Chapter 29 - Tate
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TATE
It’s almost fall semester, and starting the school year as boyfriends feels completely surreal. We’ve come so far from friendly flirting to a sex-fueled arrangement to a fully devoted relationship.
“You excited for tonight?” Spencer whispers into my ear. He’s leaning against the kitchen counter, while I lean against him. His arms are wrapped tightly around me, and I love how safe I feel.
We’re all hanging out in Spencer and Jake’s kitchen, pre-gaming before we leave for the back-to-school bash.
“Honestly? I don’t know, babe. The last time I went to a bar, things didn’t go so well,” I say truthfully before taking a sip of my strawberry margarita. “For any of us,” I murmur into my drink, glancing side to side after I knowingly stoked the fire.
“That’s because I wasn’t there,” Shane growls. “I’d have kicked both their asses before they laid a finger on any one of you.”
Toby stares up at his boyfriend with literal hearts in his eyes, and I don’t blame him. Not only is Shane protective of his boyfriend, but his friends, too. He’s a good man.
“Hey! I totally saved everyone!” Jake pouts, looking around for validation but finding none. “I did just fine making sure Spencer didn’t get murdered all on my own. Didn’t need Shane’s help. Thank you very much.”
Spencer lets out a quiet huff behind me.
“Well, you didn’t do that good a job. Spencer went to the hospital,” Daija teases, purposefully ruffling Jake’s feathers and giggling afterward.
“You what?!” Toby shrieks, and I forgot how much they actually missed this summer in New York.
Shane’s dark stare turns to us. First Spencer, and then down to me. His gaze is intense, with a spark of betrayal and a flash of accusation. I know exactly what the big, grumpy man is thinking.
Why didn’t anyone tell us?
“Shane. Bud. It was nothing serious,” Spencer says, stepping in. “Just something my mom made me do for no reason. Let me make it clear, I did not actually need to go to the hospital for any sort of treatment,” Spencer sighs. “And so my embarrassment grows.”
The room is quiet for a moment, and I hate the edge of tension in the air.
“We’re a family,” Toby says quietly, glancing around at everyone in turn. “Right?”
“Right,” we all confirm in unison.
“And family looks out for family. Through sickness and in health,” Toby adds.
“Ope. Babe. I think that’s for marriage,” I say with a small chuckle.
Daija giggles, hugging Toby. “I love you, cutie-pie.”
“Well, I think it applies to our little found family, too. Don’t you guys? Let’s support each other no matter what,” Toby says, and the blush filling his cheeks is so adorable.
One glance at Shane, and I can see the fire in his eyes has been lit.
“Cheers to our found family and to supporting each other!” I holler.
“And cheers to our last year at CBU all together!” Daija adds.
“Until we all move to New York and live in the same apartment building together like a queer version of Friends!” I sing-song in a single breath, making everyone laugh.
We all clink our various glasses together, taking a nice, long sip to seal our fate.
It’s definitely happening. One more year of college for Daija and me, and another for the boys after that, while we get experience working more events. Then, New York, here we come.
I’m having fun at the back-to-school bash, and I’m really glad I let my friends talk me into coming. Everyone from school is here, and it’s been pretty low-key so far.
After my third margarita, I slip off to the bathrooms with Daija while the guys order another round of shots for everyone.
Just as I’m finishing washing my hands, I glance up at the mirror and suck in a sharp breath of air when I see my arch-nemesis-slash-ex-boyfriend standing behind me.
Not again.
This can’t be fucking happening.
“Are you stalking me?” I gasp, stepping aside and stumbling back a few steps until I bump into the cold, hard tile. I flinch on impact, pressing a palm to my heart.
What the fuck is Caleb doing here at Stick Shift? He was supposed to be moving his boyfriend out of town. He doesn’t even live here, and I’ve run into him twice this summer? Just my fucking luck!
The overwhelming déjà vu is making me dizzy—nauseous even—and a sick sense of dread washes over me. I hate the visceral effect he still has on me. The control. Goddamnit. I was looking forward to a peaceful night out.
My palms are splayed against the sticky, germ-riddled wall, but I have no other choice. It’s the only thing keeping me upright.
“Of course not! I don’t want any trouble,” he says quickly, holding his hands out in front of him like he’s facing off with a spooked dog.
“Promise. This is my last night in town. Marco and I broke up after everything that happened on the beach,” he says sheepishly.
“He’s moving back to Crescent Bay, and I am once again leaving. This time for good.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Am I supposed to feel bad for you or something?”
Shit. Again with my mouth.
“No one said that,” he sneers before taking a deep breath as if to calm down. “I never should have come here,” he murmurs to himself.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” I retort.
“Look, you may not believe it, but I’m actually sorry about everything that happened. This is just another horrible fucking coincidence to run into you here, but maybe it’s fate. Maybe we’re finally meant to clear the air before I leave.”
“There’s nothing to clear, just like I told you and your ex the last time you ambushed me at a bar,” I say, standing up for myself. “What do you even care, anyway?”
Caleb’s face goes tense, and his lips get tight. I can tell he’s fighting his anger, and it fucking triggers me. I hate it. This is typical Caleb behavior to be warm one day and cold the next. I had to walk on eggshells around him.
