want a relationship to begin with and he was the one who called an end to our fling.
“Y’all go talk this shit out. At least make it to where we can all be together without this divide in the group,” J.C. practically begs.
I look to Reed, leaving this in his hands. I have no issue talking to him. I’m surprised when I see him give a single nod to Marshall and J.C. then lead the way to a small bistro-style table at the far side of the yard.
The exact spot where he kissed me not too long ago.
Taking a seat, I wait for him to start this conversation. After a couple silent minutes of glares and him taking swigs of his beer, he finally talks.
“What is it about him?”
“Excuse me?” I’m utterly confused.
“Him, the guy. That’s why you wouldn’t go home with me at the wedding. What’s he got that I don’t?”
“Are you shitting me right now?” I rise out of my seat. “Your friends want us to try to be friendly toward one another and this is how you start off that conversation? What the hell does my friend , Matthew, have to do with anything, Reed?”
This is a lost cause. Reed has no intentions of discussing anything that matters, he’s only curious as to what stopped him from getting laid. I turn to walk away when he grabs my hand, halting me.
“Tegan, wait. I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what you want from me.”
I turn back to face him and pull my arm out of his grasp. Him touching me is too much, I won’t be able to walk away from him if I feel any kind of physical connection.
“You know, Reed? I don’t either, but for starters you can help fix this shit storm you and your damn mouth got us into. I don’t want my sister pissed at me, and I’d prefer if all of our friends don’t know our seedy past. So until I’m on normal terms with Tessa again and our fling, or whatever the fuck you want to call it, isn’t the topic of discussion for everyone, I don’t accept your apology.”
With that, I walk back to the deck where Marsh is waiting for me.
My heart may have shattered just a little more with that conversation. I now know with certainty that I was never more than a conquest to Reed.
Reed
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I had every opportunity to talk to her, tell her that I’m sorry, be a fucking friend. And instead, I let my mouth get the best of me. Now she probably hates me even more. I didn’t think that was possible after the way I ended shit between us.
Sitting alone at the bistro table, I think back to that night.
I had heard through the grapevine at work that Tess was being sent home early. Knowing Tess and how good of a sailor she is, I knew she didn’t get into trouble, which only left one of two other options for her to come home early; either she got hurt or she got knocked up.
Things with Tegan had been great, too great, actually; I was beginning to feel things for her. It was past time to put an end to us; Tessa’s return worked in perfectly. I had intentions of going over to her apartment, telling her what was going on, ending it, and then leaving. But when I walked in and she’d prepared dinner for us, I couldn’t.
All through dinner, I kept telling myself to blurt it out, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. That’s when one last night together came to me. I decided at the dinner table to show her how much I care in the only way I knew how—with my body.
And that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t fuck her that night, I made love to her. And then I left her with a note and a bullshit apology on the table in the middle of the night.
I cut her completely out of my life. I stopped hanging out with the group as much as I normally did, distanced myself from Hunter just so I didn’t have to possibly run into her. I didn’t answer her calls or texts. After about two weeks, she finally got the hint.
Hardest two weeks of my life.
I’m not a sentimental guy—hell most of the time I’m an uncaring bastard—but Tegan had an aura about her.
“Y’all go talk this shit out. At least make it to where we can all be together without this divide in the group,” J.C. practically begs.
I look to Reed, leaving this in his hands. I have no issue talking to him. I’m surprised when I see him give a single nod to Marshall and J.C. then lead the way to a small bistro-style table at the far side of the yard.
The exact spot where he kissed me not too long ago.
Taking a seat, I wait for him to start this conversation. After a couple silent minutes of glares and him taking swigs of his beer, he finally talks.
“What is it about him?”
“Excuse me?” I’m utterly confused.
“Him, the guy. That’s why you wouldn’t go home with me at the wedding. What’s he got that I don’t?”
“Are you shitting me right now?” I rise out of my seat. “Your friends want us to try to be friendly toward one another and this is how you start off that conversation? What the hell does my friend , Matthew, have to do with anything, Reed?”
This is a lost cause. Reed has no intentions of discussing anything that matters, he’s only curious as to what stopped him from getting laid. I turn to walk away when he grabs my hand, halting me.
“Tegan, wait. I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what you want from me.”
I turn back to face him and pull my arm out of his grasp. Him touching me is too much, I won’t be able to walk away from him if I feel any kind of physical connection.
“You know, Reed? I don’t either, but for starters you can help fix this shit storm you and your damn mouth got us into. I don’t want my sister pissed at me, and I’d prefer if all of our friends don’t know our seedy past. So until I’m on normal terms with Tessa again and our fling, or whatever the fuck you want to call it, isn’t the topic of discussion for everyone, I don’t accept your apology.”
With that, I walk back to the deck where Marsh is waiting for me.
My heart may have shattered just a little more with that conversation. I now know with certainty that I was never more than a conquest to Reed.
Reed
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I had every opportunity to talk to her, tell her that I’m sorry, be a fucking friend. And instead, I let my mouth get the best of me. Now she probably hates me even more. I didn’t think that was possible after the way I ended shit between us.
Sitting alone at the bistro table, I think back to that night.
I had heard through the grapevine at work that Tess was being sent home early. Knowing Tess and how good of a sailor she is, I knew she didn’t get into trouble, which only left one of two other options for her to come home early; either she got hurt or she got knocked up.
Things with Tegan had been great, too great, actually; I was beginning to feel things for her. It was past time to put an end to us; Tessa’s return worked in perfectly. I had intentions of going over to her apartment, telling her what was going on, ending it, and then leaving. But when I walked in and she’d prepared dinner for us, I couldn’t.
All through dinner, I kept telling myself to blurt it out, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. That’s when one last night together came to me. I decided at the dinner table to show her how much I care in the only way I knew how—with my body.
And that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t fuck her that night, I made love to her. And then I left her with a note and a bullshit apology on the table in the middle of the night.
I cut her completely out of my life. I stopped hanging out with the group as much as I normally did, distanced myself from Hunter just so I didn’t have to possibly run into her. I didn’t answer her calls or texts. After about two weeks, she finally got the hint.
Hardest two weeks of my life.
I’m not a sentimental guy—hell most of the time I’m an uncaring bastard—but Tegan had an aura about her.
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