news he just received, Henry isn’t in any hurry to say something that will alert the doctor to the fact that he and June are practically strangers.

“Have you spoken to the rest of the family since they arrived?” Dr. Bankston asks, trying to make conversation while they turn down a long, sterile corridor.

Henry’s step falters at the question, and he almost runs into someone, to whom he sends an apologetic nod before glancing back at Dr. Bankston.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Surely, you’re aware that the rest of Ms. Claremont-Diaz’s family arrived shortly after she was admitted”

“Right,” Henry clears his throat, “just needed some time to myself.”

“Certainly,” Dr. Bankston’s tone softens, “I’m sure it’s been a tiring day for you”. At that, Henry nods. He might not understand who Dr. Bankston thinks he is to June, but he doesn’t feel the need to put on an act in that regard. Henry has been through a lot today.

“Just between you and me, I can already tell that brother of hers is going to be a pain in my ass.” Dr. Bankstone jokes in what Henry assumes is an attempt to lighten the mood, but Henry can’t bring himself to laugh.

A brother?

A pain-in-the-ass brother was not part of the imaginary life Henry had fabricated for June Claremont-Diaz.

As the pair continues down the hall in silence, Henry begins to hear frenzied chatter coming from one of the open doors up ahead. He hears a loud, deep laugh, immediately followed by what sounds like a woman directing a stern shushing at the source of the laughter.

Henry enters first when they arrive, and no one even notices the addition of two more people to the already buzzing room. The tiny room is crowded with an array of people, all talking over each other. Henry winces at the sight of June, unconscious in the hospital bed, with a bandage wrapped tightly around her head.

“Okay, now that Henry is here, I can answer any of your questions.” Dr. Bankston clasps her hands together, attempting to get everyone’s attention.

“I’m sorry, but is anyone going to tell us who the hell Henry is and why he’s here?” A strong voice cuts through the room, interrupting the opening statement of Dr. Bankston’s carefully crafted announcement.

Henry’s eyes dart across the room to the handsome stranger standing protectively at the foot of the hospital bed. They lock eyes, and Henry is taken off guard by the similarities between the man and June. They share the same striking features, the same dark hair. And the eyelashes. It’d be impossible not to notice those signature eyelashes. Henry knows undoubtedly that the voice of inquiry is coming from none other than June Claremont-Diaz’s brother.

“You don’t know Henry? Ms. Claremont-Diaz’s fiancé.”

The room erupts into chaos. Henry’s mind is reeling.

Did Dr. Bankston say fiancé?

Henry is startled by another doctor who has suddenly appeared next to him. “We heard you talking to the nurse earlier. You said you were family, but not married yet, so we just put two and two together. The paramedics told us you were on the tracks with her when it happened, and you saved her, is that true?” This must be the intern Dr. Bankston mentioned earlier.

“I was with her at the station, yes. But-”

“Good man.” The doctor claps Henry on the shoulder, nodding at him with a look of approval.

Henry has to hold back his shock. It’s almost laughable how badly twisted the truth could get from one misinterpreted conversation.

Henry’s about to correct Dr. Bankston when a blonde woman in the chair next to June’s bed clears her throat and stands.

“Well,” her voice is thick with a southern accent, “I have to admit, I haven’t done the best job of keeping up with our June lately,” she wrings her hands together before giving Henry a strained smile, walking toward him, “but I really can’t believe that June would keep something like this...an engagement, from us.”

The doctor standing next to Henry must feel uncomfortable because he quickly blurts out, “Henry saved Ms. Claremont-Diaz’s life. She got knocked out when she fell, and Henry jumped down onto the tracks to move her out of the way before the next train came.”

Henry can’t seem to peel his eyes away from June’s brother, most interested in his reaction to this piece of information. The man looks Henry up and down before returning to his muffled conversation with the woman beside him.

“Oh, Henry,”

The blonde woman is standing directly in front of Henry now. He can finally hear her without having to strain to block out all the other clamor in the room. He can see tears welling in her eyes.

“We’re so grateful that you were there for June. Welcome to the family.”

She opens her arms and pulls Henry into a tight hug. Henry can’t remember the last time someone hugged him like this. Warmth spreads through his chest as she smooths her hand across his back. Before he knows it, two other men are approaching the hug, smiling at him and squeezing his shoulder.

The woman pulls away with a laugh. “Where are my manners, I haven’t even introduced myself, and I’m already crying to you like a baby. I’m Ellen, June’s mom.”

“This is Leo, my husband. That’s Oscar, June’s dad. And over there we have Alex, June’s brother, and Nora, an honorary Claremont-Diaz.”

Henry shakes Leo and Oscar's outstretched hands. He smiles politely at Nora, who holds up a slender hand to wiggle her fingers in a short wave.

Lastly, his eyes flicker over to Alex, who is already looking at Henry. They hold each other’s gaze for what feels like a moment too long before Henry finally flashes a soft smile and receives a nod from Alex in response.

Henry looks around the room, taking in the new names and faces. Never in any of his daydreams about June’s perfect journalist life did Henry once consider what her family was like.

He doesn’t know if it's the lingering warmth from Ellen’s hug, or the way he can feel Alex’s eyes on him. Or maybe it’s the fact that today is Christmas, but Henry doesn’t feel like he has it in him to reveal the truth about who he is. Not right now, at least.

He’s not stupid, he knows he can’t pretend to be June’s fiancé forever, and he’ll have to come clean eventually. But there’s a small part of Henry that feels like maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to give in to the act, if only for a little while.

Dr. Bankston answers everyone’s questions before leaving the family to have some time with June. The room slowly settles into a comfortable rhythm. Henry has taken one of the seats next to Ellen, per her insistence, and is attempting to follow a conversation about Alex and a turkey during Thanksgiving a few years ago. There are certain things about America that Henry has given up trying to understand.

June’s family asks Henry basic questions about himself, and he supplies basic answers. Leo is very amused by Henry’s accent and asks him all kinds of questions about growing up in London.

Nora wants to know all about the MTA, she asks him his opinion on public transport in New York and throws out statistics to support her own opinions on the matter.

Alex seems to be more weary of Henry than the others. He is paying close attention to everything Henry says, carefully considering how it all fits into the story of Henry and June.

Eventually, the sun goes down outside and the conversation begins to die down with it. Oscar suggests they let June be for the night. Henry says his goodbyes to the Claremont-Diaz family and heads back to his own apartment.

When he arrives home, he is greeted by his beagle, David. Henry doesn’t have any plans for the evening, so he orders takeout for himself and turns on the TV, flipping through the channels until he lands on Home Alone. Henry laughs to himself as he recalls one of the first conversations he had with Percy, who decided that Henry looks like an older version of Kevin McCallister.

