CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE DASH

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

DASH

I jump off my bike and run up the darkened walkway. Once I get to the door, I bang my fist on it. "Tabatha!" I scream. Nothing. "She has to be here," I say between clenched teeth. "Tabatha!" I scream again.

This can't be happening. She has to be here. I couldn't do it with Valerie. I couldn't fucking do it! She kneeled down before me, ready and willing to suck my cock, and I couldn't even undo my pants for her. Yes, my dick was hard, but she wasn't the one I wanted. She wasn't the one who meant something to me. She had already confessed to the bike. I didn't need to fuck up what I had with Tabatha because I had one night with that bitch. I love her. I want to prove that to her. I want her to see that walking away was a mistake.

I spin around when I hear a car door open. Tabatha stumbles out of the passenger seat. She giggles as she leans over talking to whoever is in it. I swallow thickly. She's drunk. Standing upright, she slams the door shut and watches the car drive off. The moment she turns around, she stops, and the playful smile drops off her face.

"I'm so sorry," I say, making my way back down the steps to her.

She lifts her hand and stumbles, taking a step back from me. "Why are you here?"

"I've been trying to call you. You haven't answered. I need to talk to you."

She shakes her head. "Why? What could you possibly have to say?" Her voice rises. "Finished having fun with Valerie so now you come over to have some fun with me?" she screams.

I grab her by the shoulders to help steady her as I lower my face to hers. "I didn't do anything with Valerie," I growl.

She snorts. "You smell like tequila. You're drunk."

"So are you, princess."

She pulls away from me and shoves me out of her way as she walks up to her front door.

I run a hand through my hair. "Please let me explain."

She stops at her door and spins around. "You didn't sleep with her?"

"No."

"Did she try?" she asks placing her hands on her hips.

"Yes."

Her lips thin and she looks away from me. "Did you kiss her?"

"Yes," I whisper. I can't lie to her. Not this time. I've lied to her before and it almost cost me everything.

"Dash…" she whispers as she drops her head. She shakes her head as she stares down at the ground.

"I'm sorry," I say, walking up to her once again. I place my hands on her face and lift it so she has to look at me. "What I did was a mistake. And I'm here to make it right. I love you." The words fly out of my mouth without thought.

Her eyes narrow at my confession, and she places her hands flat on my chest and shoves me backward. "Don't you dare say that to me!" she screams. "You think you can confess to kissing her and then just tell me that you love me?" she asks in disbelief.

Hurt. Pain. Rejection. Is what makes me respond the way I do. "You're the one who broke up with me. You're the one who left me. I was doing what I was told to do," I yell back. "You were the one who ran when shit got difficult. Don't make me sound like the bad guy."

"The bad guy? You are the bad guy. You kissed your ex. The same ex who is still in love with you."

I stand tall as I look down at her, furious at what she is saying. "She was the one naked and trying to fuck me. And I thought about it. I had every opportunity to fucking do it." Her eyes start to water, and she swallows. "I did kiss her. I could have lied to you about that. I could have not come over here at all. Hell, you look pretty drunk yourself. Dressed like a slut. How do I know that you didn't fuck some random stranger tonight?" She gasps. "What?" I snap. "It's not that hard to believe. You've done it before," I shout, fisting my hands down by my side.

She opens her mouth to speak but closes it quickly. Her body slightly shakes and tears roll down her face. She wraps her arms around herself.

I spin around, giving her my back—not wanting to see the pain that I just caused her. But it's not fair to make me out to be the bad guy. Kissing Valerie was wrong, I admit that, but she had dumped me. I stopped Valerie when my body wanted her. Don't I deserve something for that?

"Dash?" Her voice shakes.

"Don't worry about it," I sigh, not turning back around to look at her. "You were right to walk away." And with that, I walk down the darkened walkway and jump on my bike. I don't even bother to look up at her. Her rejection hurt too much. I told her that I loved her, and she did nothing. She said nothing. She doesn't love me. Not the way I love her. And in all honesty, I should have never come over here.