“It’s just that you always make me so mad,” he insists, squeezing his fists. “Then I lash out ten times harder. I don’t mean to. I’m working on it. I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection since Marco and I broke up. Therapy and all that. Please, Tate. I really am sor—”
Caleb’s apology is cut off by a deep, familiar voice. “What the actual fuck are you doing here?”
“Oh, great.” Caleb shakes his head, but I couldn’t care less how frustrated he feels.
“Stay the hell away from Tate,” Spencer growls. “I won’t allow you to harass the man I love any longer.”
I suck in a sharp breath of air but try to keep my cool.
The man I love.
He loves me.
Spencer Hayes, the respectable finance bro, loves me.
“It wasn’t planned, so don’t get your panties in a twist,” Caleb sneers. “I don’t want any trouble, and I don’t want your man. I’ve already had him.”
Spencer steps forward with a tight mouth and determined eyes. “Sonofa—”
“What’s going on in here?” another deep voice grumbles, and Shane pushes his way into the bathroom next. He’s bigger than Caleb, and I can see the immediate dread in Caleb’s eyes when Jake walks in after that.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Jake shouts with pure disbelief and a breathy laugh. “Wow. The actual audacity of this fucker.”
“Who is he?” Shane asks gruffly.
“No one. Can we just go?” I plead, looking at Spencer desperately.
This is not happening right now.
“Look,” Caleb says defensively, knowing he wouldn’t stand a chance if he started any trouble right now.
“It’s just a coincidence that we ran into each other again, but you won’t see me around any longer.
I have no reason to come back here. I really am sorry about what happened on the beach. I’d like to leave it all in the past.”
“The past?” Jake repeats with a scrunched-up face. “The fuck? You tried to kill my boy last month!” he shouts, making Shane growl like an angry wolf. “You sent him to the hospital, bro,” Jake embellishes. “You can’t just show up out of nowhere with a lame-ass sorry.”
“Just hear me out,” Caleb tries to reason. “Things got out of hand this summer, but I’ve been working on myself and my anger. I apologize to all of you.”
“You need to leave,” Spencer warns, stepping in between Caleb and me. “Go home to whatever town you scurried off to the first time, you fucking rat.”
“Tate. Give me one more minute, please? Alone?” Caleb pleads, and Spencer immediately shuts it down.
“I don’t fucking think so,” he growls, and I swear, he bulks up two sizes.
I step out from behind Spencer’s shadow. If Caleb wants to clear the karma, then we can clear this fucking karma in front of everyone.
Spencer holds a protective arm out in front of me like a physical barrier between Caleb and me.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, placing a reassuring hand on his forearm. Spencer looks me in the eye, seeing the resolve there and sensing the trust between us. He drops his arm and steps aside.
Caleb is waiting patiently, and he honestly looks so pathetic to me right now. I’m disgusted that I ever thought I loved him.
“I forgive you because you mean less than nothing to me,” I say with a snarled lip.
“You’re a sorry little man who tries to make up for his sorry little dick by being a controlling asshole to everyone around him.
I forgive you because I’m not scared of you anymore.
I forgive you because I want to move on.
I forgive you because I want to forget you. ”
I don’t miss the flash of pain in his eyes at my last words. As if he’s actually remorseful for the way things turned out. I’m not so sure that’s even possible.
“Times up. Get the fuck out, scumbag,” Shane growls, stepping toward Caleb as if he’s going to physically remove him if he doesn’t comply.
“I really am sorry,” Caleb says, accepting my words and not arguing. He glances at Spencer, then back at me. “Good luck,” he murmurs before hanging his head and hurrying past Jake and Shane.
“We don’t need luck! We’re in love!” I shout at his retreating back. I turn to Spencer once Caleb is finally gone, whispering softly, “Do you really?”
“Yes. I have for a long time,” he murmurs. “You don’t have to say it back, though,” he assures me, cupping my cheek affectionately. “No pressure.”
“I love you, too,” I blurt out. “I love you with my whole entire body and soul.”
“I’m going to show you how much I love you when we get back to my place,” Spencer whispers into my ear. “And how much I love this tight ass,” he adds, giving it a nice squeeze.
We get lost in each other’s eyes for a moment until Jake interrupts.
“Oh, get a room,” he teases.
“And not the shitty bar bathroom,” Shane adds, breaking the spell and making everyone laugh.
“Yeah. Yeah. Let’s get back to the party. Daija and Toby are probably wondering if we’re having a circle-jerk in here,” I say, teasing them right back.
Jake bursts out with a loud guffaw, and Shane just gives me the side-eye.
“Spence, your boyfriend is a little perv,” Jake jokes.
“Trust me. I know,” Spencer growls, burying his face into my neck in front of our friends like it’s no big deal to express his feelings for me.
A huge weight lifts from my shoulders, and I’m floating in the clouds right now. I’ve come a long way in healing from my past. I’ve found the perfect family, one that I’ve chosen, and most importantly, I’ve found the love of my fucking life.
In a very short amount of time, Spencer has broken through most of my walls. Not quite all, but enough to make me break my own rules and fall in love.