The movie ends, the credits roll, and another movie starts; all the while Henry can’t stop thinking about June, her family, and the horrible mess he got himself into.

He wants to see this through because he wants to make sure June is okay, but he feels terrible lying about who he is. Henry feels like he is trapped.

Henry spent the entirety of his teenage years trying to come to terms with how his sexuality would impact his life. Now that he has been confidently out for almost five years, he can’t believe there is a family somewhere in the city right now that thinks he is engaged to their daughter.

It’s past midnight and Henry can’t fall asleep. He’s no stranger to insomnia, but it always seems worse when he is anxious. Henry tosses and turns in bed, trying and failing to find a comfortable position. David moved to the floor an hour ago to not have his precious sleep disrupted by Henry’s fidgeting.

Henry gives up on trying to sleep and decides to get some fresh air. He bundles himself up and quietly advances into the frigid evening.

It takes him a few minutes of wandering to realize he is walking the route to the hospital. He hasn’t been able to stop worrying about June all night, so it makes sense that his mind is unconsciously taking him to her.

Henry gets hit with a wave of nostalgia upon entering the hospital. He remembers the long nights he spent by his father’s bedside when things got particularly bad. Henry didn’t know it at the time, but those were some of the last days he would spend with his dad. Memories of his childhood with his father seize his heart, and a fresh wave of longing rolls over him.

He takes a moment in the hall to collect himself before entering June’s room. He’s startled when he realizes that June isn’t alone. Her brother is sitting in the chair next to her bed, her hand in his, his broad back to the door.

Henry freezes, internally debating the best course of action. He obviously doesn’t want to intrude, so he attempts to leave quietly without Alex noticing, but his trainers make a loud squeak on the linoleum floor, and Alex whips his head toward the sound.

“Sorry, I’ll come back later.” Henry is eager to leave this situation with as little interaction as possible.

“You can stay, I don’t mind.” Alex gestures toward the chair next to him.

Henry spends a second considering all the things that could go wrong by being in a room alone with June Claremont-Diaz’s brother. But something about the look on Alex’s face compels him to stay. So Henry nods and takes a seat beside him.

“You really jumped on the tracks and saved her, huh?” Alex is looking down at his and June’s tethered hands.

Henry isn’t quite sure if it is possible to have a normal conversation with the brother of your fake fiancée, but he’s willing to give it a shot.

“Technically, yes,” he swallows nervously, “but I had to do something, there was a train coming.”

Alex finally turns to look at Henry.

“I gotta admit, that’s pretty badass.” Alex chuckles under his breath.

“It was nothing special really.” Henry isn’t sure when he started feeling nervous, but suddenly, he is very aware of his proximity to Alex. Their knees are centimeters apart, nearly touching. He can smell Alex’s cologne, it’s strong and earthy. It all starts to feel a bit too much when Alex breaks the silence.

“Junebug asked us for some space about a few months ago while she was working on her latest piece. Something about not being able to focus when she has to take care of everyone else's issues. Another something else about the unfair expectations placed on eldest daughters.” Alex sounds dejected.

“She is very determined.” Henry thinks of all the times he saw June rushing through the station, always looking like she was on a mission.

“It runs in the family.” Alex rests his elbows on his knees, hanging his head to laugh.

“I was going to tell June I finally decided to leave politics and go back to law. I’ve been so burnt out trying to fill my mom’s shoes, and June was the one who really made me believe I could be happy pursuing what I really love. I was hoping once I told June, it would make it easier to break the news to my mom.”

“I’m sure June will be very proud of you.” Henry feels like he can say this with certainty, despite not actually knowing June.

Alex looks at him with a slight hint of suspicion in his eyes. It's enough to make Henry mumble out the first thing that comes to mind in hopes of changing the subject.

“I get it, though. The one thing I really love is writing, and here I am, almost ten years into working for the MTA.”

This, at least, makes Alex laugh.

They fall into comfortable conversation. Some of the tension from earlier has started to dissipate. Henry feels almost carefree talking to Alex like this. The casual back and forth comes naturally between them.

“I should probably get going now,” Alex is starting to bundle himself up to go back into the cold night, “but you should come over to the house tomorrow. We didn’t get to celebrate Christmas properly with June’s accident and all, so we’re going to make up for it tomorrow. My mom would kill me if she found out I talked to you and didn’t invite you.”

“That’s very kind, but I couldn’t possibly impose.”

“You should come. After all, you’re part of the family now.”

“What does one wear to a Christmas dinner with the family of their fake fiancée, who also happens to be in a coma?” Henry is rummaging through his closet frantically while realizing he hates every piece of clothing he has ever owned.

“Explain to me again how you tricked a group of strangers into believing you are engaged to one of their own family members?” Percy asks incredulously.

Percy is Henry’s neighbor-slash-best friend.

“I did not trick them.” Henry is adamant about this point. “It was a misunderstanding, and now I feel like I can’t get out of it without seeing it through.”

Henry holds a copper tie up to his neck and turns to Percy for his approval.

“That would be fantastic. If you were going to a business meeting.”

Henry scoffs. He’s almost ready to give up when Pez produces a pale blue knit sweater from the closet and tosses it to Henry.

Once Henry feels like he looks decently presentable but not too overdressed, he prepares to head out.

“You know you are allowed to enjoy yourself, right? You did a good thing by helping her.” Percy takes an uncharacteristically serious tone as he pats Henry on the shoulder while ushering him out the front door.

“Don’t miss us too much while you’re with your new family.” Percy says while crouching next to David at the door, waving to Henry.

Henry picks up a box of chocolates on his way to Ellen and Leo’s house. His nerves have spiked, and his biggest wish is to make it through the evening without saying something he shouldn’t.

He finally arrives at the address Alex texted him after they exchanged phone numbers at the hospital.

He stands outside the brownstone for a moment, deciding if this is a good idea. It isn’t too late to go home and pretend none of this ever happened.

But then, he hears a voice calling his name from down the street. It’s Nora.

“What are you doing standing out here? It’s freezing, let’s go inside!” Henry can see her breath in the air with each word as she approaches him.

She links her arm through his and turns to look at him with a sly smile on her face. “Are you waiting out here because you’re nervous?”

Henry grimaces, he’s been caught. “Just a little”

“C’mon, they may seem like a lot, but they're harmless once you get to know them.” Nora pulls them up the stairs to the front door.

As they enter the house, Henry’s senses are overwhelmed. Muffled Christmas music comes from a far-away room, almost completely drowned out by conversation. The smell of something delicious wafts towards him. The home is adorned with festive decorations.

“Henry! I’m so happy you could make it.” Ellen announces as Henry and Nora round the corner into a beautiful open kitchen. Ellen pulls Henry into a tight hug, while Oscar and Leo approach with their own greetings.

