by C. D. Taylor
“I came by to see if you needed any help out here.” He lied.
“Um, not really.”
“Okay…well I guess I will leave you alone then.” He turned to walk away.
“Wait. I’m sorry; I have so much on my mind right now…it’s just crazy. Please come in.” She opened the door and let him slip past her into the stale interior of the house. It was dusty and smelled of mildew, and it made his stomach turn.
“I lied.” He stated.
“Huh? About what?” She questioned.
“I didn’t drop by to see if you need help, I came by to make sure you were okay after last night.”
“Oh. Tyler I’m fine.”
“Now you’re the liar.” He frowned.
“What do you expect me to say? That I’m happy I cheated on my fiancée and ruined my future? Please excuse me if I don’t jump for joy.”
“Maggie look, I felt something last night, and I know you did too.”
“Sure, I felt you between my legs, end of story.”
“Dammit!” He yelled.
Maggie jumped back at him lashing out and seemed to cower in front of him.
“I’m sorry…” He reached out for her.
“Don’t. Just don’t touch me!”
“What the fuck is going on? One minute you’re all over me, and the next you freak out. I can’t seem to believe that cheating is the only thing at play here.”
“Tyler, there are things that you don’t understand and I think it’s better that way. Let’s just go our separate ways, it was fun but nothing can come of all this.” She pleaded.
“What? Because I’m not a slick city boy with a stick up my ass, you think I’m not fit to be around you?”
“That’s bullshit and you know it Tyler!”
“Then enlighten me Maggie.”
“No, I…I can’t.” She began to shed tears.
“Please tell me what’s the matter, I want to help you.”
“There is no one that can help me, I’m sorry. Please go.”
“Fine.”
Tyler turned around and exited the house, he could hear Maggie crying as he descended the steps off the porch, but he kept on walking. She didn’t want to talk to him, and maybe it was for the better, he didn’t need the complication in his life anyway.
Eleven
I watched Tyler leave and it made my insides hurt. I shouldn’t have pushed him away like I did, but what was I supposed to do? I had made a huge mistake by being with him, and the shame was overwhelming me terribly. I needed someone to talk to…maybe Hayley would sympathize. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number.
“Maggie! Where the hell have you been I’ve been so worried!”
“Hey, I’m really sorry I haven’t called sooner, things have been…fucked up.” I sighed.
“Sounds like you need a girl chat lay it on me Mags.”
I blew out a breath and decided to tell my best friend everything. “I fucked up so bad Hayley. There is this guy and things…happened. I didn’t plan on it but it just did and now, well…” I trailed off.
“Oh.” Haley whispered.
“Yeah I know I’m an idiot, what the hell am I going to do? I have to tell Richard, it wouldn’t be fair to keep something this epic from him. Not when he trusts me the way he does.”
“Um…look Mags, there is something I need to tell you. Please don’t be mad, but you’re my best friend and you know I love you.”
“What’s going on?”
“Richard came back from Bermuda early, I saw him last night at Club Terrace.”
“Okay. I wonder why he didn’t tell me he was arriving back so soon, that’s odd.”
“Maggie, he wasn’t alone.”
“I don’t understand Hayley, what are you saying?”
“He was there with a woman, and they were close…too close.”
I felt my guts tighten, and I wanted to hurl at the thought he betrayed me like that. But how much of a heartless bitch was I? I had done the exact same thing to him.
“Look Mags, I didn’t want to tell you, but you needed to know. I think you guys should talk, or something.”
“You’re right, we do need to talk, thank you for telling me. I doubt I would have found out otherwise.”
“So what are you going to do? The wedding is in a few months.”
“I’m not sure, but I will let you know soon, I promise.”
“Okay, well if you need anything I’m here.”
“Thanks Hayley, I love you.”
I hung up the phone, and almost felt a sense of relief wash over me. Sure I had done some unspeakable things behind Richards back, but he was obviously doing the same. It wasn’t right either way, but I had to tell him what happened, I didn’t want to live with it on my conscience forever.
I messed around the house for a while and finally got up the nerve to dial Richards number. My hands were shaking and my stomach was nothing but one giant knot of queasiness. The line started ringing and he picked up on the third ring.
“Hey.” He answered in a clipped tone.
“Hey there, I was wondering if you had a few minutes, there are some things we need to talk over.”
“Yeah sure, what is it?”
His demeanor on the other end of the line was not something I was accustomed to coming from him. His voice was short, and he acted like I was interrupting something extremely important.
