Time and Time Again (Maybe #2.5)(14)

Not exactly, but I didn’t want to tell him details about our relationship. Or lack thereof, depending how you looked at things.

“What brings you by?”

He shrugs. “Can’t a friend drop by unannounced?”

I blink slowly. “You wanted to see what happened between us, didn’t you?”

He nods, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yeah. I was curious. Sue me. Tag’s been my friend for a long time.”

“Yet you haven’t dropped by until now because you wanted some gossip,” I tease, arching an eyebrow at him.

“Guilty.”

“So guilty,” I say, shaking my head at him in amusement. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Coffee would be good.”

“Sure thing. How do you like it?” I ask, standing up.

“White with two sugars please.”

“No problem,” I reply, grabbing everything I needed to make it for him. I make one for Tag too—black with one sugar.

“Even know how he likes his coffee already, good sign,” Xander teases.

I roll my eyes. “I’ve been spending all my time with him for the last two weeks. You’d be surprised how much you learn about someone when you’re living with them. And working with them.”

Tag walks into the kitchen, freshly showered and dressed in a white t-shirt and snug, faded jeans.

“Mornin’” he says, his eyes on me.

“Morning,” I reply, handing him his coffee then Xander his. I didn’t know how to act. Was I allowed to kiss him? Wrap my arms around him? Or did I act like I did before and keep my hands off him except for night time?

“This isn’t awkward at all,” Xander says cheerfully, taking a sip of his hot coffee. “Fuck, Clara! You make good coffee.”

“Thank you,” I say, happy with his praise and decidedly ignoring his awkward comment. Like I needed someone to tell me how awkward it was.

“Might have to drop by more often.”

Tag looks to Xander, his eyes narrowed. “We going riding or what?”

Xander nods then looks to me. “We’re taking the bikes out for a ride. You want to come?”

Xander invited me, not Tag.

“No thanks,” I say. “I have some things I need to do anyway.”

“Like what?” Tag asks, looking interested.

“Just things,” I reply evasively. I had to call my mother because it was her birthday, and I wanted to be alone to do it. “You guys have fun.”

I’m about to turn and walk away when Tag gently grabs me by my upper arm. “Xander, give me a sec.”

Xander stands. “I’ll wait for you out front.”

Xander leaves, and Tag spins me around and corners me against the table. “Is everything okay?”

I nod. “Everything is fine.”

“You sure? I wasn’t too rough last night, was I?” he asks, looking concerned.

“Tag,” I whisper. “Last night was amazing. I loved every second of it.”

“Then what is it?”

“I guess I just don’t know what to do, you know? Can I just kiss you whenever I want? Hug you? Or are you going to look at that and think I want more and—”

“Shit. I’ve really messed this up, haven’t I?” he groans. “You can kiss me whenever you want. We need to talk when I get back, okay? Don’t overthink things Clara. Just enjoy it, don’t question it.”

“Okay.” I guess I could try that.

“Summer’s bringing lunch over for you,” he says, kissing my lips twice.

“Okay.”

He smiles then, and it brightens his whole face. “Can’t wait for tonight.”

“Tonight?” I ask breathlessly.

He leans forward, and nibbles on the shell of my ear. “When I get to be inside you again.”

Oh.

I can’t wait either.

*****

“I miss you, Clara. Why won’t you talk to me? It wasn’t me that betrayed and ruined our family,” my mother sniffs.

“I know that, Mum,” I say, trying not to feel guilty. It was always like this when we spoke, which was why I avoided it. I couldn’t not call her on her birthday though, so here I was. “What have you got planned for today?”

“Your father is taking me out to dinner,” she says quietly.

She was still with him, and I had nothing to say.

“Right. Well you have a good time, Mum,” I say into my phone, staring up at the ceiling.

“He wants to speak to you,” she says sadly.

“I have nothing to say to him.”

“He has his faults,” she says, causing me to scoff. Understatement of the year. “But he still loves you, Clara.”

If that was love, I didn’t want anything to do with it.

“He has two other children. He doesn’t need me,” I say, unable to mask the bitterness in my voice.

“You’re his first born, and you know he loves you,” she says after a few moments.

“This is why I don’t call you, Mum. I don’t want to see him, and that’s the end of the story, okay?”

“Alright,” she says, sounding disappointed. “Are you doing okay? Do you need money? You know I’m always there if—”