“You heard me. Are you hard right now?” she asks once more and extends a hand toward my crotch. I jump back, gaping at her while I’m left wondering what the hell happened to my sweet, reasonable girl. I’m not hard. Far from it, but that’s not the point. I’ll be damned if I stand here and let my girlfriend grope me just to make some kind of fucked up point.
“What’s the matter? Worried I’ll find something to back up what I’ve known all along?”
I shake my head, disbelief and disappointment warring for dominance on my face.
“Do you hear yourself right now? You’re acting crazy. Where’s the sensible girl I know and love? Where is the friend who’s always trusted me and never questioned my character in all the years we’ve known each other?”
“Are you seriously trying to spin this on me? Make me feel like I’m unreasonable when I literally caught you red-handed? I know what I saw, and what I saw was Jessica all over you, and you doing nothing to stop her.”
“I was about to,” I tell her again, getting more frustrated by the second.
“That’s what they all say.”
“Okay.” Giving a disbelieving chuckle, I run a hand through my hair to give myself a chance to cool down. “I’ll say this one last time, so I need you to hear me on this. I have no interest in Jessica. Not even a little bit. I didn’t ask her to come find me, and I was most definitely not enjoying myself. Quite the opposite.”
Tessa stares at me tight-lipped with a stubborn tilt of her chin, but at least she seems to be listening.
“If you want this relationship to work, then you’ve got to start trusting me because I’m getting tired of having to defend myself. The least you could do is give me some fucking credit. You don’t think I see her for who she is? I’d never cheat on you, but you seem to think I’m just out here looking to stick my dick into anyone who pays me a little attention. Newsflash, I’m not that desperate. I love you,” I say, putting every ounce of sincerity I possess behind my words. “I am so in love with you, it’s actually pathetic. I just wish I didn’t have to keep proving myself to you when I’ve never done anything for you to doubt me.” I’m panting by the time I’m done. I hadn’t realized how much her lack of faith in me bothered me until now. Apparently, this has been eating away at me for much longer than I thought. Biting my tongue to keep from saying anything I might regret, I push past her and head back to the party.
“Where are you going?” she shouts after me.
“Back to the fire pit, where people don’t rip me a new one for something I have no control over,” I call over my shoulder and leave my bewildered girlfriend standing in the dark.
I’m idly strumming my guitar and staring into the flames with unseeing eyes when Carter finds me. I must’ve been sitting there with only myself for company for some time because only a few stragglers remain scattered across the clearing. “You alright? Where’s Tessa?” I give a half-hearted shrug as my eyes find his concerned gaze.
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“Does that mean you won’t need your ‘shaggin’ wagon’ for a while?” His previous concern morphs into a tentative excitement that piques my curiosity and temporarily takes my mind off my problems.
“Depends on who you’re planning on screwing in there.” I replace my guitar with the half-empty cup resting at my feet while I wait for my friend to disclose the identity of his conquest.
“It’s Megan,” he blurts, bracing himself like he’s waiting for me to laugh at its absurdity. When I don’t bat an eye and simply nod at him with approval while I dig my keys out of my pocket, he looks at me with a furrowed brow.
“I was wondering when it would finally click for you. She’s always been a knockout, you know? Never understood why you weren’t interested.”
“Honestly, it never even occurred to me.” There’s a hint of irritation in his voice, as if he can’t believe his own ignorance. “She was always just Megs to me, you know? But I’m telling you, my eyes are wide open now.”
“Good for you, bro,” I say, squeezing his shoulder like a proud father. “You have an hour. I’m in a crappy mood, and I was just about to turn it in, so make it quick. Shouldn’t be a problem for you anyway,” I tag on, flashing him a shit-eating grin.
“Asshole,” he mutters, flipping me the bird before he jumps to his feet. “You want me to leave the keys in the wheel well once we’re done?”
“Nah,” I say, finishing the remainder of my drink in a single gulp before I throw another log on the fire. Looks like I’ll be sitting here for a while. Might as well stay warm. “Just drop them back here and let me know when it’s safe. I love you like a brother, man, but I’d rather avoid seeing two of my best friendsgoing at it. I walked in on you once, and the image of your hairy ass clenching is permanently singed into my retinas. I’d rather not add to the mental camera roll.”
Barking out a laugh, Carter snatches the keys from my outstretched fingers. “Thanks, man. I owe you one,” he calls over his shoulder, all but tripping over his own two feet in his haste to get to Megan. I watch him skip away, almost giddy with anticipation, and I’m hit with a sudden vision of us tearing through these same woods as young boys. I can practically hear our laughter as we push each other while we banter back and forth. The corner of my lip tugs up at the memory. Those were some carefree days, and I fucking miss them. Life was a hell of a lot easier back then.
I look up when I catch movement in my peripheral and find Tessa edging closer to the fire pit, looking both regretful and unsure. The way she’s wringing her hands like she’s afraid of what my reception of her might be already has me softening toward her. Blowing out a tired breath, I pat the camping chair beside me and watch as all the tension leaves her body before she falls into the seat.
“I’m sorry,” she starts, studying her feet to avoid my gaze. “I know I should trust you. I do trust you. But the thought of losing you scares me so much. Sometimes, it makes me lose my mind. And when I saw Jessica rubbing up against you and putting that dirty mouth on you, I just—I don’t know. I shouldn’t have yelled at you without giving you a chance to explain.”
“It’s alright.” I pull her into my side and instantly feel some of the tightness in my chest ease. “I’ll admit it looked bad. I don’t know how I would’ve reacted had the roles been reversed. Probably would’ve kicked ass first and asked questions later. Let’s just forget about it, okay?” Tessa seems more than happy to oblige and snuggles deeper into my warmth, releasing a small sound of contentment. She’s been crying. I can tell by her red-rimmed eyes. Suddenly, I feel like a dick for laying into her the way I did and leaving her alone in the woods. I know how much she’s been looking forward to tonight, and maybe I’m not totally blameless. I should’ve walked away from Jessica sooner, pushed her awaysooner. Thinking back, it’s possible my reaction to her jealous display may have been a little harsh. I’m just so fucking tired of taking shit from people, but I know taking my growing frustrations out on her isn’t the answer.
“Have you seen Megan?”
“Yes,” I reply as my mood instantly improves.
“Well?” she prods when I only stare at her with a sly smile.
“She’s in my truck.”
