Wanting Winter(34)

She likes me.

“I don’t want to end it with Winter.” I lean forward pulling my hair.

“I know,” she whispers.

“But I know I can’t be with her and keep this secret—I can’t be with her knowing that I may have feelings for her best friend.”

She looks at me so quickly with her mouth open.

“I don’t want to hurt her any more than I already have. I have been with her for a week, and how we’ve treated her, it's just cruel. She doesn’t deserve that.”

“I know. So you are going to end things with her, for me?” She smiles at me.

I move closer to her. “You have to realize that I’m still going to want her: I have feelings for her, but I need to see if there’s something between us once and for all.”

“I understand.” She breathes, nodding.

I palm her face in my hands, moving in slowly, and kissing her lips gently. She relaxes into me. Closing my eyes, I know I am doing the right thing: there is something here and I can’t be with Winter knowing I want someone else at the same time. Truthfully, I know I would probably cheat on Winter again. At least Candice knows where I stand and how I feel.

I pull away and she has a dreamy look on her face before she looks away.

“Why are you taking her out on a special date tonight?”

“I want to end it in the nicest way possible.”

“Okay. Tell me when you are free. If you need me to be there, just ask.”

I pull her to me so she is straddling me as she wraps her hands around my neck. “She is going to hate us both.”

She nods, biting her lip. “I just want you to prepare yourself for what is to come; it's not going to be plain sailing.”

“I just hate that I’m going to lose my best friend, but hopefully in time she will forgive us.”

I nod even though I know Winter won’t.

How can you forgive someone who slept with your boyfriend through blackmail and ends up getting the guy? I just know this is going to get ugly.





Winter


I decide to do some yoga, so I put on my yoga pants and sports bra, and start to stretch and sweat out all the toxins in my body. I am doing downward dog position when there is a knock on the door. Groaning I stand up, answering it, and I almost slam it shut angrily when I see who is on the other side.

“That’s not very nice,” Joshua says pushing the door open, walking into my home.

“How do you know where I live?” I ask crossing my arms, and his eyes zoom to my cleavage.

“I always knew where you lived; I have my sources. You look really good and sweaty—nice image to use for later.” He winks at me before looking at the pictures on my wall. “I am here for your best interest really. I was on a run through the park not that far away when I saw something out of the ordinary.” He walks around my living room.

I begin to feel impatient. “You came here to annoy me?”

“That’s just an added bonus. You should be nice to me as I’m here as a friend because your friend seems to be a backstabbing bitch.” He walks towards me.

“Listen, what went on with you and Candice is between you two. I am not getting involved.” I wave my hands in the air. I don’t want him to take out his jealousy on me because she has been hooking up with other people.

“That whore can screw who she likes. I know she was an easy fuck—we all know I did it to be a dick—but it’s who she is screwing now that concerns you.”

I hate that he’s talking in riddles. I hope she isn’t sleeping with any of the professors; that would be taking it too far. “You came here to tell me who she is sleeping with?”

“I did.” He is a few feet away from me, his eyes looking into mine.

“I don’t care who she sleeps with.” That’s the truth.

“You will care about this one. You know, if you were mine, I would never do this. I may be the biggest asshole on campus, but declaring to the whole school that they want to be with you exclusively then doing this behind your back… it’s just evil.”

I shake my head, confused. “What has Trent got to do with all this?”

“Who do you think Candice is sleeping with?”

What he’s trying to say suddenly all clicks together.

“You’re sick; get out of my house. They wouldn’t do that. I don’t know what you are trying to pull, but this is just a new blow even for you.” I walk towards my door opening it for him to leave.

He walks towards me, lifting his phone, and there is a video of Trent and Candice on the park bench. His hands are cupping her face, and they are looking adoringly into one another’s eyes. They’re saying something, but it’s too far away to hear.

Then she straddles him.

Then she kisses him.

Tears fall down my cheeks, my heart breaking. I feel like I can’t breathe. I walk towards my couch sitting down, my hand going to my chest.

How could they do this to me?

Candice is meant to be my best friend.

“Why?” I ask out loud, not expecting to get an answer.

I feel Joshua sit down next to me, pulling me into his chest. He’s the last person I want to confide in, but I need someone to hold me.

“No one deserves this. They were both lucky to have you.” He strokes my hair.