Virgin Flyer

I nodded. My throat felt too sick to say anything, but I would have done anything he wanted in that moment. On our way out the door, I shot a look of disgust at Chris because I couldn’t help myself.

“Wait,” Chris called after a few beats. We were halfway out the door. Teo kept walking, so I followed him into the hallway. “Teo, wait,” Chris repeated, following us into the quiet space. All the doors to the nearby suites were closed, and the noise of the game was hushed by the walls of the building around us.

Teo turned around and crossed his arms in front of his chest, defiant. “Don’t you think I’ve waited long enough?”

Chris glanced at me. “Can you give us a minute please?” It was the nicest tone he’d used with me all day.

I looked at Teo, who nodded his head slightly, so I stepped forward and kissed his forehead. “I’ll be in the bar at the end of the hallway. Take your time,” I said softly.

When I got to the bar, I ordered a scotch on the rocks to keep me from turning back around and yanking Teo away from that user.

I repeated the same thing over and over to myself.

It was none of my business.

He wasn’t mine.

19

Teo

Chris looked off-balance and unsure. It was unusual and off-putting.

“Look, Tee. I owe you an apology. I’m… I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did.”

He combed his fingers through his hair and paced from side to side in the narrow hallway. “It’s just… I don’t like seeing you with that guy. He’s… I… I don’t understand why suddenly you’re bringing a guy around. I thought you wanted to be with me.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he stopped pacing and held up his hand to forestall me. “No, wait. I know. I’ve been a complete ass. It’s my fault. I told you I’d get my shit together if you came to work at Banks so we could spend more time together.” He reached out and cupped the side of my neck. It was an intimate touch I wasn’t expecting, so I kind of jumped a little when he did it.

Chris frowned. “You don’t want me to touch you?”

“No, it’s not that. You just startled me. You never touch me in public.” As I spoke, Chris stepped closer to me, his eyes darting down to my lips and back up to my eyes and his hand tightening on my skin. For a split second, I stupidly thought he might have been thinking of kissing me. Instead, he stepped closer again and hugged me, holding me tight like a long-lost friend or lover.

I was neither.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly into my hair. “Please don’t give up on me. I love you.”

I pulled back. “Then what the fuck are you doing bringing Chelsea around?”

He stepped back and threw up his hands. “I don’t know. You told me about Jack and I just… ugh. I just didn’t want to be some loser here without a date while you brought around your new ‘boyfriend.’ Can you blame me?” He used a snide voice and finger quotes on the word boyfriend. Like a fucking child.

“Yes, in fact, I can blame you. Because for fucking years you brought women around when I didn’t have anyone. For years you’ve flaunted girlfriends around me when you knew I was in love with you. Like you didn’t give one single thought about my feelings. Like it was all a fucking game to you! What about me, huh? What about my fucking feelings, Chris? Jesus fucking Christ. You’re the most selfish person I fucking know!” My voice had gotten louder and louder until it was croaking, and my eyes felt like they were going to explode with tears like a cartoon.

I swiped at them angrily. “I wish I hated you. I wish I could tell you to go to hell. But I can’t. Because I’ve loved you most of my life. And all I’ve gotten for it is absolutely nothing.”

Chris’s face was pale with shock. “Teo, I’m sorry. I didn’t… I wasn’t thinking. I never meant to hurt you. I thought… I thought we were too young. It was too soon. Jesus, Tee. We’re only twenty-six. Are you really ready to—”

“For fuck’s sake, don’t you ever listen to me?” My shout echoed off the walls of the narrow hallway, surprising even me.

The sound of a grunt and something crashing came from the end of the corridor. Both of us turned to see Jack whip around the corner toward us. He looked pissed.

“What the fuck did you say to him?” he barked at Chris. Jack looked at me, and his face fell. “Baby, shit. Come here. Fuck.” He reached for me and pulled me into his chest. “You’re upset. What did he say to you?” He must have looked back up at Chris. “What the fuck did you say to him? Haven’t you done enough? Jesus fuck. You know what? Never mind. We’re leaving.”