Lust or Love? (Geoff and Gavin a.u.)

Chapter 19

*Marley POV*

"Hi, Mr. Osborne," I say looking around the table for my dad. He puts his hand down.

"He went to the restroom," he leads me to the chair next to him, but I sit on the end away from him. "Oh, Marley, you can call me Byron, but I like the sound of Mr. Osborne best." He whispers in my ear and a shiver of disgust flows down my spine. I pull out my phone in hopes of a text from Geoff.

Geoff: My bed is lonely without you :(

Me: My teacher is here for dinner, save me

Geoff: On the way

Me: I wish

Geoff: Me too

Me: Boo

"Marley did you introduce yourself?" My dad sits down at the table bringing in the pizza's. I nod my head.

"I have the pleasure of teaching your daughter," Byron looks at me, I focus on the pizza. My stomach sounds like a pack of wolves. I grab a slice of pepperoni.

"So how did you two meet?" I ask no one specifically, curious. 

"Well, I was at the bar on Thursday night, not really having any family in town to spend time with. I was really interested in the game, but then your dad came and sat a stool away. He looked so done, like he had way too much. I requested a water for him and we started talking, about how you were out of town and how his wife had passed and he had lost himself and he was scared he was going to lose you too." I look over at my dad who doesn't make eye contact with anyone. 

"So then you found him an AA and are you his sponsor?" I ask him taking a bite of my pizza. He nods swallowing.

"Yeah, we have meetings every Monday, Thursday and Friday." He says leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. I continue eating my pizza and my dad and Byron talk about sports. Geoff and I text back and forth, mostly talking about he needs to get at the store. I excuse myself from the table and my dad stops me.

"Marley, while I'm doing dishes, can you show Byron around the house." They both stand.

"Um, sure." Byron walks towards me, he holds a sly smile on his face and my stomach turns.

"You can show me your room first," he whispers on my neck when my dad leaves the room. I push him and start to walk to the den. His eyes linger on my body as I show him the rooms in the house, I feel extremely uncomfortable. I can feel him peeling my clothing off with his eyes. I excuse myself to my room when my dad joins us in the den. 

I text Geoff that I will call him after I change and brush my teeth, I change into sweat pants and one of Geoff's shirts that he let me take home. I walk to the bathroom and turn on the hot water to brush my teeth. 

"I remember watching you do this every time you stayed with me." Byron stands in the doorway. "My favorite part was after you brushed your teeth,"he leans into me and grabs my face. Before I could say anything he forced his lips on mine. I push him away.

"Byron stop." I walk pass him and back to my room. I close the door, and he opens it walking in after me. 

"Marley, I miss how we were." He pleads. 

"No, get out." Tears well in my eyes. 

"Just remember the first party you came to, I was there. I saw you with your friends, man how young you were. I was kind of surprised you even got in." He smiles at me, the swooning smile he gave me when we first met. 

"Yeah, yeah how you hit on me and I ended up 'dating' you for a few weeks before I found out you were cheating on me. Then I realized how dumb I was because I was like fifteen, yeah." I push him out the door and lock it.

I don't regret most things, but him, yeah I regret him. I will never forget, no matter how much I want to, how I fell for a frat boy my sophomore year of high school and how he screwed me over. Those were my party days, that was my first party. Instead of being depressed when my mom passed, I turned into a party kid, which isn't really my real personality. Just a persona I played to get through it. Though Byron kind of made it worse, he would bring me to parties, make me drinks. Why is he even helping my dad, he was the one with the problem. 

Unknown: I just wanted to say I am sorry, and show you how much I have changed.

Me: Who is this, I think you've got the wrong number.

Unknown: It's Byron.

Me: Yeah you have the wrong number I don't know a Byron

***

My call with Geoff lasted almost three hours, we talked about our days, I left out the whole Byron situation because I would know it would make him mad. I leave my room to go to the kitchen for some water and a cheeky midnight snack. Opening the snack cabinet, I feel hands on my waist.

"Who the f-" I turn around and see Byron behind me, shirtless and in his boxers. 

"Still eat midnight snacks?" He smirks, I roll my eyes. "I can reach them for you," I move out the way and he pulls down the bag of pretzels. 

"Thank you," I mumble taking the bag from him, I grab my bottle of soda off the counter and start for my room, but he stops me putting his hand on my arm. He clenches his jaw and looks into my eyes as I turn to face him.

"I know I texted you, I know it's your number. You didn't need to lie, I am actually trying to apologize. I am sober and I'm not going to take advantage of you, like I did before." He takes a deep breath. "When I walked into class and saw you, my heart nearly burst out of my chest. I hate the way we ended things, I ended things. I hate that I was stupid, idiotic, dumb, or whatever you want to call me, for cheating on you. I am so sorry Marley. I know you're done with me, but I plan on winning you back." He let go of my arm and I walked to my room. Tears filled my eyes by the time I closed my door and I pulled my pillow as close to my chest as I could. 

He was the first guy I ever dated, the first guy I opened up about my dad to. He was my first love, granted it was probably three months of dating him, but he made me so happy, drunk, but happy. He made me forget about my home life. 

He ruined my life, but I don't think he even knows that. 

I try to push the thoughts of him back in the small regret space of my mind and replace them with Geoff. I push the lock button on my phone to check for any messages from him.

Byron (Ignore): I WILL win you back Marley Hope. 

Geoff: I miss you, good night.