Henry spots Alex out of the corner of his eye. Not that he was looking for him or anything. He is leaning against the marble countertop of the kitchen island, laughing as Nora scolds him for sneaking a bite of something that looks like frosting from a mixing bowl.

Alex’s eyes meet his own, and the warmth in Henry’s chest morphs into something he can’t quite place, something a little more electric.

“Look who decided to join us.” Alex swaggers over toward him. Henry eyes an open bottle of champagne on the counter and supposes Alex has already started celebrating.

The evening progresses easily through dinner. Then, Henry finds himself seated on the floor of the living room, leaning against a small coffee table. He looks on at the Claremont-Diaz family, taking in the tableau in front of him. Ellen and Leo are cuddled up together on a plush couch. Oscar sits next to them, joking with Alex and Nora, who are comfortably sharing a large lounge chair that is probably only really meant to fit one person.

Henry thinks about his own family. He can’t even remember the last time they were all in the same room together.

Philip is too busy for anyone else, and his mom never really came back to herself after their dad died. He speaks to his sister, Beatrice, on the phone, but their calls are infrequent. Henry wishes so badly that his family could be like June’s family. That no matter how hectic or stressful life is, they could still be together and enjoy each other’s company during times like these.

Henry is pulled out of his own thoughts by the sound of his name.

“This one is for Henry.” Alex flashes Henry a radiant smile and hands him a package wrapped in vibrant red and green paper, a perfect bow sits in the middle of the gift.

“You really shouldn’t have” Henry can feel heat rising to his cheeks.

“It’s from all of us!” Nora shouts.

“But I picked it out and wrapped it!” Alex nudges back at her.

Henry gingerly unwraps the gift to reveal a cream-colored wool sweater. It’s not dissimilar to the one he is wearing now, and Henry feels himself getting chocked up over the gesture. He doesn’t know how to feel about the fact that these people who have known him for such a short amount of time would put in the time and effort to get him a gift they thought he would truly enjoy.

Alex seems to notice the shift in Henry’s mood because he cracks a joke about Henry having the fashion sense of a 70-year-old librarian. The room eases back into a comfortable flow of conversation and Henry returns to following along, sometimes joining in here and there.

It’s getting late, and Henry can feel his welcome wearing out with each tick of the second hand on the ornate clock hanging above the fireplace. He knows he’ll have to leave eventually and return to his quiet life. He wishes he could bottle the feeling from tonight and bring it back with him to his apartment. But, Henry knows all good things must come to an end, so he announces his departure and makes his rounds to say his thank yous and goodbyes.

“I’ll walk you out.” Alex jumps from his seat to catch up with Henry as he makes his way to the front door.

“I’m glad you came.” Alex says while he watches Henry put on his shoes.

“Me too.”

“It seems like my parents were happy to have you here. They don’t always get along, but I think your being here helped. So, uh, thanks.” Alex nervously runs a hand through his curly hair. His usually cheerful demeanor is more solemn than Henry has seen it in the short time they’ve known each other. It takes Henry by surprise.

“Families can be weird sometimes, I get it.” Henry thinks this might be putting it mildly.

“Do you have any family in the area?” Alex is watching Henry intently as he readies himself to go out into the cold December night.

“Not really. My siblings went back to England with my mum after my dad died, and we don’t really get to see each other that often.” Henry pauses, taking a moment to decide how much of the truth he wants to share. “Logistically speaking, it’s all a bit messy.” He concludes.

Alex is eyeing Henry now in a way that makes him feel a little bit vulnerable. “Well, you have us now.”

The reminder jolts Henry out of the moment as he says goodbye and the front door clicks shut behind him. He suddenly feels like he has been plucked out of a Hallmark movie and thrust back into the real world. That warm feeling from the evening lingers in his chest, but now it is accompanied by something bittersweet. It’s the reality of his situation and the fact that once June’s family finds out the truth, all of this will be over.

The next morning, Henry goes to the hospital to donate blood. It's something the hospital staff encourages friends and family to do when they have a loved one in the hospital. Henry figures it is the least he can do, given all the trouble he is going to cause when the truth comes out.

Henry stops by June’s room before his donation time.

He can’t help but continue envisioning her life, just like he used to in his imagination. But now he knows more about June. He’s learned that she always wanted to be a journalist, ever since she was a teenager. She likes writing pieces that push the envelope and make people think about things from a different perspective. Henry hopes that somehow he will be able to actually get to know June after she wakes up. But he doesn’t think there is any way that would be possible.

When Henry finally turns to exit June’s room, he almost runs head first into Nora. It sounds like she is at the hospital for the same reason, so they decide to keep each other company while they have downtime during the blood draw.

They chat casually while two nurses prepare everything for their donations.

Henry learns that Nora is a data analyst for a tech company. He learns that she has been family friends with the Claremont-Diaz family for many years, and she even used to date Alex.

Henry doesn’t know why he finds this so funny, but Nora seems to think it is just as comical. Nora is extremely witty, and she talks about June like their friendship is the most important thing in the world.

Once they are both settled, Nora clears her throat. She has a knowing look in her eye.

“Listen, Henry,” Nora turns in her seat to look at him more directly. “I know the truth. About you and June.”

Henry is at a loss for words, he opens his mouth to explain, but he realizes nothing is coming out.

“How?” That is all he manages to ask.

Nora lets out a soft laugh under her breath, “You aren’t exactly the best at hiding your emotions.”

“Plus, the whole story sounded a little strange, so I looked into it more and there is absolutely nothing connecting you and June. You don’t even follow each other on Instagram. You have to admit that’s pretty suspicious”

Henry sighs, he’s officially been caught.

“So, what’s the story?” Nora implores.

Henry knows he owes her an explanation, but he doesn’t even know where to begin.

So, he starts with seeing June at the station and living through her with his own aspirations to someday be a writer. He explains what happened on the tracks the day June went into the coma, and the way she looked up at him in the ambulance before going unconscious again. He explains how it was all a big misunderstanding that snowballed out of control, and he never meant for any of it to happen. Then he swears he will come clean to the rest of the family.

Nora is quiet for a long time before she looks over to Henry and says, “Don’t tell them.”

“Pardon?” Of all the responses, Henry was expecting this had to be at the very bottom of his list.

Nora sighs before continuing on.

“You heard what Ellen said, about June being distant recently. She’s basically been radio silent since summer because of work. But having you around is like having a little piece of June around. Even though the doctors keep saying they think June will pull through, there’s still a chance things could end poorly. If you told them the truth, it would break their hearts. They need you right now.”

She pauses before her next sentence, looking Henry in the eye. “And it seems like you might need them too.”

Henry shuffles through a thousand different emotions at once before landing on relief. Relief that someone else within the family knows the truth. But he also knows that Nora’s right. She really is very clever.

