Casual Sabotage

Chapter Five

Torn between decisions over the next few weeks, I knew that I had to seek out the answer to the ongoing thought of the what-ifs. Caleb would be none the wiser if I did go and see Brian. Surely? Was I just this desperate to see Brian again that I was willing to risk the most loving man I had ever known? Apparently, my heart says yes.

"Sal, you start work in twenty minutes, get up." Caleb whispered to me that Thursday morning.

He had just come out of the shower with his towel wrapped around his waist. He leaned over me and pressed a kiss to my cheek, bringing me out of my sleep. I looked at him through tired eyes and smiled meekly.

"Not today." I sighed, sitting up and placing a hand to my forehead. "I don't feel so good."

"Oh, Babe," Caleb frowned sympathetically, sitting beside me and feeling my temperature for himself. "What's wrong?"

"Migraines." I threw out without hesitation, adding a whimper for effect.

"You get some rest." Caleb kissed the top of my head and stood from the bed, running his hand over my hair. "I'll call in sick for you."

"Thank you," I appreciated, watching him leave through the bedroom door.

As soon as Caleb left my view, I felt my heart spike in guilt. I hated lying to him; we had always been so honest with each other, but my need to find out what could happen with Brian was far greater than the consequences of my actions. For all Caleb knew, Brian and I had become acquaintances that night outside of the bar.

Who am I kidding? I'm an asshole for even thinking about Brian.

Waiting for my boyfriend to leave for work, I listened out for the sound of the front door closing behind him. Throwing the comforter off, I paced my way over to the closet and pulled out the first clothes that I could find, laying them onto the bed. I showered quickly, and by the time that I was ready, it was ten in the morning. I had seven hours left until Caleb would be home, that should be plenty of time to go and see Brian.

I locked up the apartment and made my way down to my car, climbing into the driver's seat and pushing the key into the ignition. Firing up the engine, I pulled my seatbelt over me and turned up the volume of the radio. This was it. I was really caving to my curiosity.

It felt incredibly surreal to be parking up outside of the apartment complex that I had once lived in. I cut the engine and took a minute to just breathe. I knew that I was making a rash decision in a moment of madness, but when have I ever chosen the right path?

Finding it in me to move, I exited the vehicle and started on my way up to good old apartment 11. I studied the door, nostalgic feeling rushing through me as I raised my arm and knocked twice at the surface of the door. There was a moment of silence, before the lock unlatched and Brian pulled open the door. Startled by my presence, he stammered out a few incoherent words, his face a mix of surprise and elation.

"S-Sal?" He stuttered, regaining composure. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you..." I answered, trying to wrap my own head around my stupidity.

"Come in." Brian gestured, taking a step back and letting me inside, closing the front door behind me. "Sit down. Can I get you anything?"

"No, thanks." I smiled, sitting down on his sofa as he sat opposite me.

I noticed that Brian was having a hard time taking his eyes off of me. Even though he was giving me his full attention, I could see the occasional glance up and down my body. Brian was chewing at his lower lip, soon breaking out into a smile.