Lies That Bind (on hold temporarily)

Chapter Seven

S A R A

"You want me to tell you how long Alec and I were making out in secret, how about you tell your wife that you've been having an affair with me since before you even fucking married her!" The words come out in the heat of the moment and I would do anything to take them back.

His demeanor shifts from that of pure hatred to one of sorrow and regret as he takes a seat on the bed, leaning his elbows on his knees, hanging his head down and resting his head in his hands.

"Ty." I take a step forward, closing the gap between us that feels more like miles than just a few inches.

"Don't," he grunts, his voice sounding about as defeated as he looks.

I need to fix this.

I take a seat on the bed next to him, nervously picking at my nail polish, racking my brain for a way to undo the hurt I've caused him.

"It only happened a few times," I breathe. "A-alec and I, I mean," I clarify, turning to face him. "I know that doesn't change anything, I just wanted you to know."

He huffs and shakes his head.

"And apart from that one time, it was never anything more than making out," I add, hoping that my admission would help heal the wounds I created.

He lifts his head from his hands and turns to me with bloodshot, watery eyes but doesn't say a word.

"It's not that I wasn't happy or that I didn't love you because I did, Alec just-"

"Made you feel something I didn't," he finally speaks, finishing my sentence as if he were inside my mind.

"Y-yeah. How did you know?"

He lets out a chuckle and a small smile pulls at the corners of his mouth causing my heart to flutter.

I fell in love with that smile when we were kids.

He scoots over on the bed, brushing my hair behind my ear, and letting his thumb caress my cheek. "I know because that's how I feel about you, Sara."

I swallow hard and lean into his touch, my cheeks heating to the point that it's slightly uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry for what I said before." My eyes well with tears.

He slowly brings his face to mine, pressing his lips to my forehead, letting his kiss linger there for a few seconds before pulling back.

"It's okay," he whispers before his hands snake around my waist and he pulls me onto his lap so that I'm straddling him.

My arms drape around his neck and I lace my fingers through the hair on his nape.

"I shouldn't have pushed you to tell me about Alec. You were right, it's ancient history, and It's not like I'm any better," he says as he squeezes my hips. "I've cheated with you on every single person I've been with because no one makes me feel the way you do."

My chest tightens as I watch his eyes grow watery again. "It's not all on you, Ty." I bring my forehead to his. "I could have said no."

"But would you?" he asks, pulling his head back to search my eyes.

I pause for a moment, chewing on my bottom lip as tears threaten to spill from my eyes.

Would I? Would I ever actually be able to give up what Ty and I have?

As much as Alec made me feel something Ty didn't, Ty made me feel something Alec didn't. It's why we've never been able to stay apart for too long.

And why Ty and I were together even while I was with Alec.