SUCK IT UP, 'TESSA'.

MEADOWS

Shock vibrated through my body when I was jerked and thrown against something hard.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the white tiles on William’s bedroom floor.

“Let go of me, William! I’ll teach this b*tch a lesson!”

My gaze snapped to the woman glaring viciously at me, tears streaming down her cheeks while William held her back. I gasped and immediately grabbed the duvet to cover myself when I realized I was naked.

“Wi… William, who’s she and what's she doing here?” I stammered, slowly getting to my feet.

“Who am I? I’ll show you who I am!” She managed to wrench herself free from William’s grip, but before she could reach me, he grabbed her waist again.

William looked at me desperately. “Meadows, please, just get out of my apartment.”

My eyes widened. “What do you mean, get out of your apartment? William, tell me who this woman is!”

“Just listen to me and get the hell out, right now!” he barked, his eyes vehemently serious.

The woman suddenly broke down, no longer struggling. My heart raced. What was going on?

She looked up at him through teary eyes while pointing at me. “This is why you delayed our wedding for so long? Because of this whore?”

“Baby, I can explain. She drugged me, I swear.”

“I drugged you? What wedding is she talking about, William?” I cut in, my eyes fixed firmly on his. I must have still been dreaming. This really couldn’t be true.

He threw me a deadly glare, his eyes filled with hatred. “You! How dare you?! I’ll make sure you pay for what you’ve done.”

He lunged at me and grabbed my hand. “William,” I gasped.

He dragged me out of his apartment. I gripped the duvet around me, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“William, you can’t do this to me,” I cried, but he didn’t stop until he pushed me out of the building and threw my bag at me.

He looked around before whispering harshly, “You better stay away from me and my wife as long as you can, or I’ll make you pay.”

“Your what—”

He stormed back inside. I just stood there, my eyes wide with so much shock that tears refused to break out. The man I had given my virginity to was married?

The man I had hoped would marry me after dating him for eight good years had just thrown me out of his apartment?!

My body trembled as I noticed eyes staring at me weirdly. I bent over and collected my bag.

I drove home in a daze, the world outside the windshield a blur. But the moment my apartment door clicked shut behind me, the dam broke. I dropped to the floor, and the screams and tears I’d been holding back erupted.

“No!” I screamed. “He can’t do this to me.”

When tears refused to come out any longer, I dragged my useless self to the bathroom, took a long shower, and threw on whatever clothes I found. Just as I finished, I heard the doorbell ring.

“Med, open up.”

I gripped my bedroom door at the sound of Cody’s voice. My lips trembled and I wiped the tears that escaped from my eyes. He had warned me. Oh God, he knew this was coming, but I hadn’t listened to him.

I walked to the door and slowly opened it. The moment I saw him, I wrapped my arms around him and burst into tears.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t listen to you,” I cried into his tight chest.

He wrapped one arm around me and used the other to run through my hair.

“Come on, what did you say about Tessa when she cried over Hardin?”

“The A-hole didn’t deserve her tears.”

He pulled away and wiped my cheeks. “Okay, suck it up now, Biscuit. No crying over any assholes, okay? I came here to binge-watch Naruto, not hear you cry.”

Staring at his stupid face just managed to make me smile. “God, I hate you so much, Cody.”

“Sadly, the feeling is not mutual.” He smirked and then walked to the television, switched it on, and dropped to the couch.

He looked over at me and patted his lap. “Get your ass here, Biscuit.”

I rolled my eyes and dragged myself over to him. I sat on his lap and rested my head on his shoulder. 

“ It's about William, isn't it?” He muttered softly.

I nod, shutting my eyes, and all I saw was William thrusting in and out of me.

“ You deserve way more than him.”

I squeezed my eyelids, hoping it would go away. Hoping it wouldn’t still feel so good. I felt so dirty and stupid.

I couldn’t imagine how she must have felt finding out her hus—William was cheating on her. Oh God, what had I done?

I really felt so bad that I was ruining Cody’s favorite shirt with my tears. He didn’t even say a word; instead, he slipped his hand under my shirt and rubbed my back until I drifted to sleep.

When I woke up, I was lying on the couch. The television was still playing Naruto, while he had fallen asleep on the rug. For a moment, my gaze rested on him. His blonde hair was scattered over his face, his chest rising and falling steadily, his lips slightly parted in sleep.

I looked away when he started shifting. I got up and switched off the television. The only light was the dim glow peeking through the curtains.

“How was the race?” I asked after sitting on the couch, hugging a pillow.

He sat up, resting his back against the couch. “Wasn’t the same without you.”

“I’m sorry—”

“No, it’s fine.” But I saw his fists clench.

I exhaled deeply. “Is there any way I can make it up? I feel like a fool ditching you because of that… that man.”

He shrugged lightly and got to his feet. “It’s pretty late. I’ve got to leave now.”

I stood. “Cody, I said I’m sorry.”

He didn’t look at me. “I heard you, Med. Just make sure you don’t cry yourself to sleep again. I’ll stop by tomorrow with Serenity.”

I nodded softly. He paused at the door, his hand on the knob, and for a second I thought he would turn back. But he just shook his head slightly and left, closing the door with a soft click that echoed in the silent apartment.