Tempted

Chapter 27

Taylor

“One hundred percent honesty?” I mutter.

He nods.

“Okay, well how’s this for honesty. I hacked into your emails while you were gone.”

He blinks and looks down at the floor.

But I can’t stop there. “What did it mean when Bria said you were a cover hog?”

He curses under his breath. “That girl is fucking trouble. I swear she just does this shit to bug me. Nothing like what she implied happened. I promise you, Taylor. I never fucking touched her. She came into my room – it was the night we broke up actually. She couldn’t sleep and had been rejected by this guy Liam. She just wanted someone to talk to. She asked if she could sleep in my room and I didn’t turn her away. But that’s all we did – sleep. I was crushed, completely broken over you. I didn’t have it in me to send her away just when she’d been dismissed by that guy too.”

“You’ve kept the truth from me so many times, Colt. I don’t know how can I trust you again. First your Dad, all the girls in your past, Bria, London, everything. It’s too much.”

“I agree. It is too much, and I can’t live in constant fear of screwing up. If you don’t believe in me, this will never work.”

We stand in silence for several minutes, confused emotion radiating between us. I wish there was an easy way to fix this. It scares me that there might truly be no fixing things this time.

“I guess that’s all there is to say then,” he says.

I don’t argue. There’s nothing else I can say. I’m judging him for keeping secrets from me, when the fact that I kissed Reis hangs over my head. And there’s no way I can tell him that.

I watch Colt walk away, my heart contracting painfully with each step that carries him away from me.

I realize for the first time, I’m not worthy of Colt. I head upstairs, intent on hiding in the dorm when I pass Reis coming out of the rec room. His face lights up when he sees me, which makes the ache inside me twist painfully. The guilt clawing at my nerves is more than I can take. I’ll be reminded of that kiss and my lie to Colt each time I see Reis.

“Why do you still look sad? Are you guys back together?”

I shake my head. “It’s not that simple, Reis.”

“Shrimp, come here.” He pulls me inside the rec room. Logan is there, playing video games, but when he sees us, Reis gives him some type of guy-code glare, because he shuts off the game and disappears a few seconds later.

We sit side by side on the couch, alone in the quiet room. “You know how I feel about you. And if you’re not going to get back with him…” He takes my hand, holding it softly in between both of his, stroking his thumb over my wrist.

I swallow and shake my head. “It wouldn’t be fair to you, Reis.” I look down, fumbling with the hem of my shirt. “I’m not over your brother. You deserve to be more than someone’s second choice.”

He releases a deep sigh and nods. “Yeah, alright.”

“Reis. I’m going to tell him.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?”

“I have to.”