by E. L. Todd
“Why?” I said with a cracked voice. “Everything okay?”
“I need to talk to you. I’m sorry for bothering you so late, but it’s important.”
“No, it’s okay.” I kicked the covers back and sat up in bed. “I’ll be right there.” I hung up and returned the phone to the nightstand. After I pulled on my pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, I walked to the front door. I didn’t bother putting on a bra because I was too tired. Bree wouldn’t care. She’d seen me naked more times than either of us cared to admit.
I opened the door and let her inside. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Bree flipped on some of the lights before she walked into the living room and sat down. “Cypress and I were having dinner tonight…”
I took the seat beside her, my eyes wide open now that I was looking at her. The second she said it was important, my body kicked into gear and I became wide awake. My sister wouldn’t stop by in the dead of night if it weren’t important. I glanced at the time on the TV receiver and saw it was only eleven.
Damn, I was lame.
“What happened, Bree?”
“I went to the bathroom at a restaurant, and when I came back to the table, Vanessa had taken my seat.”
That cunt was back? “Oh no…”
“She said bye to Cypress then returned to her seat on the other side of the restaurant. Seeing her just made me angry all over again. It felt just like it did when I caught Cypress fucking her.” Spit flew from her mouth because she was so pissed. “It made me feel all the things I hate to feel, and right then, I didn’t think it would work. Cypress and I had made a lot of progress, but all of that went out the window when I saw her.”
“You can’t get mad at Cypress for running into her. That wasn’t his fault. Just a terrible coincidence.”
“Well, when we got home, I asked if he’d ever been with her while we were married. He said no.”
Of course he did. “Cypress was loyal to you, Bree. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”
“Then I asked if he’d ever been with anyone, and he said no. Then I asked if he’d even kissed anyone…and that’s when he said yes.”
My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. “He said yes?”
“He said it didn’t mean anything, and it wasn’t worth counting. But if it wasn’t meaningful, then why did it happen at all? He refused to tell me who he kissed or how it happened. Honestly, the details don’t matter. It’s not hard not to kiss someone. He obviously has a problem with fidelity and loyalty, and he’ll never change. So I said we’re through. I have no idea why I was so stupid to marry him in the first place, but I’m not repeating that same mistake.”
My heart was beating so fast I could hardly breathe. “And what did Cypress say to that?”
“Nothing. He let me go.”
Anxiety rushed through my body, and I started to sweat. I couldn’t think straight because terror gripped me by the throat. Everything was crashing down around me, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
Bree shook her head and looked across the living room. “I feel so stupid…”
Not as stupid as I did.
She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed, still pissed off as hell.
I tried to think of the right thing to say, but I choked. When I was put on the spot, I couldn’t confess the truth. I couldn’t tell her what happened that night. I was too afraid of what would result.
I was too afraid that I would lose my sister.
Because I was the one who’d kissed Cypress.
Footsteps sounded a second later, and Evan appeared from the hallway in his jeans and t-shirt, his hair messy and his eyes heavy with sleep.
Why was this happening?
Bree stared at him in shock, her eyes popping wide open in horror.
God, this was bad.
Evan looked at her awkwardly before he turned to me. “Just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
I couldn’t say anything.
Bree turned to me, both of her eyebrows so high it looked like they would jump off her face.
So bad.
Evan walked back down the hallway. I heard the front door click when it was closed.
Bree kept staring at me, her look full of accusation.
I didn’t say anything, knowing any comment I made would just make me look worse.
Bree obviously didn’t know what to say because her expression kept changing, kept hardening.
I was in deep shit.
Also by E. L. Todd
Find out how the story ends in 218 First Hugs.
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading 325 First Fights. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could leave a short review, it would help me so much! Those reviews are the best kind of support you can give an author. Thank you!
Wishing you love,
E. L. Todd
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