Henry buries his head in his hands, scrubbing at his eyes with his palms. “I cannot believe this is happening.” He chuckles to himself.

Nora pats him on the shoulder with her uninhibited hand. “It’s okay, I’ll help you figure a way out of the situation without feeling the full wrath of Ellen Claremont.”

Henry feigns an expression of horror at the thought.

“You and June would make a pretty attractive couple, though.”

“Maybe, if I weren’t incredibly gay.”

Nora looks at Henry with a sly smile.

“Don’t tell me you already knew that too.” Henry should stop being impressed by the accuracy of Nora’s observational and deductive reasoning skills at this point.

“I had my suspicions.” Nora breaks into a full smile, seemingly very pleased with herself.

“What gave it away?” Henry asks curiously.

“Well for starters,” Nora gives Henry a cheeky grin, “It's the way you can’t keep your eyes off Alex any time you are in the same room as him.”

Henry’s eyebrows shoot up, and he’s sure a look of actual horror crosses his face this time. He takes a second to compose himself before calmly saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.” Nora smiles and shakes her head, but it doesn’t seem like she is going to push the subject anymore as the nurses come over to collect their blood donations.

“What am I supposed to do now?” Henry asks Nora as they are getting ready to leave.

She must already know what he’s referring to because she’s ready with her own answer, “Keep being yourself. Go about your life like you normally would and we’ll see what happens. I’ll help you out if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Nora. You don’t know how much this means to me.” At that, Henry feels himself getting pulled into a hug.

“Any time.” She says with a smile as they pull apart.

Henry goes through his day at work feeling a little bit lighter that at least one person close to June knows the truth. He knows he’ll still have to come clean eventually, but it doesn’t feel as daunting anymore now that he is no longer in this alone.

Henry feels so good that he starts to write again. He is always working on little writing projects here and there during all the downtime he has at work, but he hasn’t felt inspired to write anything ever since the day June fell onto the tracks.

For the first time in a long time, Henry feels like he has something to say, like he has a purpose.

Henry takes his time walking home from work, his head full of new ideas he can’t wait to put onto paper. He’s so caught up in his own imagination that he almost doesn’t notice the tall, lean, curly haired figure leaning against the stoop to his apartment.

“How did you find my address?” Henry asks as he approaches the door.

“I have my ways.” Alex gives Henry that bright smile of his. Henry can’t help but return the smile, as if it’s an automatic response to being in Alex’s presence.

“Are you going to invite me in?” It might as well be a rhetorical question because Alex already knows the answer.

“I have to pop upstairs to get my dog, so I can take him for a walk. Care to join us?”

“You’re a dog guy? I knew I could trust you.” Alex throws his arm around Henry’s shoulder as they walk over the door’s threshold together into the warmth of the building.

Henry introduces a very excited David to Alex. Alex bends down to coo at the dog and rub behind his ears. Henry allows himself to take in the scene for a moment before wrangling both Alex and David and ushering them all back outside.

“How long have you been in New York?”

The sun has gone down as Alex and Henry walk next to each other, David excitedly pulls them down the sidewalk.

“Since I was 13. We moved here when my dad got sick so he could see a team of specialists. He died about a year later. My mum didn’t want to take us out of school by moving again, so we stayed for a bit, but when I graduated she went back to London and my siblings went with her. ”

“I’m sorry about your dad.” Henry is used to people saying this when he tells them about his dad, but for some reason, it feels more genuine coming from Alex. “What was he like?”

“He was the best. He made every room he walked into brighter. And he was my whole world. I think because he died when I was starting to figure out who I was, I tried to emulate my favorite things about him, so I could feel like I always had a little piece of him with me.” Henry gives Alex a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“What was your favorite thing about him?” Alex cautiously probes. Henry doesn’t mind, he likes talking about his dad.

“He was a wonderful storyteller. There was something magnetic and charming about him that made everyone cling to every word he said. He would come up with the most fantastic stories about any given situation.”

Henry keeps his eyes on David and the sidewalk in front of him for a while. He doesn’t know why he feels afraid to look at Alex.

“I’ve never been as outgoing as my father, that’s why I want to be a writer instead. But his stories meant everything to me.” Henry adds.

He finally builds up the courage to look at Alex, there’s a kind expression on his face like he is taking it all in.

“I’d love to read some of your writing sometime.” Alex takes on an encouraging tone. Henry can tell that Alex is the type of person who will do anything to support the people he cares about. He imagines Alex excitedly reading over June’s pieces any time she gets stuck on a word or needs feedback.

They walk in silence for a little while, the image of Alex leaning against his door frame flashes up in Henry’s mind.

It took him by surprise, to see Alex there in his work clothes, almost looking like he was just returning home after a day at the office. Alex always seems to be well-dressed. Henry also notes that Alex must have an excellent relationship with his tailor because he finds himself discreetly eyeing Alex’s toned frame each time they are in each other’s company. Today Alex’s dark curls are styled loosely and Henry has to resist imagining himself brushing the curls out of Alex’s face.

Henry is deep in thought when he hears a soft laugh coming from beside him.

“Hello, earth to Henry.” Alex is wearing a bright smile. Henry feels something tighten in his gut when he realizes that the smile is directed at him.

“Where’d you go?” Alex inquires.

Henry lets out a soft huff, creating a cloud of mist in the cold air. “Sorry, just got lost in my head for a moment.” Henry tries desperately to think of something to change the subject. “By the way, why’d you stop by tonight?”

“I thought you’d never ask. I wanted to bring an engagement present for you and June.”

“Oh,” Henry rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “That’s very kind, but you really didn’t have to.”

“Of course I did. You’re going to be my brother-in-law, and I haven’t properly congratulated you yet.”

David is starting to get tired, if his gradually slowing pace is any indication, so Henry decides it’s a good time for them to head back to the apartment. Alex insists they stop by his car first, so he can get his gift. Henry has to hide his shock when Alex pulls a large package out of his BMW parked on the street in front of the apartment.

Alex sees Henry eyeing the car. “I usually take the subway. More eco-friendly, ya know? But I had a very important delivery to make, so I figured I would bring her out today” He says after shutting the car trunk with a light pat.

They head up to his unit and Henry feels slightly exposed as Alex walks around the open living room taking it all in. He stops in front of Henry’s bookshelf and investigates in silence for a short time. Eventually, Alex snatches a book off the shelf and whips around to face him.

“I used to love these books when I was younger!”

Alex is holding a weathered copy of The Lightning Thief.

Henry chuckles and takes the book from Alex, turning it over in his hands. “It was one of my favorites as well. My dad taught me all about the Greek myths, so I’ve always had a soft spot for those stories.”

