Page 76 of The Opposite of Romance
I don’t want him to talk to her that way. “Look, man. It was my fault…”
But he doesn’t even look my way. “I trusted you,” he continues. “I know this was weird and all, but I trusted you. And you go and have sex with my cousin, here where anyone could have found you.”
Her face screams panic and there’s a weird feeling in my chest. “It’s not what it looks like,” she says, repeating the same shit she told me.
Why is she so upset? I get this was awkward. But it’s not like they were exclusive.
Were they?
Did she cheat on my cousin with me this whole time? The thought makes bile rise in my throat.
“Excuse me,” I bite out, trying to make my way out of this room. There’s no oxygen here, and if I stay a second longer, I’m afraid I’m going to choke.
All this time, I was falling for her, and I was just her dirty little secret.
“Logan, please. I know this is weird, but please don’t share this with others,” Dean says.That’s what he’s worried about?
“Sure. Sorry for fucking your girlfriend.” I pat his shoulder, hearing Sadie gasp behind me.
“What?” Dean’s face is confused, and I don’t know what the hell is going on. “You think she’s my girlfriend?”
I turn around, brows furrowed. “Yeah, I think she’s your girlfriend. On the count of you introducing her as your girlfriend to everyone.”
Sadie sighs. “Please, get inside. Dean, close the door.”
My legs follow her commands, my brain too unsure to make decisions.
“I told you it’s not what it looks like,” Sadie says, looking at me before glancing at Dean. “I told you the same thing.”
We’re both staring at her dumbfounded, so she continues, “Dean’s not really my boyfriend. But he trusted me to be his girlfriend for the day, and I let him down. Sorry,” she says to him. “Logan and I had a thing for a while now, and it’s why this,” shegestures between us, “happened. It’s not like I found a rando to fuck at your grandma’s birthday.”
“But why would you agree to be my fake girlfriend if you were taken?” Dean says, not making any sense.Fakegirlfriend?
“I’m not taken. Logan has been working on my deck a couple months now, and things have gotten a little heated a few times.”
It hurts to hear her explain what we have this way, but I’m still stuck on the fake girlfriend part. “Fake girlfriend? What are you two talking about?”
She casts an apologetic glance to Dean before he speaks, “So, you haven’t told him?”
She shakes her head.
“Told me what?” I ask.
“I’m going to give you some privacy,” Sadie says, before adding, “Sorry for this, Dean.” In a second, she’s gone.
“Fuck,” Dean mumbles. “I wasn’t planning on doing this today… I’m gay.”
A sense of calm washes over me, the scattered little puzzle pieces falling into place. My lips pull up into a huge smile.
“Why are you smiling?” he asks, wary.
“I thought the girl I was crazy about for months now was dating someone else. This is great news.”
“You know how our family is. I wanted to keep this private.”
“I know. And I know some of the old geezers probably wouldn’t take this news the right way. But I don’t think you have to worry about the rest of us. For what it’s worth, I’m grateful you told me.” I place a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about me telling anyone, but when you’re ready, I want to be right there by your side.”
His mouth parts, as if in shock, and regret fills me. How hard it must be for him? To expect the worst of the people closest to him.
