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Pissed by that comment, I turn her towards me. “Oh, so now you’re treating me like Liev?Maybe one day, but not now.What the fuck Sloan? We’re more than that. I know we haven’t really been together, but this thing between us has been brewing for a long time. Longer than I think we even realize.”
“You aren’t like Liev. Trust me, my heart is ripping open with the thought of you leaving me to go to California, but I also know we can’t be together, at least not right now. I do love you, Wesley King, but I need you to respect this decision,” she says, grabbing my face to get her point across.
I jerk away from her, unable to handle the finality in her eyes. “Whatever Sloan, but I fucking hate this. If you think I’ll be okay around you and someone new when our families get together, then you are sadly fucking mistaken.” I continue, jabbing my fingers into my chest, “What about me, Lo… do you expect me to wait until you determine the time is right? Because that’s bullshit and you know it.”
Knowing deep down I would… I would do anything for her.
She lets out a guttural cry at the thought, the sound almost bringing me to my knees.
“I’m not sure I can just be friends with you. I’ll try but I can’t promise much. I made up my mind a couple of months ago that I was done being around you and not being with you. And now… now it feels like you’re abandoning me.”
“I’m not abandoning you, but I can’t… and I won’t do this to Maddie. She fucking loves you Wes,” she says, sitting back on her bed in defeat.
Reeling myself in because, as pissed as I am right now, I know this is my fuck up. I should have told Sloan… it shouldn’t have been an afterthought—that’s on me. I had no idea Maddie harbored any feelings towards me and I can tell Sloan isn’t budging on this. I know how important family is to her.
Thank you, universe and teenage peer pressure, for ruining the one thing I have ever felt like I couldn’t live without in my life.
Taking Lo’s face in my hands, I kiss every tear-soaked inch of it before I say, “I love you, Thea, and I always will.”
Right as I walk out her door, I hear her bed creak and she whispers, “Wesley.” Running towards me, she gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. “I’ll always love you too. I hope all your California dreams come true.”
Giving her a small smile, I leave, knowing I can’t keep it together much longer.
I want to tell her there’s no way all my dreams will come true because my biggest one just told me she can’t be with me, but I refuse to put that burden on her. I know she’s hurting, too.
That night was the first time I realized there is nothing simple or easy about love.
When you’re young, you always think you’ll find the person you love and you’ll be together. Everything will be perfect, no if, ands, or buts. Until you grow up and understand that life doesn’t work that way and sometimes the stars just aren’t quite aligned at the exact time you want them to be.
But the hope that one day they will be.
Six
Present
Excusing myself from the group, I head down the dark corridor towards the bathrooms. Seeing Thea on his menu has me feeling all out of sorts. It’s hard to believe he was still thinking of me even after the shit-show last Christmas turned into. I thought it was all over after that. Never did I think he could possibly forgive me. Not after the way he looked at me, filled with such hurt and disappointment.
Seems like that’s always the deal with us. Over the past nine years, we still can’t ever get our shit together. One of us always walks away disappointed and heartbroken once again.
Feeling his heated stare on my retreating backside, I can’t help but put a little extra sway to my hips as I go. Moments later, I’m staring at my flushed cheeks in the mirror, silently laughing to myself.
Every time I see him, it brings back years of memories and longing. I swear he gets more handsome as time passes. His strong jaw sporting that five o’clock shadow is enough to set off a persistent ache between my thighs. And those eyes! My God, I’ve been imagining them undressing me all night long. It’s like he’s trying to tell me all of his dirty thoughts with just his gaze. Oh, if only he knew how often I fantasize about his body on top of mine. Would it be crazy of me to assume that he still wants to give this thing between us a go, because I sure as hell do.
I splash a bit of water on my face to cool the heat that has set up camp throughout my body. “Pull your shit together,” I say, giving myself a pep-talk before gathering my stuff to leave. Walking out of the bathroom, I head back to our table. I’m only a few steps out the door when a strong hand grips mine and gently tugs me into what appears to be a coat closet. He has me pinned against the wall, the emergency exit sign slightly illuminating his face. “Wesley,” I whisper in shock. “What—what are you doing?”
He lifts my right arm, exposing the small crown tattoo I tried all night to conceal, clearly not well enough since he knew what he was looking for. His eyes flare as he focuses on the design. I attempt to pull out of his grasp, embarrassed that he exposed my secret.
To anyone else, the crown etched on my skin could just be a simple symbol with no real significant meaning behind it, but to WesleyKing, it means more. Throughout our youth, he’s always been referred to as Zeus, thekingof the gods, and I, being the martyr I am, decided after our last encounter that if we were never meant to be, then I would carry a piece of him with me for eternity.
“Sloan,” he says in a questioning whisper, his eyes still fixated on the tattoo. Then he raises his gaze and locks onto mine.
I swallow hard, not sure what to make of all this. Is this really happening? I’m flooded with emotions and trying desperately to keep the threat of tears at bay. Looking into his eyes. All I can think of is how much I missed the overwhelming sense of need I get when his body is close to mine. If only he knew how much I loved him, and that I still do. After all these years, after all the missed chances.
“I thought I was dreaming when I saw you at one of my tables. Then to have Quinn drop that you’re single now…” he says with questioning eyes. “Why wasn’t I your first thought?”
“You have no idea how badly I wanted to call you. I just didn’t think you’d want to hear from me after how things went down the last time we saw each other.” I pause for a moment, trying to regain my composure. “God Wes, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think Liev would show up. We hadn’t spoken in days.” This is all too much. I feel my eyes well with tears. The regret that I’ve been harboring for these past months finally put to rest.
“Shhh, it’s okay baby. You’re here now and that’s what matters…” he says while nuzzling his nose into my neck. My breath stutters as my body melts into his. “You’re even more gorgeous than the last time I saw you.” I inhale deeply, taking in his woodsy, masculine scent.
