I should have behaved better, but I didn’t and now his feelings are hurt.
I need to fix it, but I don’t know how.
With slumped shoulders, I walk to my room, full-on pouting now.
As soon as the door shuts behind me, I stare at my bed and my bottom lip juts out. I just need to go in and apologize, swallow my pride and make it right. He did nothing wrong. He did nothing that I didn’t want. And then I went and had mild gay panic and made him feel like shit.
I need to grow the fuck up and act like an adult. Admit I was wrong and fix it.
With a sigh, I turn and make my way back out into the hallway, walking with soft yet purposeful steps.
When I make it to his room, I stop when I hear his voice through the shut door.
“Yeah, babe. You seriously need it.”
My heart stutters at the term of endearment, and I shift on my feet. Who is he calling babe? And why is it not me?
I should leave and let him have his alone time with whoever is on the line, but instead, I just lean forward and hold my breath.
It better not be fucking Russell.
“I’m serious,” he says with a small laugh, almost flirtatious. “It’s a crime what you’ve done.”
What kind of crime? A sexy crime?
I swallow loudly and press my ear to the door. I’ve completely lost my mind, but I don’t give a fuck. I figured that since we’re married, he wouldn’t be with anyone else. He even told me that he’s faithful, but maybe that doesn’t extend to phone calls.
Either way, I don’t like it.
Not one bit.
Coop laughs lowly and the sheets rustle. Is he…I swallow roughly. Is he getting off with someone else? After what happened in the bedroom? Maybe he is. Maybe he hated it, hated watching me, hated the way I felt against him.
Maybe I wasn’t enough.
I rub at my sore, aching chest, accidentally knocking at the door with my hand in the process.
I freeze and hold my breath once more. Fuck, he didn’t hear that, did he?
I should move away, but I can’t.
“Hey, love, just one second,” I hear Coop say into the phone and then a second later the door opens and I fall through, my body smacking into Coop’s.
He reaches out and steadies me, his hand on me burning my skin.
“Hey, let me call you back,” Coop says, and I scoff.
“You can talk to your boyfriend,” I grumble. I flush red and glance away from him, not wanting him to see how hurt I am.
I was so easily discarded.
I can feel Coop’s gaze on me as I stand there, the blanket pulled tightly around my shoulders. I should have stayed in my bedroom and hid away under my covers. Ignorance is fucking bliss at this point.
“Look at me, Matthew,” he says softly, and I bite my cheek and shake my head.
My eyes sting and the room suddenly spins.
I hear him sigh and then he reaches out and touches my cheek gently. His beautiful face appears in my line of sight, and I blink rapidly, knowing my eyes are wet and feeling ashamed about it. And yet, his touch grounds me.