“You gonna do anything with it?” she asks.
I shake my head and toss it in the trash. It’s been two weeks since we had our conversation about Alex, and I’m just getting more and more crazy about him every time we’re together. I know it’s not the healthiest thing to just refuse to get back into the dating scene because I’m pining over my friend, but I can’t bring myself to date again just yet, and I can’t imagine sleeping with someone who isn’t him. It fucking sucks.
“Maybe if you’re gonna put your love life on hold until Alex comes around, it would be a good idea to actually tell him how you feel,” Peyton says, her voice gentle.
I keep thinking of how he held me and let me cry on his shoulder when Beth died inLittleWomenand I was so upset. Being in his arms was so amazing. It felt right, like that’s where I belonged, and I shivered when he pressed that kiss to my hair. God, I want so much more. But we haven’t touched again like that since, just the normal foot rubs and occasional pats on the shoulder.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget walking into his apartment and seeing him with half a banana down his throat, gagging on it. Jesus, it put so many filthy thoughts in my head, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve jerked off to thoughts of himchoking on my cock since. Not that I wasn’t doing it before, but now I have a visual.
I’ve also been wondering why on earth he was fucking his own mouth with a banana in the first place if he’s straight. Maybe he’s not so straight after all? But I can’t ask him that. It might not be something he wants to share, which might explain why he was so upset when I caught him.
I’ve also been a bit stressed since then because if he isn’t straight and he starts dating other guys, fuck that’s going to hurt. He clearly isn't interested in me that way, whether he’s exploring his sexuality or not, and the thought of him being with someone else? God, it makes me sick.
“I don’t know how,” I tell her. I’m not telling her about the banana incident because I don’t think Alex would want me spreading that around. But it’s got me more and more convinced she was wrong about his feelings for me.
Fortunately I’m saved from talking about it anymore when the bell above the door rings, signaling my next client has arrived.
Peyton squeezes my arm and leaves the room while I finish up with changing the linens around and getting everything set up for whoever just came in.
I’m startled when I hear Peyton’s voice plain as day from the waiting room. “Oh, hell, no.”
Then another voice I am familiar with but haven’t heard in a while, and honestly never thought I would hear again. “I just want to talk to him,” Stacy says, her voice clipped.
“He has a client arriving any minute, and there’s nothing you could possibly need to say that he needs to hear. Get the fuck out.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Stacy retorts.
“His best friend, that’s who. The person he came toafter you fucking cheated on him and he was smart enough to realize what a miserable piece of trash you are.”
I can practically see the scowl on Peyton’s face and the way she’s standing, arms crossed over her chest and her hip jutting out. But I can’t let her handle my battles for me. So I make my way down the hall as they’re arguing and step into the waiting room.
“Hi, Stacy,” I say, and they both turn to me.
“Bentley, I was just asking her to leave,” Peyton says.
“I know,” I tell her. “Thank you. I’ll handle it from here.” Peyton glowers at Stacy but doesn't say anything. She doesn’t leave the room either, though, and for that I’m grateful.
“What can I do for you, Stacy?” I ask, turning to my ex. She’s gorgeous, as always, her blonde hair in a ponytail, her makeup flawless.
“Do we have to talk here?” Stacy says, her voice much more sultry and flirtatious now. “Can’t we have some privacy?”
Peyton opens her mouth to speak but I do it first. “No, we can’t.”
Stacy blanches. I guess she’s not used to hearing me tell her no. Maybe that was the problem in our relationship. Maybe I gave in too much in order to accommodate her and gave her the impression she could walk all over me. Maybe she felt safe cheating because she thought I was too much of a softy to make a deal out of it. Who knows?
“Whatever you want to say to me you can say it here,” I tell her.
She hesitates but then says, “I want a second chance.”
I can tell it’s taking everything in Peyton not to go postal on this girl, and it kinda makes me feel good, knowing how protective she is of me. I also know if Gram were here, she’d be doing the same thing.
“I don’t think so.”
“But we were so good together, Bentley,” she presses, stepping closer. “I miss you.”
Peyton makes a retching sound and I have to keep from laughing when Stacy glares at her.
“Look, Stacy, I know I’m not the smartest guy out there, but I know that what you want isn’t me. It’s not us. You don’t miss me. I’m guessing your current fella probably broke up with you, and I’m thinking what you miss is having a man to string along, and I’m done being that man. I’m happier without you than I ever was with you, and you cheating on me was honestly one of the best things you could have done because it taught me some things about myself that I might not have learned otherwise. So, no. We’re not getting back together. Not now, not ever. And I’m gonna have to ask you to leave now and not come back.”