“You’ve both got good taste.” Henry thinks he catches Alex send a wink in his direction, but it’s too hard to be sure in the dim lamplight of the apartment.

Alex prompts Henry to open his gift, noting that he is too excited to wait any longer.

Henry unwraps the gift carefully, trying not to think about how this is the second gift he has received from Alex in a matter of days.

It takes him a moment to realize what he is looking at. It is a framed charcoal sketch of an impressive building with an ornately decorated facade. Three large columns accentuate the grand entryway.

“How did you-?”

“It’s Pemberley House,” Alex says excitedly, “You and June both love Jane Austen more than any other people I know, I thought it would be a nice decoration.” Alex is admiring his own gift.

Henry mental adds “Fantastic taste in literature” to his list of things that make June Claremont-Diaz the coolest woman on the planet.

“Thank you, Alex. It really is a special gift.” Henry doesn’t quite know how to react to receiving such a meaningful gift from Alex, again. It doesn’t matter, though, because before he knows it, Alex is pulling him into a tight hug.

“I know,” Alex’s excitement is palpable, and Henry can’t help but lean into the hug a little bit more, “congrats again on the engagement.”

And with that reminder, Henry pulls away from the hug.

Once Henry has sufficiently gawked over the gift, Henry walks Alex out to his car. The city was a bit warmer today, so all the snow from the past few nights melted, but the evening chill resulted in dark patches of ice forming along the sidewalk.

As he walks, Henry feels his foot catch on a patch of ice and start to slide out from under him. He lets out a small yelp as he anticipates the feeling of hard concrete underneath him. But instead, he feels a strong arm against his back, a firm hand gripping his waist tightly.

Alex caught him before he could go down. Alex’s face is inches from his own. They are so close that their breath mingles as it condenses in the cold air. Alex’s eyes roam over Henry’s face, there is the ghost of a smile on his lips.

They stay there, frozen for a moment until Henry tries to regain his balance, but his foot once again makes contact with the same icy patch, and before he knows it, he and Alex are both on the sidewalk in a laughing heap. Henry is pinned to the frigid concrete with Alex’s body pressed firmly against his.

He feels his heart rate accelerate as he finally comes to terms with a thought he has been trying to push away for the past few days. Henry has feelings for Alex.

“Isn’t three days a little fast to start having feelings for your fake fiancée’s brother.” Percy teases from where he is sitting on the couch in Henry’s living room.

“Don’t say it like that, it makes me sound like a terrible person.” Henry is pacing the room while he rubs at his temples, trying to get the image of Alex’s face inches from his out of his mind.

In truth, Henry thinks he knew he felt something for Alex from the very first moment he saw him standing next to June’s bed at the hospital.

“Oh come on, you know I always support you in all your romantic endeavors, no matter how hasty or irrational they may be.” Pez is grinning at Henry now.

Henry wouldn’t categorize any of his past hookups as romantic, but Percy isn’t wrong about the hasty or irrational part. And that is what worries Henry the most. He’s never actually felt a real connection with anyone like he feels with Alex.

Which is why it hurts so much to know that Alex will never feel the same way about him. Henry doesn’t even know if Alex is into guys like that. Not that it even matters because Alex is still under the impression that Henry is engaged to June. And once Alex finds out the truth, he’ll want nothing to do with Henry.

He knows it's a hopeless situation. But for some reason, after Pez goes back to his apartment and Henry is lying in bed that night, trying and failing to sleep, he can’t help but let his mind wander to what it would be like if he and Alex met under different circumstances.

Another day passes, and Henry once again finds himself at the Claremont-Diaz residence. He’s sat across the dinner table from Alex, who makes faces at Henry and Nora every time Leo cracks a cheesy dad joke.

Ellen had insisted Henry come over again so they could all get to know each other better. The conversation is fairly casual until Oscar asks Henry if he and June have decided on a wedding date yet.

Henry notices Alex stiffen in his seat when the conversation changes direction. The playful energy that was previously filling the space between them has been replaced with something much more tense.

Nora nudges Henry under the table, prompting him to reply.

He takes a sip of water to buy himself some time and comes up with a vague response about how June wanted to wait until after the business of the holidays to start any wedding planning.

The conversation takes off from there, with Ellen, Oscar, and Leo speculating about the wedding venue and theme. Henry isn’t even really in the conversation at all at this point, with June’s parents sharing anecdotes about all the grand wedding dreams she had as a little girl.

Henry hasn’t really ever imagined what it would be like to get married. He never thought it was something that would happen to him.

Alex hasn’t said anything throughout the conversation, and he’s avoiding Henry’s gaze. Henry knows it isn’t fair to expect Alex to be fully absorbed in this conversation, but he has to keep himself from reacting when Alex abruptly excuses himself from the table and disappears somewhere in the house.

The conversation continues around him as Henry’s mind remains on Alex, who returns to his seat a while later. Ellen is talking about work now, and Henry relaxes a little when Alex finally looks in his direction. They make brief eye contact–nothing more than a second–but it is enough to make Henry feel something hard settle in the pit of his stomach.

While they help with the dishes from dinner, Henry invites Nora to the New Year’s Eve party Percy is throwing. Percy had insisted Henry invite everyone he knows and, well, Henry doesn’t really know that many people. He considers finding Alex and inviting him before he leaves, but Alex disappeared somewhere in the depth of the brownstone after dinner ended.

New Year’s Eve rolls around, and Henry is astonished by how many people Percy has managed to cram into his apartment. The space is buzzing with excitement for what is to come in the new year. Henry can’t help but think it is bittersweet.

Henry’s always been the type of person to not get his hopes up too much because he’s used to being let down. But for some reason, this year feels different. Henry can’t quite explain it, but he feels optimistic about the coming year.

That is, until a slightly tipsy Nora shows up at Percy’s door with an even tipsier Alex in tow.

“He’s been moping all night.” Nora whispers in Henry’s ear when she greets him with a hug. “I had to get him out of the house for my own sanity.”

Alex throws his arm around Henry’s shoulder, putting a surprising amount of his weight onto Henry. “Guess my invite got lost in the mail. Huh, bro?”

Henry winces. “Sorry. I hoped Nora would pass along the message.”

They move through the crowd, so Henry can introduce Alex and Nora to Percy. The mingling begins, and Henry decides it's time for another drink.

On his way back from the kitchen, Henry spots Alex leaning down to say something into the ear of a slender blonde. She throws her head back and lets out an exaggerated laugh. Henry knows how charismatic Alex can be, but he’s not that funny.

Henry feels a pang in his chest like he’s just had the air knocked out of his lungs. He makes a beeline for the front door, sliding past the partygoers who are spilling out into the hallway.

Only once he gets outside does Henry feel like he can breathe again. He’s leaning with his back against the cold brick of the building when he hears the door open next to him.

