Page 29 of A Constant Surprise

“What I have figured out is that I love you. I miss you. I realize my life was never better than when I was with you. I think that you and I could really make this work.”

I just shook my head in disbelief. It had been almost three years since I had spoken to this woman…the woman who broke my heart and left the pile of pieces lying in her wake.

She turned me into a guy ready to settle down into one who never wanted anything more serious than a good fuck.

I was no longer the little puppy dog who fawned over her like I used to. I had a life outside of her now. I had a new outlook. I had Sam.

Oh fuck. Sam.

I thought of Sam and how she must be going crazy wondering what the hell Marisol was doing here. We were finally starting to make some progress, and then, this happened.

I was about to tell her to get the fuck out and leave me alone, but she spoke first. “I knew when I came here that I was going to catch hell from you. I didn’t even think you’d let me in the door, but I came anyway so that I could lay my feelings out on the table.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me. I’m not asking you to pretend everything is okay. I’m asking you to think about it and try to remember the good times that we had. Maybe take some time to think and come see me if you want to talk. I’m staying in town over at the Briarton for a week.”

I was surprised when she said the Briarton. It was a quaint little bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town. Usually, Marisol was put up at the most glamorous hotel that was closest to all the hottest nightlife.

Without another word, she got up and walked out.

I continued to sit at my desk thinking about the load of information she had just dropped on me. Six months after she left, I would have jumped at her offer. I would have taken her no questions asked if she just would have come back and apologized. I loved her so fucking much, and it killed me that she never even said she was sorry. She needed a way out, and she found it. Now, she was looking for a way back in.

I wasn’t ready to talk about any of this yet, and I knew Sam wasn’t done with her appointment, so I snuck quietly upstairs and fell back in bed desperate to fall back asleep and forget this awful morning ever happened.

Chapter 15 - Sam

What the fuck?

Those three words kept echoing in my head as I tried to tutor Ted who sat across the table from me. Poor guy was probably more confused than when he walked in, but I couldn’t stop wondering.

What possible reason could Marisol have for being here?

The question wouldn’t stop repeating in my mind, but I already knew the answer. She was here for Tyler. You don’t show up looking like sex on a stick and not hope that Tyler Wendell will take you to bed.

Did she just want sex? Did she want him back? Did she want to pick up where they left off?

I had no idea, but I couldn’t wait for this damn session to end so I could go find out. It seemed like the clock was standing still.

Why did she have to show up today?

I tried my hardest to stay focused and help Ted the best I could. He was a sweet guy…a bit shy at first, but over the sessions, he had come out of his shell quite a bit.

Finally, my phone dinged that time was up, and Ted started gathering up his books. “Hey, Sam.”

I looked up at him. “Yeah?”

“I was wondering if sometime maybe you’d like to have dinner with me.”

Shock smacked me across the face. Was Ted really asking me out? He’d never really showed any interest before.

Ted was a good-looking guy. He was tall and a bit on the skinny side, and he had long, messy sandy hair that he was always pushing back from his face. He was no Tyler Wendell, but he was still handsome.

I tried to choose my words carefully as to not hurt his feelings. “Ted, I like you a lot. You’re a great guy, but I just don’t know that I’m ready for dating right now. I’m always so busy, and I’m trying to work through some personal stuff.”

I didn’t mention the part that later on today, I was supposed to be professing my love for another man.

He just smiled shyly and said, “Okay. If you change your mind, you have my number. I’ll take you out anytime.”

Forcing a smile as best I could, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I was hoping I wouldn’t be calling him for a date.

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