“Where are you Richard?”
“I’m uh…”
“Save it, I know you are back in Chicago, no need to lie.”
“Look Maggie I was going to call and tell you that some things came up and I was needed back in the office.”
“Fine, whatever. It really doesn’t matter. I guess what I wanted to know is do you really want to marry me? Or is this just some preconceived notion that this is the next step in a relationship?”
“Why would you doubt that I wanted to marry you? Are you having doubts?”
“Yes, I am Richard. I don’t want you to think I don’t care about you, because I do, I just can’t see me giving myself to someone until death do us part without more than that.”
There was a silence on the other end of the line that told me I wasn’t the only on that had this type of feelings.
“I fucked up Maggie.” He breathed.
“Don’t okay, we both fucked up.”
“No you don’t understand I fucked up so bad. I have been seeing someone behind your back for almost eight months.”
“You what!” I screamed.
“I never meant for it to happen, but it did. I was going to tell you when you came back from Texas. I know that’s a chicken shit excuse and everything but…”
As angry as I was at his revelation, I was no different than him, I may not have been in an ongoing relationship with someone else for months, but I did fuck a stranger in the front of a pickup truck.
“Richard, please don’t beat yourself up about it, I know I’m not.”
“So you aren’t going to scream and yell, and tell me what a bastard I am?”
“That would be pointless, I have wasted too much emotional energy on this relationship as it is to go flying off the handle about you screwing someone else. And besides, I haven’t been entirely faithful to you. Granted I wasn’t fucking someone for eight months though.”
“Look I know this is not the conversation we should be having just a few months from our wedding, but I can’t go through with it. I am in love with Lauren.”
“Lauren? Your secretary?” I gasped.
“Yes, my secretary.”
“Wait, isn’t she pregnant? Holy shit! Is she knocked up with your kid Richard?”
“Yeah, I was going to tell you I swear. Things just came up and I didn’t get around to it.”
“How the fuck do you not get around to telling your fiancée that you knocked up the help! Are you stupid? Oh my god!”
“Okay so there is the yelling I was bracing myself for…”
“You know wha
t; you’re right, forget it. I hope you two have a wonderful happy life together Richard”
Before he could reply, I hung up and threw my phone at the wall, shattering it into tiny pieces. Fuck!
It wasn’t bad enough I was stuck in Texas with my dead parents shit to take care of, and the fact that my past was looming over my skull like a rainy cloud, now I had a broken engagement. What a life to live.
Twelve
“Dude you look like someone kicked your puppy, what’s up with you?” Jake teased.
“Fuck you man!” Tyler huffed.
“Emily said you have been a major dick lately, just wanted to see what the hell your problem is.”
“Maybe my problem is none of your business Jake.”
“Well it becomes my problem when you are an asshole to my wife, and are staying in my home.”
“Then I’ll fucking leave!”
Tyler abruptly scooted back the chair he occupied and stomped out of the house. The door slammed behind him, making a loud cracking noise. When he reached his truck, Jake was on his heels, with a determined look on his face. Tyler pivoted around just in time to feel Jakes fist connect with his jaw.
“What the fuck!” He lunged toward his brother.
The two hit the ground and rolled until Jake was pinned underneath Tyler. Tyler raised his fist to lay a punch onto Jakes face, and heard screaming from the porch.
“Stop it!” Emily was running to where they were scuffling. “Tyler get off of him now dammit!”
Emily had a look of horror on her face, and it immediately disarmed Tyler. What was he doing? This wasn’t him; he didn’t fight with his family.
He lifted himself up and freed Jake of his weight. He thrust his hand down to help his brother off the gravel.
“What the hell is going on with you two?” Emily shouted.
“Ask your husband, he just cracked me in the damn jaw!”
“If you weren’t such a dick I would have left you alone. You have been walking around here with a fucking chip on your shoulder and no one wants to be around you Tyler.” Jake stated.
Tyler knew there was truth to his brothers’ words; he was acting like an asshole to the people who cared about him. And over what? A damn woman that could give two shits about him.
“Tyler, come inside please. Maybe we all just need to talk.” Emily gently said.
“I’m done talking dammit, fuck this.” He walked to his truck and climbed in.
He didn’t want to discuss his personal life with anyone; this wasn’t a fucking daytime talk show. It wasn’t something that could be fixed over tea and crumpets. Fuck that. He needed to be alone.
Tyler peeled out of the driveway with no definite direction in mind. His brain was overtaken with so many thoughts that it was hard to comprehend them all.