He doesn’t have to open his eyes to know who stands beside him. Henry has become quite fond of Alex’s signature scent and could recognize it anywhere.

“Is everything okay?” Alex asks.

Henry finally opens his eyes to look at Alex.

The stoop isn’t big enough to comfortably accommodate the bodies of two grown men, so they stand shoulder to shoulder in an attempt to avoid blocking the door completely. From where he is standing looking at Alex, all he can think is fucking eyelashes. It’s one of the first things Henry noticed about Alex, and it's become a bit of an obsession for him in the past few days. Alex blinks at Henry a few times, waiting for an answer.

“All good. Just needed some air.” They both know that’s a lie.

“Why are you marrying my sister?” The look on Alex’s face makes it seem like he is just as shocked as Henry by the words coming out of his mouth.

“I beg your pardon?” Henry is not in the mood to try to skirt around the topic of his fake engagement right now.

“Well, it's just hard for me to imagine you two together.” Alex says this as if he’s thinking out loud.

Henry turns toward Alex, who is already facing him. His face is so close it is the only thing in Henry’s field of vision.

“Oh, I see.” Henry lets out an aggravated chuckle. “So what you really want to ask is how could June possibly want to marry me, right?”

“That’s not what I meant. You’re just… Not really June’s type.”

“Whose type am I?”

They hold eye contact, neither one willing to be the first to break.

Alex finally looks away. It doesn't seem like he has any intention of responding.

Henry decides he doesn’t want to have this conversation if Alex isn’t going to participate, so he starts heading toward the door to go back inside.

Alex shifts position so he is slightly blocking the door.

“I’ve only ever wanted June to be happy, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you can make her happy. But Henry, are you happy?”

“Of course I am, what is that supposed to mean?”

“You talk about wanting to be a writer and all these things you want to do. But why won’t you let yourself have the things you want?”

Henry doesn’t know how to respond to that.

“What does this have anything to do with me and June?” He finally manages.

“Is June really what you want? Who you want?” Alex is looking at Henry intently, his eyes searching for something in Henry’s own eyes.

Henry feels caught. Trapped. He’s hyper-aware of his every move, worried that one wrong look or breath will give him away completely.

“I can’t have this conversation right now. Happy New Year, Alex.”

Alex lets him go.

As Henry rushes back inside the apartment complex, he hears the last few moments of the midnight countdown coming from inside Percy’s apartment. He finally gets to his own apartment and gratefully shuts the door, drowning out the cheers welcoming the new year.

Henry is still sitting on the floor of his apartment, petting David, when he receives a call from the hospital. He takes about half a minute to get his coat and fly out the door after the nurse on the other end of the phone tells him that there has been an update in June’s case and Dr. Bankston wants to talk to the family in person.

There are a thousand thoughts rushing through his mind. Is June alright? What happened to her? What just happened between him and Alex? How is he going to fix this?

Henry runs into Nora as he’s making his way toward June’s room.

“June’s awake.” Nora squeezes Henry’s arm as they speed down the corridor together.

Henry is overwhelmed with a feeling of relief. He didn’t realize how nervous he had been about June’s recovery while she was unconscious. After the initial relief wears off, however, Henry is hit with an intense wave of panic. The second June sees Henry in her hospital room, the truth will have to come out, finally.

“It’ll be fine.” Nora can sense Henry’s worry, “I promised I would help you, and I’m not in the business of breaking promises”.

When they arrive at June’s room, the rest of the family is already there. Ellen is stroking June’s hair and Alex is standing next to the bed holding her hand. Alex and Henry share a brief look before everyone’s attention goes back to June.

“It’s you.” June’s voice is hoarse and a little hesitant, almost like she is asking a question.

She takes a long look at Henry, her eyebrows furrowed.

“It’s me.” Henry replies, not being able to help the smile that spreads across his face. “How are you feeling?”

June is still staring at Henry, she tilts her head to the side as if she is trying to look at him from a different angle.

“Do I know you?”

“It’s Henry, June. Your fiancée.” Ellen’s voice sounds worried.

“Fiancée?” June looks even more confused as she repeats the word.

Henry knows this is it. This is the moment for him to come clean and tell the truth. It can’t go on any longer.

“I–”

Just as he is about to respond, Henry gets interrupted by Nora clearing her throat loudly as she pushes her way through the group to rush forward to June’s bedside. June’s face lights up as she sees Nora, and she reaches out to envelop her in a tight embrace.

They stay like this for a while, letting the happy moment have its time, until Dr. Bankston enters the room.

“I see you’ve all had a chance to say a proper hello to Ms. Claremont-Diaz. She is in excellent shape. Her vitals and brain activity are precisely where we want them. However, she has been exhibiting some signs of memory loss. We call it selective amnesia. Her long-term memories should still be intact, but some of her more short-term memories may take a little while to come back, or they may not come back at all. Only time will tell. But the good thing is that she is doing well right now. We’ll want to keep her here for a few days for observations”

“Oh Henry,” Ellen turns to grab Henry by the hand, “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. She must not remember you.”

Henry cannot believe that the universe has once again conspired against him to keep this ridiculous lie from falling apart.

“Ms. Claremont-Diaz is dealing with an immense cognitive load right now, and sleep is the best thing she can do to recover.” Dr. Bankston pointedly remarks to the family. “I know everyone wants to spend time with her, but it really would be best if she can try to get some sleep now.”

They all take this as their sign to leave. Henry hesitates as everyone shuffles out of the room because he knows he’ll have to face Alex eventually.

The bitterness from their conversation earlier is still fresh in his mind, but all he wants to do is celebrate June’s recovery with him. Seeing June awake and smiling feels like a weight has been lifted off Henry’s shoulders, he can only imagine how June’s actual family must be feeling right now.

It’s late into the evening now, and everyone is exhausted from all the excitement of the day. They all say tired goodbyes and as Henry turns to walk back to his apartment, he notices Alex following after him cautiously.

“Would you mind some company?”

Henry realizes this might be his last chance to talk to Alex before the truth comes out. He doesn’t want one of his last memories of Alex to be of their argument from earlier. He might as well indulge while he can.

They walk in silence for a few minutes. It feels surprisingly familiar.

Henry is running through all the different combinations of words he can string together to express how he is feeling right now to Alex.

“Henry,” Alex’s low voice breaks him out of his own thoughts. Henry risks a glance at Alex, who is eyeing him intently.

“I’m really sorry about today. I think you and June are going to be great together. I couldn’t be more happy for you two.”

Henry forces a smile, but of course Alex’s words don’t make him feel any better.

They are a few minutes away from Henry’s apartment, so it’s now or never.

Henry musters up the courage to say what’s on his mind, and it all comes out. “I don’t know what things are going to be like now that June’s awake. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, you really mean a lot to me.”

