Between Us

Chapter 42

Max

'Go to her, like you always do.'

Alianna's words keep resounding through my mind as I walk into the living room. How do I take away her insecurities? I can't erase the years' worth of memories she has of Crystal and me.

"Max!"

My blood runs cold at the sound of Crystal's voice, a semblance of guilt settling in the pit of my stomach. She's the woman I've always loved, yet now I can't look at her without thinking of Alianna.

"Crystal, what are you doing here?"

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes, her expression portraying genuine heartache as she holds up her phone.

"What is this? You kissed her?"

I glance at the wedding photo Alianna posted of us, remembering the moment vividly. Everything about our wedding was fake, but that moment was real, and it was ours.

A tear rolls down Crystal's cheek and I walk up to her, unsure what to do. She and I have so much history, and I don't want to hurt her unnecessarily.

"Crys," I murmur, "Don't cry, please. It was our wedding day, Crystal."

"Why?" she asks, her voice breaking, "Why did you have to make everything between you look so real? Why can't you just tell everyone that it's just a marriage of convenience? That it's nothing more than a business arrangement?"

I hesitate for a moment, wondering how best to handle her, "You know as well as I do that Abuela insists we give our marriage a real chance."

"Max," she pleads, "Please don't tell me you're really giving your marriage with her a chance? You two aren't... you can't be..."

I'm reminded of the way I pushed my cock into Alianna's mouth just a few moments ago, and guilt hits me hard. I wanted her with such desperation... I don't think I've ever wanted anyone more. Not even Crystal.

"If you do this, you and I can never get back together. Max, please. Please don't do anything we can't recover from. Please."

I stare at her, feeling more conflicted than ever before. I never thought I'd share my life with anyone but her, and even when I married Alianna, I thought our marriage would be more of a roommate situation. How did that change so quickly?

"Crystal... she's my wife. You knew exactly what you were doing when you left me at the altar. You walked out on us, so you have no right to tell me what I can or cannot do with the woman I married."

Her eyes flash with anger, and fresh tears fill her eyes, "Are you sleeping with my sister?" she asks, her voice filled with venom, "Are the two of you going behind my back? I always thought you were weirdly close, but I trusted you. Did you want her all along?"

I stare at her, unsure what to do or say. I don't want to hurt her, but I can't lie to her either. Things aren't as black and white between Alianna and me as Crystal would like them to be.

"That is, quite frankly, no longer any of your business. You and I can't be more than friends, and you can't do this. You can't drop by my house unannounced and get upset about my wife and me simply being together."

"Stop calling her your wife!" she snaps.

"That's what she is, Crystal!"

Big, fat tears run down her cheeks, her gaze filled with remorse. Throughout the years, I've become immune to Crystal's tears, yet these tug at my heartstrings.

"Fuck," I murmur as I cup her face, wiping at her tears with my thumbs, "Crys, please... I'm sorry. I just... I'm fucking exhausted too, you know? I feel like I'm fucking trapped, and no matter what I do, I'll be letting someone down."