Page 138 of Text Me Baby One More Time

“Hesentthephototohisfriends,” Delia finally rushes out in one breath.

The thumping stops and fire replaces the beat as my breath catches in my throat.

I was wrong.

Shep hasn’t changed.

He’s still the sameslughe’s always been, and I’ve fallen for his games once again.

* * *

“There you are.I’ve been looking all over for you.” Shep slides an arm around me. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

I’m standing in the gazebo where Allie and AJ exchanged their vows two hours ago.

I had to get out of there after Delia finally confessed what Shep did to her. My stomach was twisting and turning, and I couldn’t stand to be in that room of happy people for another minute.

Though every bone in my body is screaming at me not to because I love the way he feels against me, I step out of Shep’s hold, creating the distance this conversation necessitates between us.

He looks dejected and hurt, but so am I.

Only Ideserveto feel that way because of his betrayal. He doesn’t.

Shep shoves his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels and staring at me with worry.

“Is, uh, is everything okay?” he asks quietly.

Turning away from him, I rest my arms on the banister of the gazebo and stare out into the sunset on the horizon. It’s like the sun is setting on our relationship or whatever the hell this is we’re doing.

“Bucky?”

“Don’t.”

He exhales heavily. “You talked to Delia.”

The ice in my voice must be a dead giveaway for him, and I think what hurts the most is that he was expecting this, that his mind automatically goes to that.

“Is that why you’ve been so cagey this week? Why you were weird when we ran into them at the restaurant? Why you won’t take me near your parents?”

He takes a moment to answer, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s trying to think up a lie.

“Yes,” he finally says. “That’s why.”

“How did I not know?”

“No one does, really. It was kept quiet because of my baseball career.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it’s embarrassing as fuck, Denny. I made one of the biggest goddamn mistakes of my life in a moment of simple jealousy and I can’t take it back.”

I spin to face him. “How could you do that to her?”

“I was stupid.”

“Beyondstupid, Shep. That’s a massive invasion of privacy.”

“I know that.”

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