Shattered Trust

Chapter 6: The Other Side of Tyler

As the week wore on, I found myself desperate for some semblance of comfort. Emma's absence loomed over every inch of my life, and the guilt gnawed at me with every hour that passed. On Thursday night, as if following some invisible thread that only he and I could see, I found myself in Tyler's apartment.

Tyler's place was a stark contrast to mine. It was sleek, modern, and impersonal, as though it were a showroom more than a home. I used to see it as part of Tyler's allure—the aura of mystery, the polished exterior. But tonight, as I sank into his leather sofa, something about it felt cold, unwelcoming.

Tyler walked in from the kitchen, holding two glasses of wine. "Drink?" he offered, his usual smirk in place as he held out a glass.

I took it, studying him as he sat down beside me, his posture relaxed, unaffected. There was something about his ease, his lack of concern, that suddenly felt off. While I'd been wallowing in guilt, Tyler seemed as detached as ever, his demeanor calm, as if this whole situation had no bearing on him.

"Thanks," I muttered, taking a sip and glancing around. "Feels weird being here after... everything."

Tyler laughed, a low chuckle that felt almost dismissive. "Come on, James. Emma was always going to find out. People like us? We don't get to live normal lives."

"People like us?" I asked, feeling an odd edge to his words.

"People who don't fit the mold," he said, his eyes catching mine. "We live in a world that wants everything neatly categorized. We broke the rules. And you know what? I think it's freeing."

The way he spoke, with a kind of cavalier confidence, made my stomach twist. For months, I'd been drawn to his wildness, his lack of inhibition, but now it felt like there was something I'd overlooked—something I should have seen earlier but hadn't wanted to face.

"Freeing?" I repeated, setting my glass down. "Emma's destroyed, Tyler. I can't pretend it didn't hurt her."

Tyler shrugged, leaning back into the couch. "She'll get over it. People do. Besides, you're here with me now, aren't you?"

There was something unsettling in his tone, an implication that I couldn't quite grasp. For the first time since we'd started seeing each other, I felt a jarring disconnect. He seemed unaffected by everything I'd just gone through, like Emma's pain and my guilt were inconveniences rather than real consequences.

"Do you even feel guilty?" I asked, unable to keep the question from slipping out. "About any of this?"

He laughed again, though there was an edge to it. "Guilt? What's there to feel guilty about, James? Life's too short to tie yourself down with regrets. You wanted this. We wanted this. Just because she got hurt doesn't mean you didn't deserve to be happy."

The words felt hollow, even as he said them with conviction. It was as if I were talking to a stranger, someone who only wore the skin of the man I thought I knew. I looked at him closely, for the first time seeing not just the wildness that had pulled me in but something darker, something almost predatory.

"You make it sound so simple," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Like people's lives don't get torn apart by choices like this."

"People complicate their own lives," he replied, waving a hand dismissively. "We had fun, didn't we? Isn't that what matters?"

There was a glint in his eye that set me on edge, as if he were daring me to challenge him, to break the illusion he had built. I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware of how little I actually knew about him. Tyler had always been the thrill, the escape, but beyond that, he was still a mystery.

"How long have you been doing this?" I asked, the question surprising even me.

Tyler arched an eyebrow. "Doing what?"

"This. The sneaking around, the lies. Were you ever serious about... anything?" I couldn't help the bitterness that crept into my voice.

Tyler's face darkened, the smirk dropping for the first time. "You act like you didn't know exactly what this was, James. You wanted a thrill, an escape from your ordinary life. I was the one who gave you that. Don't pretend you were a victim in this."

His words stung, the implication clear. I had wanted it, needed it even, and he'd been the one to provide. But somewhere along the way, I'd deluded myself into thinking there was more, that he and I were connected on some deeper level. Now, sitting here, I felt like a pawn in a game I hadn't even realized we were playing.

"You don't even care, do you?" I asked quietly. "About Emma, about... any of this."

He shrugged, his expression hardening. "Caring only gets you hurt, James. I thought you would have figured that out by now."

I felt a coldness settle over me, the finality of his words hitting like a punch to the gut. This was the real Tyler—unapologetic, detached, and completely unconcerned with anyone's feelings but his own. The man I thought I knew, the man who'd drawn me in with his daring confidence, was just a facade. Beneath it lay something hollow, even dangerous.

I looked away, my mind racing as a new realization dawned. For months, I'd been telling myself that Tyler had shown me the way to freedom, to breaking away from societal norms. But now, I saw that his version of freedom was emptier than I'd imagined—a freedom that left destruction in its wake without a second thought.

Tyler noticed my silence, his lips curving into a mocking smile. "What's the matter, James? Realizing that maybe you're not cut out for this life?"

"I don't know what I'm realizing," I replied, unable to meet his gaze. "But I think maybe I made a mistake."

Tyler leaned closer, his voice low, almost a whisper. "Careful, James. Once you start looking back, you'll never be able to move forward."

His words lingered, the unspoken warning settling over me like a chill. For the first time, I saw Tyler for who he truly was, and I realized that I wasn't just dealing with a mistake—I was dealing with someone who had no qualms about using people, breaking them, and walking away.

The thrill I had once felt in his presence was gone, replaced by a cold certainty that I couldn't ignore. I'd been blinded by my own desires, my own need for escape, and Tyler had been there to exploit every weakness, every insecurity.

Standing up, I grabbed my coat, the weight of the evening settling over me.

"Where are you going?" Tyler asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"I need some time to think," I said, refusing to look at him as I made my way to the door.

"Think all you want, James," he called after me. "But remember, you're the one who came looking for me."

I closed the door behind me, his words echoing in my mind as I walked down the dimly lit hallway.