The reality of his situation was that he felt alone. Everyone in his life had gone on to find things that made them happy, but he was left out in the cold with no course for his life.
Was this what happened to all soldiers returning home from active duty? Did they all go through this horrible transition where it felt their life was upside down?
He didn’t like feeling out of control, and he sure didn’t like fighting with his brother. Jake had always supported him in anything he did, and loved him no matter what. His repayment was coming home and treating his family like garbage. That just wasn’t him at all. He had to fix it, or he would be left out in the cold with no family to come home to.
After driving and listening to the radio, Tyler found himself driving up the road to where Maggie was. He wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing there, but something about her drew him there. He wanted to see her, and apparently she was just as fucked up as he was. Birds of a feather and all that nonsense.
When he parked his truck he noticed the front door was wide open and began to panic. Did someone break in? Was she alright out here all alone? His nerves were doing a swan dive as he approached the door.
Tyler stood there for a few seconds and heard music coming from the second floor of the house. The sounds of Adele’s “Someone like you” wafted through the air and tickled his eardrums.
He called her name without any form of response, so he walked on into the interior of the home. Tyler felt strange entering without being invited, but something in him wanted to make sure Maggie was okay.
Once he determined that she wasn’t in the lower level of the house he took to the stairs. His large feet clumped up the several flights and when he reached the top he let his ears take over.
Tyler could hear Maggie, singing along with the tune, and damn her voice was smooth like butter spread over a hot biscuit. He heard water running, and followed the sound to the end of the hall where a door was shut. Without hesitation, he pushed the door slightly open and what he saw made his cock jerk in response.
There she was among a plethora of bubbles, hair piled on top of her head, looking like a goddess. Damn he wanted her, wanted to be in that bathtub with her, showing what he was made of.
He stood in the doorway, just watching her soak in the steaming water. She had no idea he was there, and he wanted to keep it that was for just a few moments more.
Suddenly his phone chirped with a text message, and her gaze shot to the door.
“What the fuck! Get out!” She screamed.
Tyler didn’t listen, he stood there with a shit eating grin on his face, and a major hard on in his pants.
“Ugh! Do you not listen? Get the fuck out of here!”
Should he leave? Or should he make the move that he really wanted to? Tyler chose the latter. He stalked the rest of the way through the door and sat on the edge of the bathtub. He didn’t say a word.
“Okay this is ridiculous; I’m calling the cops Tyler.”
He held out his phone. “Be my guest.” He smiled.
She didn’t take the phone from him, and he took that as a sign that she wasn’t as pissed as she claimed to be.
“Whatever. What the hell do you want Tyler?” She huffed.
“Your door was open; I thought maybe someone broke in. It’s not safe to go leaving doors and windows open with you being all alone out here Maggie.”
“I’m out in the middle of nowhere it’s not like someone would travel all the way out here just to murder me.” She rolled her eyes.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
“Sure okay Mr. Paranoid. Hand me my towel please.” She motioned to a fluffy white towel sitting on a nearby chair.
Tyler reached for the towel, but then pulled his hand back, giving her an evil grin. He wasn’t going to let her cover up, not if he had his way.
“Um…the towel.” She said.
“Nope. Not going to happen. Stand up.”
“Are you kidding me? Seriously Tyler this isn’t a damn game, hand me the towel or get the fuck out!”
“I said stand up.” He commanded.
“Fine whatever.” She sighed, as she lifted her gorgeous body from the mass of bubbles.
Tyler had to restrain himself from grabbing her and sinking into her delectable body right there. She was perfect. Her breasts were round and perky, her ass was smooth and flawless, and her pussy was bare and ready for him to spread her lips and taste it.
“Gawk much? You would think you’ve never seen a naked woman before.”
“None as beautiful as you.” He commented.
“Yeah okay Casanova.” She spoke sarcastically.
“Come here.” He said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.
The urge to touch her was greater than wanting to take his next breath. She was divine.
Tyler never wanted anything more in his life than he wanted Maggie. He wanted her underneath him taking everything he was willing to give.
“Where’s your bedroom?” He asked.
“Tyler, please…this isn’t a good idea.”
“Fuck good ideas.” He stood up and lifted her into his arms. She didn’t seem to fight him much and h
e could smell her arousal, along with the bubble bath that was still clinging to her moist skin.
It only took him a moment to find her room, and as soon as he spotted the bed, he had her pinned underneath of him.
