Tainted Desires | 18+

25 - Heart to Heart

Mirabelle Morrison

As I closed the door behind me, I saw Stacey seated on the two-seater couch with her arms folded across her chest and legs propped on the centre table. I couldn't help but chuckle at her relaxed and nonchalant posture.

"Making yourself at home, I see," I teased, leaning against the door with a playful grin.

She flashed a mischievous smile, uncrossing her legs and sitting up straight. "Well, what are friends for if not for invading each other's spaces and lounging around like we own the place?"

I joined her on the couch, shaking my head in amusement. "You always have a way of making yourself comfortable wherever you go."

She shrugged, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I like to think of it as a talent."

As I settled into the cosy living room, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence. She had always been there for me, a constant support in both the good and challenging times. I knew I could trust her with my deepest secrets and that she would always have my back as always.

"So," she began, her tone turning serious. "How long have you and Terrence been keeping this little secret?"

I paused for a moment, considering how much to reveal. Although she was my close friend, Terrence and I had agreed to keep our relationship under wraps for now.

"It's still relatively new," I admitted, my voice tinged with excitement and caution. "We're taking things slow."

She nodded knowingly, her expression softening, but her eyes could show that she was still thinking and at alert. "I'm glad you found someone who makes you happy, Mirabelle. You deserve it. But you do know about-?"

I interrupted her before she could finish her sentence, knowing exactly what she was referring to. "Yes, Stacey, I know. Terrence is getting married soon." My voice trembled slightly, betraying the mix of emotions that swirled inside me.

She reached out and placed a comforting hand on mine. "I understand this is complicated, I do, but I don't want you a repeat from years ago."

My heart sank as I processed her words. "You know about it?"

"I'm not sure what you're referring to," she furrowed her brows in confusion, probably not sure what I was referring to. "But I'm talking about your feelings for him when we were in high school. Even though you never talked about it, I saw the way you looked at him and the way you acted around him. It was hard to miss. And then I happened to overhear a conversation between him and Landon. However, whenever I asked Landon about, he never told me. Then, when you cut contact with everybody and moved out of the country, everything seemed to piece together."

I listened to Stacey's words, realizing that she had noticed my feelings for Terrence back in high school. I had thought I had hidden them well, but her keen observation skills had not let anything slip past her.

It was then I realized that she didn't know about the night I came to his house before I left the country. How I had thrown myself at him the night of his birthday eve just because I couldn't control my feelings.

"Stacey," I began, my voice trembling with a mix of vulnerability and regret. "There's something I need to tell you. Before I left the country, there was a night... a night where Terrence and I... we crossed a line."

Stacey's eyes widened in surprise, and her hand tightened around mine. "Mirabelle, you don't have to-"

"No," I interrupted gently, shaking my head. "I need to tell you. It's only right that you know. That night, Terrence and I made a mistake. I made a mistake, I let my feelings take over, and in the end, it only led to me breaking my heart."