Living with Pain

Chapter 15: Definitely Regret

Cash

I slouch in the airplane seat. My knees are wedged against the seat in front of me and my right shoulder is painfully crushed against the window. My teammates sense I'm in a sour mood and leave me alone with my music. That is, all but one of them.

Emmie somehow convinces Rush to trade her seats, so she remains right next to me for the entirety of the flight. She keeps trying to start a conversation and "accidentally" brushing her hand over mine. No amount of glares and one word answers seem to communicate that I am not interested in socializing.

I gratefully file out of the cramped space once we land. In the airport, I corner Rush, determined to understand why he had saddled me with that torturous flight companion.

"What was all that about?" I snap.

"What?"

"Don't pretend you're innocent. I know you switched seats with Emmie, what I don't know is why."

"Well, I figured if you were on the open market and ready to bang any girl with a smile and boobs, I'd send one your way who is more than willing."

"What's that supposed to mean!?"

Rush gives me a hard look. "Last night, with Abby. You spent the entire night following your ex around without giving Sky a lick of attention. That was cruel, man."

I run a hand through my hair. Damn it. "I didn't mean to. Abby was just in a mood and I was trying to-"

"Trying to what?" Rush interrupts. "Get back with the ex who cheated on you? Hurt Sky?"

"I wasn't trying to-"

"You have a sweet, kind, beautiful girl who likes you. A girl who isn't going to cheat on you. Who will be there for you in the tough times. A girl who is a real, genuine good person. Why would you want to do anything to screw that up?"

I open and close my mouth a few times. I hadn't realized that my actions would have hurt Sky so much. I honestly hadn't thought about last night affecting her at all...

It would explain why she had been brief in the few texts we've sent each other since last night. I look down at my phone, switching it off from airplane mode. The last text in our text chain was from me.

Me: Taking off soon. Text you when I land. Miss you already.

I was a jerk. My words sounded fake when compared to my juvenile actions yesterday. My shoulders sag, "I'm an idiot. How do I fix it?"

"Stop playing around with her feelings. You told her you like her, you've spent time with her, but have you actually shown how much you care? Have you taken her on a date? Have you even thought about making it official and asking her to be your girlfriend?"

"Not yet, we're taking it slow."

Rush rolls his eyes. "Slow is one thing, being afraid of commitment is another." He leaves me, standing in the crowded airport with my mind and heart at war.