Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Beck
Present
I’m leaning against the wall in the gym with my hands behind my head, one foot propped up against the wall. I’m lost in thought, when Asher walks up to me.
“How have you really been doing since Sut left?” Ash asks, handing me my gloves.
“I fucking miss her, but she chose him, so it is what it is,” I grumble, tightening the strap on my glove a little harder than necessary.
“I get that this hurts man. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling, but Sut has been your best friend for years.
I kept telling you, you needed to tell her how you felt before it was too late.
I don’t want to say I told you so, but…” Ash says, ducking as I throw a jab directly at his face for stirring the pot.
“Fuck off,” I growl, throwing another series of punches. Ash blocking every single one.
He’s fast as fuck. I’ll give him that.
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t be hurting. It sucks. She didn’t choose you. You can lick your wounds a bit. But are you really going to throw years of friendship away when that was all you had up until a few months ago?” Ash asks, backing away from me and dropping his gloves to his sides.
“She was mine and she just fucking left!” I snarl.
“Yeah, she was your friend. Not your girlfriend. And you act like she’s leaving forever. Their tour is only a couple months. She isn’t your father. Sut’s coming back,” Ash reassures me.
Who the fuck does Ash think he is right now bringing up my father and Sut in the same sentence?
“Sure, she comes back, but then what’s that going to look like? Huh? Still doesn’t make her any more mine. And don’t bring up my fucking sperm donor!” I start kicking the bag.
“What do you mean? It’s going to look how it’s looked for years.
You two hardly even kissed until a couple months ago.
You were friendly. Affectionate maybe, but you never really crossed a line with each other prior to your trip to Vegas.
It can literally be the same minus the actual physical intimacy.
I don’t think August is the type of person who is going to forbid her from hanging out with you,” Ash reasons with me.
“How would you know? You don’t know August.” I alternate throwing punches and roundhouse kicks at the bag, while Ash leans against the wall just watching me intently.
Kind of like how Sloan did. Why am I thinking about Sloan?
“You’re right. I don’t know, August. But I know Sut.
I know that she always does what she wants to do, not what people tell her to do.
I know her heart is huge but she also trusts very few people and she trusts him.
So, we have to trust her. You can do whatever you want but I’m not going to just cut off my friend of six years.
I’m sorry, man,” Ash says, glaring at me.
“When did you become a fucking therapist?” I growl.
“When did you become such a dick?” Ash snarls, shoving me backwards.
“Sut chose him…over us,” I say, so defeated. I tear my gloves off and lean against the wall.
“Do you even hear yourself? No, man. She chose herself. Which she has every right to do. We didn’t even know she could sing.
Six years and we had no idea. I’m so fucking proud of her for putting herself out there.
Sut’s come so far from the unsure, timid girl we met all those years ago.
You need to get your head out of your ass and support her.
Or don’t. But that’s on you, if you don’t.
” Ash shoves my shoulder and starts to walk off.
“Where the hell are you going?” I grumble.
“I’m going for a run. I know you’re hurt.
You feel rejected. Probably even abandoned.
But you don’t feel that way because of Sut.
Maybe you do a little, but that’s not the only reason.
You’re acting way out of character for you.
You should be happy for her. She’s doing something that a lot of people don’t get to do.
It’s bad ass. We should be cheering her on, like she does everyone else.
So, you might want to take a hard look in the mirror and see why this is really fucking you up so bad,” Ash declares before heading out the door.
“Fuck!” I slam my hands down on the mat.