Twenty-Seven #2
She nods. “I know you’re in the honeymoon phase right now, okay?
I know that in your eyes, Reece can do no wrong.
But after we broke up, Reece changed, Stace.
People talk. He started sleeping around, babe.
A lot. And I’m not saying he hasn’t stopped for you, but I am saying you should be careful.
He’s charming, obviously. He’s sweet, funny, he seems sensitive, but that just makes it really easy for him to get away with things. ”
My teeth clench as nausea swirls in my stomach. It’s not that hearing about Reece sleeping around bothers me. Sure, it makes me a little jealous, but it’s also something I’ve known about him for a while now.
It’s Tashia. It’s the fact that I know her warning doesn’t come from a place of genuine care and concern for me. Instead, it comes from a place of sabotage.
She might not want Reece, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have him, either. Even though she’s supposedly moved on, she can’t stand the thought of him doing the same.
I take a steadying breath so I don’t put my fist in Tashia’s face. “Ever consider the fact that he started sleeping around so that he could try and get over you after you fucked him over?”
Tashia works down a swallow and glances towards our table. “I’m just trying to help you, Stace—”
“You’re not,” I interrupt her. “You’re trying to change my mind about Reece because you had him once and threw him away for his brother. And now that he’s moved on, you can’t stand that he’s over you.”
Tashia whips her gaze back towards me, her mouth gaping open a couple times as she collects herself. “That’s not true, Stacy. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Hm.” I tap my nails on my glass. “But you didn’t give Reece that same courtesy when you two were together?”
Tashia balks. “You have no idea what was going on in our relationship. You don’t know why I did what I did.”
“I don’t,” I agree. “But I know that Reece deserved more than how it ended. He deserves better than you.” I pause and consider my next words. “He deserves me.”
Tashia narrows her eyes and takes a step into me. “I could take him back if I wanted to, you know.”
I laugh maniacally and tighten my grip on my drink so I don’t get us kicked out of Joey P’s. “You can try. Really, be my guest, keep bouncing around the Taylor brothers for the rest of your life.”
Tashia’s glare is frigid as she fists her beer. “Does it ever bother you? Knowing I was first? Knowing that I know what Reece’s body feels like on top of mine? He’s so good with his tongue, isn’t he?” She smirks. “You’re welcome. ”
I steel myself and force my mask into place so my jealousy doesn’t shine through as I shake off her jab.
“Like I said, do your worst. Try and take him, for all I care. But I hope you enjoy tasting me if you ever kiss Reece again.” I shoot her a wink and whip my hair over my shoulders, striding towards the group and leaving her dumbfounded.
“Hey, there you are,” Reece greets me, opening up his arm and accepting the beer I hand him. “What took you so long?”
“Long line,” I lie.
“Where’s Tashia?” Evan asks.
I refrain from rolling my eyes at the mention of her name. “Don’t know. Maybe she ran to the bathroom.”
Reece glances down at me. I can feel the questioning look he’s throwing my way but I say nothing, snuggling up against his side.
If Tashia thought she was going to drive a wedge in between me and Reece, she’s even dumber than I originally thought. If anything, hearing her little heroic speech just made me want to get closer to him. To protect him.
To actually make him mine.
?
We stumble out of Joey P’s right after last call.
Tashia and I don’t speak for the rest of the night, continuously giving each other sour looks over the table, but no one seems to notice as our group consumes more and more alcohol.
Our conversation nearly sobered me up and I’m glad at least one of us isn’t entirely inebriated as I lead us all back to the apartment complex.
I think Reece can tell something’s off with me when I wave them goodbye, but the multiple beers might be dulling his situational awareness as he presses a kiss to my forehead and leaves me standing at my apartment door.
Once I’m inside, I decide to shower the day off my body and let the hot water run down my back, loosening all of my muscles.
Gemma, Tashia, and Evan are all still staying at Reece’s, Miles offering up his room for the night as he goes to spend the night with god knows who.
I was a little bummed not to get more time with Gemma, but truthfully, I’m glad to be alone.
I’m happy to have a minute to consolidate my feelings for Reece.
Tashia’s comments at the bar did nothing but spur on the confusion I feel when it comes to Reece. I know this is all supposed to be fake, but if it’s fake, why do I feel such an intense need to defend him? Why does his touch make my insides melt and why does he make me laugh until my stomach hurts?
Not to mention, I’m pretty sure he feels something for me, too. Maybe it’s lust, maybe it’s only physical attraction, but I really don’t think so. Maybe, just maybe, it’s something more.
I step out of the shower and I’m just pulling on a cotton sleep set when I hear a knock at my door.
Hesitantly, I put my towel up on my hook and creep into the living room of my apartment.
It’s after one in the morning and I’m fully expecting to see a serial killer at my doorstep but thankfully, when I look through the peephole, I see a disheveled looking Reece instead.
I swing open the door with my eyebrows pulled together. “Reece?”
He’s holding himself up against the doorframe, his eyes bloodshot and his hair hanging in his face. His expression is pulled tight, his lips thin. For the first time since I’ve known him, Reece looks sheepish, tired, even a little bit defeated.
Something sour swirls in my stomach.
“What’s wrong?” I prompt when he doesn’t answer.
Reece gives me a lazy, remorseful smile. “Can I stay here tonight?” he asks, his words slurred with alcohol. “I was trying to sleep but I can’t because Tashia and Evan…” He trails off, waving his hand and stumbling forward a bit.
The ache in my stomach grows but I say nothing, nodding instead and opening my door further to let Reece inside.
We shuffle towards my bedroom in silence and Reece collapses on top of my comforter, zonking out almost immediately.
I swallow back the acid rising in my throat and crawl into bed next to him, clicking the lamp off and rolling onto my side.
I feel ridiculous, irrational tears leak out of my eyes as Reece’s breathing evens out. He couldn’t sleep because of Tashia and Evan. He had to come over here to get away from his brother and his ex-girlfriend because seeing them together is still too hard on him.
Despite what Reece says, it’s clear that he has lingering feelings for Tashia.
And after our conversation at the bar, it’s clear that Tashia has lingering feelings for Reece as well.
Maybe, just maybe, I misinterpreted this whole thing.