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CHAPTER SEVEN
☆
I PAUSE AS SOON AS I SEE HER when I step out of the bathroom.
I'm frozen in place. We both are.
What the hell?
I don't know how I ended up in another complicated situation with her, but the moment our eyes meet, I feel like the worst person alive. I assume she knows Abel. Are they friends? What is she doing out this late? Is she okay?
The questions blur together in my head, but none of them matter—not as much as the shame. I almost kissed her in her own home. I hurt her feelings. She made me dinner... and then I came here and fucked someone else. A guy, at that.
"Sage?"
Her voice is soft and shaky. Her eyes are watery, and it breaks something inside me. The look on her face is indescribable—like she wants to speak but can't find the words. Or maybe she's shocked. Maybe she's questioning herself.
Maybe it's all of the above.
She looks away, trying to stop the tears, and I have no idea what to say.
"Yeah... it's me," I manage, my voice low.
I stand there, gripping the blanket around me, feeling like a whore. I can't believe I actually did that with Abel. It didn't mean anything. I was in a shitty mood and needed a distraction—but saying that out loud won't make any of this better.
I feel bad. But why? She's not my girlfriend. She's not someone I've known for a long time. She's just a girl I met.
And yet, I care.
She shakes her head. I think I hear a sob, but I can't be sure—the music is still playing, too loud, and I couldn't figure out how to turn it down. Her hands rub together nervously, like she's pressing something down.
I can't look at her. I'm too ashamed.
And on top of that, I'm standing in some guy's bedroom, wrapped in a bedsheet like it's armor. I want to move. I want to say something. But my feet won't budge. It's like I'm waiting for her to release me.
"You guys know each other?" Abel asks, looking between us.
She nods. I nod too, but I stay silent.
I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. Why do I feel like this? Why do I want her forgiveness? Why do I want anything from her?