Something akin to discomfort flashes across Alex’s face before he finally lands on a soft smile.

“I feel the same way,” Alex’s words are meant to be comforting, but the result they have on Henry is far from comfort. And then the final blow comes, “We’re going to be family now.”

Henry feels like his entire world has been flipped on its axis in the past week. The word family has always been complicated for Henry. Of course, he loves his family, but he has spent half his life feeling like his family is incomplete. Even though nothing will ever be able to fill the missing gaps that were left after his father’s death, getting close to Alex and the Claremont-Diaz family has felt like the closest thing to family Henry has experienced since he was a child.

And now he feels like he is losing his family all over again.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Alex stops Henry where they are on the empty sidewalk to look at him, as if the answer to his question can be found in the depths of Henry’s eyes.

Henry can’t find the strength to answer. Any response besides no would be a lie, and he is tired of lying to Alex. He wants to have one single moment with Alex that is real for once.

It’s like Alex can read his mind because he doesn’t wait for Henry to reply before pulling him into an all encompassing hug. Strong arms wrap around Henry’s shoulders as he leans into the warm embrace. Henry hesitates for an infinitesimal moment before snaking his own arms around Alex’s narrow waist to complete the hug. He turns his head to let his cheek rest gently against Alex’s shoulder, and Henry can’t help but think that they fit together like two puzzle pieces.

They stay like that for a long time.

The nearness of Alex is almost overwhelming for Henry. He inhales Alex’s strong scent that he’s grown so fond of. He can feel his heart rate pick up and worries that Alex will be able to feel it too.

“Everything’s gonna be okay.”

Alex’s voice in his ear sends a buzz up Henry’s spine.

Henry can feel his heart break when he is overcome by the thought of how much he would enjoy this moment if the circumstances were different.

But they aren’t different. This is the reality Henry is living in, and he can only postpone the inevitable for so long until everything comes crashing down around him.

He peels himself away from Alex with the same fervor of someone ripping a bandage off a healing wound.

The cool air that immediately replaces Alex’s warmth is a shock to Henry’s system. He avoids Alex’s eyes as he keeps walking, afraid that if he looks at Alex again, he’ll give himself away.

They walk in silence until they reach Henry’s apartment and share a half-hearted good night. Henry doesn’t allow himself to watch Alex walk away because he knows he won’t be able to stop himself from going after him if he does.

Henry uses all the strength left in his body to haul himself up to his apartment. He feels like there is an invisible force pulling him back to where he left Alex.

It isn’t until he gets inside his unit and locks the deadbolt that Henry feels he is no longer in danger of getting dragged down the street after Alex.

In the darkness of his apartment, with David sniffing at his feet, Henry makes up his mind to come clean to June and her family. He can’t go on like this anymore.

Two days later, Henry finds himself hand in hand with Nora, the pair standing outside of June’s door while Henry builds up the courage to go into the room.

The previous day was spent entirely in his bed deciding the best way to go about this. He also wanted to make sure he gave June space to be with her family and recover. Henry has already expressed his undying gratitude toward Nora for agreeing to be with him for this. They both thought it would be a little easier for June if someone she was familiar with was there to corroborate Henry’s story.

With a hesitant glance at Nora and one final inhale, Henry wills himself to go over the threshold into the quiet hospital room.

June is resting contently in her bed. The doctors have been impressed with her recovery over the past few days, sharing that it seems like she is going to make a full recovery.

They exchange a few pleasantries and Henry makes sure June is feeling up for a not so pleasant conversation.

“I’ve been bored out of my mind, holed up in this room. Please tell me something at least a little bit interesting, I’m begging.” June is joking, and Henry laughs, but only because he doesn’t think there is anyway she could possibly be prepared for what he is about to tell her.

Nora and Henry take a seat next to June’s bed and Henry recounts the story. He starts at the beginning with seeing June at the subway station and goes all the way up to the day she woke up from her coma. He omits the part about his argument with Alex and their conversation after June woke up.

Henry lets out a shaky breath before ending with, “I’m so sorry, June. I know there is nothing I can say to excuse my behavior, I just wanted you to know that I really did care about making sure you were okay and then everything kind of spiraled out of control. I really messed up, and I should have come clean to everyone right-”

“Henry, Henry. It’s okay.” June interrupts him, grabbing his hand. Her hand is cold within his own. But her grip is strong and sure. June gives his hand a squeeze before bringing it back to her side. She gives Henry a soft smile.

“You’re not mad?” Henry didn’t realize that he was shaking.

“Why would I be mad? You risked your life to help me. I’m glad I could do something to return the favor, even if I was unconscious when it happened”

“There was no favor for you to return,” Henry is starting to get flustered. “I helped you because it was the right thing to do, not because I wanted something out of it.”

“I know, Henry. And I’m really grateful, but it’s okay for me to want to do something to thank you.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.”

June lets out a huff of a laugh. “No more apologizing. Nora, if he apologizes again, can you please smack him for me?”

“With pleasure.” Nora giggles from beside June.

June seems to be deep in thought until she raises her eyebrows with a smirk.

“So you’re telling me a complete stranger told my entire family we were engaged and no one besides Nora even bothered to question it?”

Henry is taken aback by her reaction. Although, when she puts it that way, June does have a good point.

“Well…” Henry is hesitant to say the wrong thing, “I suppose not?”

June lets out a sharp laugh. “Sounds about right.”

“What sounds about right?”

All three of them turn to see Alex standing in the doorway. He’s holding a cluster of pearly white balloons and looking at Henry hesitantly.

Before anyone has time to respond, there is a commotion in the hall as Ellen, Oscar, and Leo enter the room holding a small grocery store cake and two stuffed teddy bears dressed like a bride and a groom.

“Surprise!” They yell in unison.

“What’s all this?” June asks.

“We’re throwing you and Henry an impromptu engagement party.”

And for the umpteenth time in the past week, Henry feels his center of gravity shift. He’s grateful to be sitting down, or he probably would have ended up on the ground.

With all the excitement of June being okay and not upset with him, Henry had pushed away the fact that he still had to come clean to her family.

As they file into the room and start setting up decorations, the remorse sets in. It carves out a place in his chest and ice-cold tendrils of guilt make their way through his limbs until all he can think about is what a terrible person he is for lying to these wonderful people.

He feels something pull him back to reality and realizes that Nora is rubbing his shoulder. She gives him a reassuring smile, but that somehow makes him feel even worse.

Henry stands up.

All eyes are on him.

It’s now or never.

His heart is pounding. He can hear the blood rushing through his body. He hasn’t felt this much adrenaline since the day he jumped down onto the tracks to help June.

“This isn’t right.” It's all Henry manages to say.

He makes eye contact with Alex, who is watching him intently.

