I planned to go home, shower, and crash, but now all I want is to drown myself in as much alcohol as it takes to forget.
Twenty minutes later, just as I’m about to lock up, my phone buzzes again. This time, dread knots in my stomach. I should have ignored it.
MY BUTTERFLY
I kissed Alek today. Twice. I agreed to go on a date with him.
I felt his dick against my leg and thought about letting him take me against the door of my apartment. But then I realized it would be too much like you. Want to know the difference, though? I'm single, and you weren't.
Who knows what will happen on the date? They say the best way to get over someone is to get undersomeone else. We all know I want to get over your cheating ass.
My fingers fly over the keyboard before my brain can catch up, then slow, then stop completely.
I scowl, erase, and start again, but nothing fits in the tiny text box. I type, delete, repeat. After one last failed attempt, I wipe it all away.
MY BUTTERFLY
Keep your girlfriend on a leash like the bitch she is. If she comes by my work again, I'm going to press charges for harassment.
My grip tightens on the phone as anger, sorrow, and love crash together inside me.
This is on me.
I cheated on the love of my life, and now the love of my life is moving on.
A bitter laugh slips out as I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to hold myself together.
As Lionel says, I made my bed. The only thing I can do now is lie in it. These are the consequences of my actions, and I have to accept them.
And I'm going to because I know the pain I feel now is not even half of what Charlie has been feeling for the last year.
Forever Her Dragon
Keaton | The Past
"Hey,son.Iseverythingokay?" my dad asks when he answers.
I sink into my chair, propping my feet on the table in the heart of our shop. "Yes. No." I let out a heavy sigh. "Honestly, I don't fucking know."
"Talk to me."
"Charlie kissed Alek twice. And she's agreed to go on a date with him."
"How does that make you feel?" Dad questions.
"Angry. Sad. Hurt." I pause, sifting through the mess in my head. "Weirdly enough, I'm also happy."
"Happy?"
"Yeah. I don't know. It's hard to put into words. I'm glad she's trying to heal. Glad I didn't shatter her so badly she can't move forward, even if watching her do it guts me."
"That's big of you, son. It's also a good step in your healing process."
"It still fucking hurts, Dad. It's supposed to be me and her, ya know?"
"Yeah. It was supposed to be, Keaton, but it's not anymore. You accept that. You cheated on her. That was your choice. Now you have to let Charlie make hers while you focus on healing. If you don't heal yourself first, how do you plan on trying to heal what you broke between you two?"
We talk in low voices a while longer before hanging up. Restless energy still crackles in my veins, so I call Brock and Kayla, hoping they're up for the bar. Going alone tonight feels like a disaster waiting to happen.
