Casual Sabotage

Chapter Twelve

The next morning, I awoke to the feeling of the embrace around me vanishing. I stirred in my sleep, looking up through bleary eyes to find Brian tiptoeing his way over to where his clothes had been discarded the night prior. I watched as he pulled his boxers and jeans back on, turning to me as he buckled his belt. A hint of a smile showed on his face, before he swiftly made his escape.

Caleb was still sound asleep beside me as I gently tried to remove myself from the bed without waking him. Succeeding, I found my boxers from the night before and a shirt, throwing them both on before chasing after Brian. I paced my way towards the front door, coming to find him putting his sneakers on.

"Are you trying to leave without saying goodbye?" I asked, startling him as Brian placed a hand to his heart.

"Jesus, Sal, you scared me." Brian jumped, eventually acknowledging my question. "I didn't want to disturb you."

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Okay...maybe I didn't want to have to deal with Caleb asking questions about what the fuck happened last night."

"It was his idea." I reminded. "We were all drunk to some extent, you two more so than me."

"It never should have happened." Brian sighed, looking to me sorrowfully. "It's only going to make getting over you even harder."

"Brian..." I took a step towards him. "Is what you said the other day on the phone true?"

He froze for a moment; the fear evident in his eyes until he cleared his throat and proceeded to answer me. I could tell by the warble in his voice that Brian was scared to admit his feelings for me all over again.

"Yes." He nodded. "I...will forever regret letting you walk out of my life all those years ago. I should have fixed myself and not let you deal with the consequences of my actions. I wasted my opportunity to have you and now this is my punishment."

Brian couldn't bring himself to look at me. "Now I have to watch Caleb be the man who you were destined to be with...who you truly deserve."

"Don't say that..." I whispered.

"Why not?" Brian questioned. "It's true, Sal."

"If anyone should be punished, it should be me, Brian." I protested. "Look at how I've behaved in the past, and even now, I can't seem to stay loyal to one person. I have an issue of falling for people when I shouldn't do."

"Sal, I have to ask." He swallowed hard. "Do you still love me...at all?"

I hesitated. He had me there.

"Yes." I admitted. "But I love Caleb too."

"I know." Brian sniffled.

I could see the glimmer of tears in his orbs as he finally brought himself to look me in the eyes. "I have to go."

"Brian, wait," I ran over to him and stood in the way of the door to stop him from leaving.

"What for, Sal?" He asked back sorrowfully.

"Uhm..." I hummed, desperately trying to think of what to do or say to make Brian listen to me.

I lunged for him and pulled the man into a searing kiss. My hands settled either side of his face as my lips met with his. I could feel Brian resisting at first, before he caved and started to kiss me back. His lips were plump and tasted heavenly as they parted and let our tongues meet. Brian moved his hands down my back and soon embraced me tightly into his chest. He sucked every last breath out of my lungs, leaving me gasping as he pulled away; his eyes were glazed over in melancholy.

He rested his forehead against mine and I studied his eyes in closer detail. They were so dark but reflective that I could practically see myself in them. They held the colour of chocolate, making me hungry for more of him. His hands settled at my waist, clasping the hem of my shirt roughly.

"I'll call you." I promised, receiving a pained smile in response from the man. I placed one last lingering kiss to his lips and broke away.

Brian nodded his head as I took a step to the side, opening the front door for him. He took my hand and squeezed reassuringly, before exiting through the doorway and turning to me. "Goodbye, Brian."

He waved before heading down the hall and out of sight. I slowly closed the door and sighed heavily to myself, leaning my head back against the wooden surface. My mind was in a battlefield of conflicted thoughts, when I was brought out of my sorrow by the sound of the bathroom door closing. Composing myself, I knew that I still had Caleb to deal with. I genuinely did wonder if he remembered what went on between the three of us last night.

I made my way into the kitchen and poured a glass of water, knowing that he would be needing it. A small smile etched across my face as I felt his arms soon loop around my waist and his head rest against the small of my back and kiss at my shoulder.

"Morning, Babe." Caleb greeted as I turned in his embrace and kissed him square on the lips.

"Morning." I returned. "How are you feeling?"

"My head is killing me." He complained, frowning hard.

"Here," I handed him the glass of water and some pills. "Take these. You'll feel better."

"Thanks." Caleb appreciated. His brows soon furrowed. "How much did I drink last night?"

"It would be quicker to list how much you didn't drink last night." I smirked, leaning back against the counter and looking at my boyfriend. "And yet it was you worried about me."

"Ah," Caleb dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I felt like having fun."

He took a sip of water. "And speaking of fun."

Here it is. The moment of truth whether Caleb had any idea on what he got himself involved in last night. I smiled to hide my fear. "How good was the party last night? I don't remember much."

"What do you remember?" I coerced the man into telling me all that he knew.

"I remember dancing." Caleb listed. "And kissing you here in the kitchen."

He paused. "After that my mind just goes blank."

"So, you don't remember coming onto me last night then?" I chuckled. "Or pulling me into the bedroom while the guests were still here to fuck me?"

"Oh man, so that's why I woke up naked." He groaned out. "Sorry, Babe."

"It happens." I shrugged, laughing at the clear remorse across his face.

"Brian didn't show up then?" Caleb suddenly asked me.

"Uh, no." I lied. "No, he cancelled last minute..."

I was stalling. "...something about not feeling too good."

"Probably for the best." Caleb accepted. "I mean, I was just trying to be nice when I said you could invite him, but I reckon that things could have gotten pretty awkward between us if he had shown up."

"Yeah," I laughed nervously. "I can imagine."

Images of the night flashed into my head; I had to escape Caleb for a moment. "Well, I'd better shower."

"Can I join you?" He wondered.

"Uhm..." I hesitated. "Didn't you get enough of me last night?"

"I don't remember it, but yeah...no, I get it." He brushed the rejection off.

"I'm sorry..."

"Sal, it's okay." Caleb smiled and took a step closer, bringing a hand around my back before pecking a kiss to my cheek. "I understand that we need our alone time every now and then."

"Yeah," I agreed. "That's what I need...some, heh, alone time." To think about how the hell I'm going to keep this affair going.