Page 74 of Sweet Girl
I drop my hands to my sides, like they have lead weights on them, and ball my hands into fists.
“You have exactly two seconds to tell me why you’re in my fucking room, Lyndsay. And then you’re going to leave.”
She sticks her lower lip out in a pout. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
“You thought wrong.”
“I’ve missed you, baby.” She reaches up to drape her arms around my neck, which I try to shrug off unsuccessfully. They pin me like a vice.
“I don’t see how you can... I mean, what would Cody think about his pregnant girlfriend missing her ex-boyfriend?”
That apparently did it, because she drops her arms and takes a step back, her eyes meeting the floor.
“We’re not together anymore. He broke it off after I lost the baby.”
Here’s the deal. When you’ve been shit on by someone you once loved, you want nothing more than to get revenge at some point. Love, when you’ve been fucked over, quickly turns to hurt, which then turns to hatred. And when you hate someone, all you want them to do is suffer exactly like you’ve suffered. Karma is a bitch, and all that.
However, being raised in a very Christian household, where I was taught to love everyone and turn the other cheek, yada, yada yada...it makes it a bit difficult to want someone I once cared for to suffer. Just looking at the anguish written all over Lyndsay’s face I realize she has experienced a very difficult loss. Whether that was in breaking up with Cody Leach, over miscarrying his baby or both.
“I’m sorry, Lyndsay. That must be awful.” And I truly mean it. I can see she’s hurting.
She wraps her arms around her waist protectively, her head still angled toward the ground. As she slowly raises it, a start of an apologetic smile appears on her face.
“Don’t you want to tell me I deserved what I got? That you’re glad karma found me?”
Moving over to my desk chair, I reach for the hoodie laying over the back of it and hand it to her for her to put on. I’m a guy, after all, and having a girl – especially my ex – nearly naked in my bedroom does weird things to my brain. She accepts the offer and slips it over her head.
Once she’s covered, I lead her to the desk chair and have her sit down.
“That’s not what I would say, and you know it.”
“I know.”
“Is that why you came here? You thought showing up and trying to sleep with me would make things better?”
She winces at the severity of my words.
“I’m sorry, Van. It was stupid. But I just feel so lost. Everything that’s happened over the last few months, the path I chose...letting you go. It was all...I made bad decisions. I fucked up. I know that now. It’s just been really hard.”
I no longer have the same feelings I once had for Lyndsay. Those are all gone. But seeing the tears spill down over her face, her head hanging in defeat, makes me want to show her she’s selling herself short.
I hold out my outstretched arm to her, palm up, inviting her to take hold. She does and I yank her over to the side of the bed where we both sit. I wrap her up in a hug. It’s not sexual in any way. It’s meant to be comforting. She cries softly into my dress shirt, which I’m still wearing post-game.
“It’ll all work out okay, Lynds. You’re strong and smart. Don’t get down on yourself. You’ll be fine.”
Her cheek is against my chest, chin resting lightly on the top of her head when there’s a knock on my door.
“Yo, Van. Open the door. I’ve got something for ya.”
It’s Cade. Shit.
Lyndsay jerks back a little, her head popping up to look at me, my eyes wide with concern. This would not be good if he sees her in here with me. Not that easy to explain away.
But before either of us has a chance to figure out a plan or the best approach, the door swings open and Cade, and then Kylah, both appear.
Oh, fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck fuck.
The looks on their faces tell me everything I need to know.
