The Secret (Book 2 in The Deception Series)

Chapter 23: drunk words and memories

Brennen
~~~~~~~~

"No. 1 Party Anthem"- Arctic Monkeys

I wake up to my head pounding from the terrible sleep I got last night after my fight with Julianna. I hated myself for it. Why did I always hurt her?

I knew she cared about me, she made me feel more loved in the first few months of meeting her than I did in all my life.

I wish I could tell her why I was acting like this and that it had nothing to do with her and had everything to do with me. I missed her. I missed sneaking around and I missed talking to her like we were teenagers again. But I felt guilty for what I did. I kept replaying the moment I kissed Taylor over and over again. I couldn't face Garrett, Taylor, or Julianna.

I drag myself out of bed in need of a fat cup of coffee. I make my way downstairs, dragging my fuckass boot with me. I was gonna get it off today and I've never been so grateful to do so. I hated this thing.

I walk into the kitchen and feel my heart stop as I see Taylor standing there, waiting for her coffee to finish brewing.

"Hey." I managed to say.

She looks over her shoulder at me but doesn't say anything before turning her attention back to the coffee machine.

"Can we please just talk, Tay?" I plead.

"Did you tell him yet?" She asks, her back still facing me.

I sigh, "No."

"Then I have nothing to say to you." She says.

I walk over to her, wanting to see her face better, "Taylor, please. I'm just scared to tell him. You know how he'll react. I just need time."

She glares at me, "You didn't think about that when you kissed me?"

I don't say anything as I look down at the ground, ashamed of myself.

"What about me? I'm dying here, Brennen. I can't keep hiding this from him. It's killing me. My chest hurts, my mind feels heavy, and I can't even enjoy spending time with him because I know I'm keeping something like this from him." She explains, tears forming in her eyes.

I look at her hurt expression, "You didn't kiss me back, Taylor. You didn't do anything wrong. It was all me."

"But it still hurts. I don't keep secrets from him, Brennen. You need to tell him because I can't keep hiding it from him any longer." She warns me.

"I know, I will." I tell her.

She nods before she grabs the coffee maching and pours it into her mug. I go to speak again before I hear his voice, "Morning, Brennen."

I look over and watch a shirtless Garrett walk into the room with a smile on his face.

"Hey." I say as I walk over to the fridge. I grab the orange juice just as Chris and Jules walk into the room.

"Good morning, my beautiful friends!" Chris cheers.

I groan as I look at the half naked man in the kitchen, "Dude, please wear clothes when my girlfriend is here." Garrett begs him.

"Never, Taylor doesn't mind, do you, Tay-Tay?" Chris asks her.

She laughs, "I've learned to keep very strong eye contact with you, Chrissy."
Chris smiles before giving Garrett a pointed look. I looked over at Jules who was sitting at the kitchen island, looking down at her phone. I walk over to her and smile, "How'd you sleep?"

"Fine." She mutters, keeping her eyes on her phone.

Great, so I've managed to piss off two girls in the span of a week. Tomorrow, I will somehow piss Lily too.