The Bet (Book 1 in The Deception Series)

Chapter 35: questions for Garrett

Taylor

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"Yamaha"- Delta Spirit

"Fuckkkkk!" Chris groans as he dies in Call of Duty again.

Brennen chuckles as he sips his beer. He seemed happier tonight, I wasn't sure why but I was glad. It was nice to see him and Garrett make up.

"I won, pay up, loser." Brennen says as he sticks his hand out to Chris.

I watch Chris grab his wallet and pull out 10 bucks before handing it to Brennen.

I smile as I watch Chris pout. I liked hanging out with Garrett's friends, they were all so fun and nice. They took my mind off the fact that me and Garrett still hadn't had our talk yet. I was dreading it, maybe he forgot.

"Oh, that reminds me. Taylor, give this to Garrett or I'll forget." Brennen tells me as he hands me 200 bucks.

I frown, "Another bet?" I ask.

"Yup." He smiles.

"What was the bet?" I laugh.

"We made a bet over you, he said he'd be in a relationship with you by the end of break. And, well he did it." He explains as he looks back at the tv.

I stared at him and felt someone stick their hand right through my chest and yank my heart right out. Everything around me went silent. He said it like it was nothing. I wasn't sure if he was serious or not. I wanted to throw up. What was happening to me? I looked down at the money in hand and felt sick to my stomach.

"Are you serious?" I ask, my voice shaking.

He looks at me, "Yeah."

"Taylor." Chris whispers as he places his hand on my shoulder.

I shrug it off as I stare down at the pound of cash in my hand, tears forming in my eyes causing my vision to blur.

"What the hell, man?" Chris snaps at Brennen.

I tune out their voices and keep my gaze on the money. I felt sick just touching it, I wanted to die. I couldn't take all this pain at once. I was picturing every moment I had spent with him, every kiss we had shared, every secret we spilled. The night we slept together. It was all fake. None of it was real.

"More, better drinks!!!!" I hear Garrett's voice as he and Jake walk back in.

Hearing his voice made the pain even worse. I don't even look at him as I grab my purse and phone. I walk right past him as he calls my name, I walk out of that house because I didn't want to come back to it again.

I walk out into the pouring rain just as the front door opens again and Garrett stops me from leaving by grabbing my hand.

"Let go of me!" I shout as I pull my hand out of his grip.

"What's wrong?" He asks, loudly over the pouring rain.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I snap.

"What?" He asks.

"Was it a bet? It was all a stupid bet?" I yell.

His face goes blank and that's all I needed to know but my heart didn't want to accept it. I wanted him to tell me it wasn't,that this was all some sick joke.

"Answer the goddamn question, Garrett!" I scream.

"It was a bet." He admits.

I scoff as my tears mix in with the rain on my face. I could feel the pain in my chest, it was there. It was real. It was pressing against me.

"How could you? I thought you loved me! You told me right here, that you'll love me forever! But it was all fucking lie?!" I yell as I push my hands against his chest. His body doesn't move an inch as he stares at me.

"I do! I do love you, Taylor!" He yells over the rain.

I sob hysterically as I look at the man that I thought cared about me. The man who told me he loved me. The man I trusted.

"No, you don't! Because you can't love anyone but yourself, Garrett! I should've known, you're Garrett Gray, this is what you do, right?" I object.

He shakes his head, the rain dripping down his face. None of this felt real anymore. It was too much for me.

"I love you, Taylor." He says.

"Stop lying to me! Please. I'm so tired of it!" I cry as I run my hands through my wet hair.

"It was a stupid bet, it didn't mean shit. It was before I got to know you and I fell so fucking hard, Taylor." He explains.

"If it was a stupid bet, why the fuck is Brennen giving you the money now?" I snapped at him.

"He's just trying to start shit! He's jealous of us!" He defends himself.

"Well he won't have to be jealous because there is no us anymore." I tell him before I begin to walk away.

Garrett grabs my arm, stopping me.

"Taylor, wait. Please, don't leave like this." He says as he drops in water.

"No! You don't get to do that! You don't get to act like I'm the one to ruin this! This is all your fault!" I yell before I take the money out of my pocket, "Here, take your money. You won yet another bet, Garrett. So go, hookup with all the girls on the campus because you're finally free from this fake relationship. Great job." I say as I slam the money into his hand.

He shakes his head as his eyes begin to tear up. But I didn't believe it. I didn't want to believe a single word that came out of his mouth ever again.

"No. It wasn't fake. I love you." He chokes out.

"Just leave me alone. I was fine before you came into my life and I'll be perfectly fine without you in it." I tell him, "So please, do me this one favor and just leave me the fuck alone, Garrett. I don't want to see you ever again." I beg as I put my hands up in prayer to him. My tears were mixed in with the cold rain, mixed in with all the love I had for him.

He stares at me like someone just shot him but I didn't even care anymore. I was tired of all of it.

I finally turn around and walk to my car. Not even bothering to look back at him as he stands on the driveway, soaking wet.

I drive home sobbing uncontrollably. I felt so lost, I felt like everything I loved was just ripped from my hands.

How can someone cause so much happiness and pain to you? How can someone look you in the eyes and tell you how much they love you but not even mean it?

Those are questions only Garrett Gray can answer.