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“You looked up my phone?” Scrunching his brows, he looks at the table and scoops up his phone, then pulls up the messages. His eyes scan the screen, his jaw clenching tight, and when he looks back up at me, his are shining with contempt. “You checked my messages.” His voice is calm and void of emotion.
“Oh no,” I say, taking a step back. “Don’t you dare try to turn this around on me. Don’t act like we don’t check each other’s phones because you know damn well we always do.”
“Oh, I’m not turning it around,” he seethes. “I’m just wondering if you’ve been using that as an excuse to check up on me.” He shakes his head, running his fingers through his thick brown hair. “How long, Harley?”
How the hell did this get turned around on me?
Pinching my lips together, I fist my hands at my side. Without warning, my throat clogs and my eyes blur. “Fuck,” I whisper. Spinning away, I look up at the ceiling, willing myself not to cry.
Fucking hormones.
I hear Tyson sigh and then his feet shuffle against the floor. “Baby.” He grips my shoulder and I shake him off. “Harley, please look at me.” He steps in front of me and I twirl around. My emotions are all over the place right now and I know I’m being childish, but if the tremble in my chin is any indication, I’m two seconds away from losing my shit. I want him to hold me and assure me that this is all a big misunderstanding, but I’ve been burned one too many times and I don’t think I’ll survive it again.
“I’m sorry,” he says, pressing his chest against my back. The warmth of his body is so incredibly inviting, but I can’t allow myself to melt into him. “Please, just sit down and let me explain. You’re blowing this up into so much more than it should be.”
“Did you or did you not meet with her yesterday?” I ask between clenched teeth. Spinning around, I nearly fall over at Tyson’s close proximity, and he reaches a hand out and snags my arm, keeping me upright. His touch alone sends shocks of electricity through my body, and I yank my arm away.
His eyes flash with surprise and he swallows hard. “Yes,” he says, nodding. “But—”
“No ‘buts.’” Shaking my head, I cross my arms over my chest. “You had the chance to tell me and you didn’t. You chose to keep it to yourself, knowing how upset it would make me.”
“Don’t you see?” he says, taking a step toward me with his hands outstretched. “I was trying to figure out the best way to tell you. I wanted to tell you last night, but Max was here and I knew this would happen,” he says, waving his hand between us. “I know you, Harley. I would’ve mentioned Brit’s name and you would’ve flown off the handle, just like you are now.”
“Oh, well that’s just great,” I say. “Thank you for making me feel like a complete bitch.” My voice wavers, cracking on the last few words, and Tyson reaches for me. I turn away, embarrassed and hurt, but he doesn’t give up, and when he catches my arm in his hand, my resolve melts.
“I’m sorry I made you feel like that,” he says, pulling me in close and wrapping me in his arms. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that—”
“I know,” I interrupt, wiping my tears on his shirt. “I overreact. She brings out all sorts of insecurities in me, and … and …”
“What?” Tyson’s grip on me tightens, and when I don’t immediately answer, he kisses the top of my head. “Tell me,” he whispers.
“You left me for her once, so who’s to say you won’t—”
“Don’t. Don’t say it.” Tyson’s voice is strong and holds a firm warning. I snap my mouth shut, burying my face in his chest. “How many times do I have to apologize to you for that? Walking away from you was the worst mistake I’ve ever made, and I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting it. I’m sorry, Harley. I’m so sorry. And I don’t know what else to say to make you believe me. As much as I wish I could, I can’t change the past.” The pain in his voice nearly brings me to my knees. Fisting my hands in the front of his shirt, I pull back just enough so I can look into his eyes.
“I don’t want you to apologize,” I say. “I believe you, and I’ve forgiven you. It’s just that ...”
“It’s just what?” he asks when my words trail off. I take a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts. “Just say it,” he yells.
“Now I’m doubting you.” The words fall from my mouth, and when he flinches, I instantly regret the way they came out.
Tyson slips from my arms and takes a couple of steps back, and I’m left feeling cold and empty at the loss of his body against mine. “But if you really believe me and have honestly forgiven me, then you have no reason to doubt me. No reason to snoop—”
“I wasn’t snooping.”
Tyson ignores my comment and looks at some unknown object over my shoulder. His eyes are cold and distant, and I’m left wondering how in the hell we got here. “It doesn’t matter if you were snooping. That’s not the point. The point is that you don’t trust me.”
“But why?” I holler. “Why lie to me if you have nothing to hide? If you’re not screwing around with her behind my back, then—”
“What?” he snaps, his voice rumbling with anger. “You honestly think that I’d do that to you?”
Right now I don’t know which way is up. “I don’t know what to think.”
Tyson nods and pushes his hands deep in his pockets. “Well”—his eyes bore into mine as though he’s waiting for me say something—“then I guess we’re done here.”
My chest tightens. “Just like that?” I cry, tossing my hands up. “You’re gonna walk away from us just like that?”
“Jesus Christ, Harley,” he whispers. “No. But all we’re doing is dancing in circles, and we both have to be at work in an hour and Max is still asleep.”
