"I really didn't plan—"
"I don't care whether it was planned or not. We've been together forever. How many other times have you cheated?" I flung the pencil at him, and it bounced off his chest and onto the floor. If it made a sound as it landed on the carpet, I didn't hear it. My blood pounded in my veins and drowned out even the music from the party.
Austin kept his eyes on the pencil, the blank screen of his dad's computer, anything but my eyes. "I've never cheated before, I swear."
Well, of course he'd say that. Don't most men when they are busted?
"I did it for you, for us, I mean. I thought being with someone else might make things better between us," he mumbled, wiping at the drops of blood on his arm.
I clearly misheard that. He did not just say he screwed some slut for me.
"Excuse me? How's you nailing Ms. Boobs-as-Big-as-my-Head all over Destin helpful to me?"
He frowned and focused on his arm. "Uh, well, you know. Things aren't exactly fireworks between us. Uh, in bed. I thought maybe if I got more experience, it would make things better."
He wanted more experience to make sex between us better? Ouch! Fucking asshole.
"You're so full of shit! I can't believe you! What the hell were you thinking? Cheating on me and somehow thinking you could A) hide it from me, or B) say it is for my own good. Damn it, Austin. I'm not a complete friggin' idiot."
"You should do it too."
"Huh?" Well, that shut me up. How do you respond to that?
Since my brain refused to connect to my mouth and I stood gaping like a fish, Austin blurted out his plan, "Be with another guy. Any guy you want. You can do anything with him for two weeks. I just want you to have the experience before we settle down." He pulled me against his chest and held me close. Stunned and dumbstruck after his little speech, I let him. "Look at it like a learning experience. No jealousy, no lying. Just pick someone, anyone, and have that experience. Just like I had."
I shook my head, but nothing got clearer. Did he just tell me to cheat on him?
"How's that going to help anything?"
"Level the playing field, and maybe things will be better for us."
I stared at him in disbelief. "I... Austin, how is that going to make things better?"
"I just think it would be good for us to experience other people. Maybe learn a few things that could help spice things up."
"You want me to sleep with someone else?"
"Well, yeah. You know, Randy's pretty experienced. He could be a good option."
"A good option if I wanted a man-whore who was prettier than me," I replied. While I professed a slight curiosity in regards to the man's sexual prowess, I'd rather not become a member of the Randy freaking Mason fan club.
"Dave's always had a thing for you. Did you know that?"
"Uh...yeah. The constant staring kinda gave him away. No thanks."
He brushed his lips across my forehead and whispered, "Consider it."
I nodded numbly. Even knowing he'd cheated on me, I couldn't hate him. What was wrong with me?
"Um. Could you not kill me until after Mom and Dad's party at least?"
I let out a hoarse laugh. Martha would murder me if I ruined her anniversary party. I pushed Austin away. I couldn't fathom how my life had come to ignoring a cheating boyfriend just to make his parents happy.
Austin knew me well. He took my silence as a cue to leave and hurried out.
Shaky legs no longer held me and I sank down onto the couch. Did that conversation just happen? The bloody, snapped pencil confirmed it did. But damned if I could make sense of it in my head. It replayed in my mind like a playlist on repeat.
A free pass with any guy I wanted?
Should I break up with him? Or give this crazy idea a chance? Being with one of his friends might increase the tension and teach him a bit more of a lesson... And Austin did have a couple super-hot friends.
But being with someone else would just complicate this whole situation even more. What if I fell in love with the other guy? Things with Austin might not be fireworks, but they were comfortable. Well, except for the cheating. Asshole had to go and mess shit up...
This was crazy. I'd tell him after the weekend that it's stupid. Was I breaking up with Austin then? Because otherwise, I was just letting him cheat on me, and that wasn't cool.
Why the hell wasn't I enough?
He'd picked the most un-me girl he could find too. It would have been impossible for him to choose a girl more my opposite than Kara. Even her name sounded sexier than mine. Elaine Rogers sounded like someone's grandmother. Going by Laney didn't help much. Kara sounded sexy and fun. And then there's the matter of her boobs. She had to be a DD if not bigger. I glanced down at my almost B cups and sighed. Did he want a big-boobed blonde?
I hid out in the study for a bit longer. Until I was sure I wouldn't burst into tears if anyone looked at me... Until I thought I could sneak out without upsetting Martha and Scott...
You can read the rest of Jake and Laney's story here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZQACNNG/
About the Author
As a busy mother of five, Allie sneaks time to write between breakfast and tickles. Always a Kentucky girl at heart, she currently makes her home near Nashville.
Visit her at www.alliekincheloe.com for news about upcoming releases.
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