“Henry, you don’t have to do this.” June says from the bed.

“I’m sorry, June. But yes, I do.”

“What is going on?” Alex asks.

Henry takes a deep breath. He closes his eyes for just one moment, steeling himself for what will come next.

“June and I aren’t engaged.”

There are several gasps, but no one says anything, the looks of confusion and concern on the faces of June’s family are enough of a sign for Henry to continue.

“June and I aren’t engaged.” He repeats. “I don’t even really know June. I just happened to be working when June got pushed onto the tracks, and I lied about everything so I could make sure she was alright. At first, it was all a giant misunderstanding, but I let the lie grow because I liked feeling like I had a family, even if it was all fake. You have all been so wonderful to me, and I never deserved any of it. I’m sorry, I’ll leave you alone now. You’ll never have to see me again.”

Henry’s eyes burn, but he refuses to let a single tear fall. He will not continue to make this about himself when it should be about June’s recovery.

He feels like his heart is being ripped in two as he turns to rush out the door. His vision is blurry, but out of the corner of his eye, he can see Alex reach out toward him as he rushes out of the room.

Henry picks up his pace and doesn’t look back until he’s down the hall, through the lobby, and bursting out the door into the chilly New York dusk.

He keeps going until he’s back at his apartment, crawling into his bed, where he lets the numbness overtake him and the minutes turn into hours and the hours turn into days.

The first phone call from Alex feels like he’s being plunged into an ice-cold pool. It takes all Henry’s willpower not to pick up, but he knows it's for the best.

Later, Henry is at work when his cellphone flashes to life with a notification.

It’s a message from Alex.

Can we talk?

Henry puts his phone in his bag, trying and failing to get the image of Alex’s disappointed face out of his head.

When he checks his phone at the end of his shift, there are two more messages from Alex.

Henry?

Please

As the days go by, Henry gets used to the hollow feeling that has made a home inside him. Resisting the urge to call Alex takes all his energy, and he is left exhausted at the end of each day that passes.

It’s been a week since Henry came clean to June’s family, and all he can manage to do is drag himself to work and back home as if his body is on autopilot.

But he stops short when he sees Alex standing outside his apartment upon his return from work one evening.

“Were you just going to ignore me forever? Was that your plan, Fox?” There’s a real bite in Alex’s tone, and it brings the guilt that has sunken deep into Henry’s bones to the surface once more. Alex follows Henry as he enters the building and walks toward his unit.

Henry opens his front door and ushers Alex inside, hoping none of his neighbors could make out the agitation in Alex’s voice.

“What are you doing here?” Henry motions for Alex to sit next to him on the couch once they make it to the living room.

“What was I supposed to do?” Now that they are in the dim light of Henry’s apartment, he can see how tired Alex is. His eyes look weary, and the dark bags under them are almost a deep as the bags under Henry’s own eyes. “You won’t return any of my calls or texts.”

“So you decided the best thing would be to come to my apartment? So you can chew me out in person for being a selfish prick?”

“Do you even hear what you’re saying right now?” Alex shakes his head in frustration.

Henry rubs at his temples, attempting to get rid of the dull pain that burns beneath them. “I told you I wouldn’t cause you any more trouble, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

“You think going completely radio silent isn’t causing me any trouble?” There’s a tremble in Alex's voice. He quickly clears his throat, but not before Henry notices.

Alex continues on before Henry can respond.

“I’ve been losing my mind for the past week because of you, and you can’t even answer your phone.”

This time the blow lands, and it takes down the last piece of crumbling wall Henry built up around himself for so many years.

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Henry sags into the couch, and Alex’s arms immediately wrap around his shoulder.

“I messed up. You and your family were so generous to me, and I took advantage of it. And June. Christ, June. I should have been there to support her, but instead I made it about myself. I just I haven’t had a family in so long. It was nice to pretend, even for a little while.”

“Henry, you don’t need to apologize for that stuff. Nora and June explained everything. The only thing that hurt was the way you assumed we wouldn’t want you in our lives anymore.”

Henry lets out the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Now that he’s here, in Alex’s steadfast embrace, he finally allows himself to breakdown. Alex rubs a soothing hand across his shoulder and lets him take his time until he’s okay to talk again.

“Wait-” It takes Henry a second to register what Alex said earlier. “What do you mean you’ve been losing your mind because of me?”

Alex lets out a pained laugh. “Are you really that oblivious?”

Henry’s eyebrows knit together as he searches Alex’s face for a hint of what he is missing.

“Henry, if I can’t kiss you within the next five minutes, I think I might lose my mind.”

Henry has to make sure he is still breathing. He obviously knew there was something between them from the moment they met in that hospital room, but he didn’t know if Alex felt it too.

Henry feels like a weight is lifted off his shoulders, he can’t help the smile that spreads across his face.

“That’s a relief because I feel the same way.”

“Then why did you ghost me?” Alex asks with mock resentment.

“I caused enough trouble, I didn’t want to cause any more problems.”

“Look at me.” Alex takes Henry’s face in his hands. A sturdy thumb rubs soothing circles into Henry’s hairline. “You didn’t cause any trouble. You saved June’s life. Do I wish I hadn’t gone through a few weeks of thinking I was falling for my sister’s fiancé? Abso-fucking-lutely. But, we’re here now, and I need you to know I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

That is all it takes for a switch to flip inside Henry. He and Alex make eye contact before they both surge forward until their lips crash together with the ferocity of a breaking dam.

The kiss is hasty and frantic at first. It's obvious they’ve both wanted this for so long. Their pace eventually slows when they find a steady rhythm against each other. The taste of Alex sweeps over Henry’s lips, and he chases it with his tongue.

They only separate out of necessity, and they are both gasping for air. Henry doesn’t dare to move even an extra inch away from Alex out of fear that he won’t be able to get his lips back on him. Being with Alex like this is everything he ever imagined it would be and more.

Once the immediate need for closeness dies down, they draw apart from each other but stay cuddled up. Henry rests his head on Alex’s shoulder and plays with their intertwined fingers.

There is a deeper desire simmering low in Henry’s abdomen that he’s sure they will address later, but for now, they sit in peaceful silence for a moment, enjoying each other’s company.

“What now?” Alex asks, breaking the silence. “We still have all those decorations from the engagement party. Should we get engaged since things didn’t work out between you and June?” Alex is joking, but Henry feels butterflies erupt in his stomach at the thought.

Henry tries to play it cool, layering his tone with a bit of sarcasm for good measure. “For Christ’s sake, Alex, we haven’t even been on a date yet. This isn’t some cheesy 90s romantic comedy.”

“Fair enough. In that case, Henry Fox, will you make me the happiest man on earth and go on a date with me?”

“It would be my absolute pleasure.”