As it turns out, the man Andy fell in love with is more of a mystery than she first thought. When they give their relationship another chance, it's not long before Lex's secrets begin to unravel, threatening their happily ever after.
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"So, what should we talk about?" Lex asked me as we handed our menus back to the waiter.
I thought about it for a moment, unsure where we should start. I wanted to know more about him, to understand who he was, but I didn't want to press him to say anything he didn't want to talk about yet. He had to do it at his own rhythm. Maybe starting with the good things before getting into the bad ones could be a good idea.
"Tell me about your friendship with Kevin," I suggested, curious to know more about it.
His face lit up at the mention of his oldest friend, and the shadow of a smile he was probably not even aware of bent his lips.
"I met him in eighth grade when I was eleven," he started, mindlessly toying with the empty glass of wine in front of him. I did a quick count and understood he'd already skipped two grades by then. Four years later, he was starting at Harvard. The notion itself was ludicrous. "Everyone was older than me, and they were at that critical age where you believe yourself to be almost an adult. I was alone, but it wasn't a problem. I was used to it. My only solace back then were my comics. I always had a few of those in my bag to keep me busy during breaks or lunch. That's how he first approached me. He was also fond of superheroes, so one day he came to me during recess, and asked if he could read one with me."
He paused and shook his head, nostalgic. "Kev has always had the biggest heart I've ever seen. I'm convinced he only talked to me because he wanted to help out a lonely kid, to show some kindness to someone who never received any. I didn't know that then, but I don't think I would've cared, anyway."
I was eagerly listening to Lex, touched by the story. A part of me had always suspected Kevin was a great person, but hearing all this was bringing it to the next level. I was so grateful that he'd given young Lex a chance back then, that he'd done what no one else had.
"It became a recurring thing, and he would often join me to read. We wouldn't even talk, he'd just sit with me and read one of my comics. He was quite popular with other kids, so I was intimidated, and honestly a little confused. It went on for a few weeks before things evolved into more."
The waiter interrupted him when he brought us our bottle of sparkling water, pouring some in our glasses before leaving it on the table between us. Lex drank some of it before resuming his story, his mood suddenly a little more solemn.
"One day, I came back home and my mother had heard a rumor that there was a lice problem going on at my school. Between her vanity and two daughters at home, she decided she couldn't take any risks. So she sat me down to give me a buzz cut. She messed up with the clippers, and it turned out so short I actually looked bald."
I grimaced, already knowing how bad this must have been. The more I heard about Miriam, the less I liked her. What kind of mother would do this to her child without even seeing how bad the consequences could be? Lex was already an outcast, him suddenly becoming bald was only going to make him the victim of more mocking and jokes.
