Serendipity

Chapter 26

Tyler

I kiss her back eagerly. Something about her is so alluring. I can't ever get her off my mind. She starts to lean back, kissing me hard, frantic, mouth mouths melting together.

I want her.

I've wanted for forever.

I brace my hands on the edge of the desk, my body places between her legs.

Fuck, I want her so badly. I want her right now. I can feel my jeans getting tight, and I jerk back quickly.

Carmen

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing, I'm, nothing. I can't do this."

"Oh..." I trail off, nervous, embarrassed. "Okay."

"I love you." He says.

"I love you too." I mumble.

"I'm going downstairs."

"Okay." I whisper.

He walks off.

I fucked up. I fucked up.

Oh god, I really fucked up.

<><>

The ride home was full of tension. I avoided him the entire time, helping around downstairs. We got the first floor done, but I did a sweep of every floor and they all need work.

His parents, Cooper, and Caroline were all talking happily, but I was silent, and Tyler was on his phone.

I was gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles were white.

I dropped his family off at the restaurant. The drive to my condo was miserable, and I almost burst into tears when we got to the garage and he grumbled about how he was going home, and then he left without kissing my cheek or anything.

I sat in the dark garage with the car off, and stared at the wheel for an hour before I texted my parents and told them I was staying the night at Tyler's, and then I just went back to the city and spent the night working on cleaning out my building. I paid those people and got them dinner, and I offered to give them five thousand a week to help me.

It's around one in the afternoon the next day.

I didn't sleep at all, and the weird thing is I'm not tired.

Tyler

I need to talk to Carmen. I'm in the elevator to go up to her floor.

The doors ding open, and her parents are there and Shaun.

They must've bailed him out.

"Where's Carmen?" I ask. I hardy slept last night. I felt terrible. I should've just told her the truth. She probably thinks it was her fault. Technically, it was, but still, it wasn't for the reason she thinks.

"What are you talking about?" Mrs. Schuler asks. "She texted me last night and told me she was staying the night at your house."

I stare at her.

"She didn't. She-she wasn't at my house last night."

We all just stare at each other for a minute or so.

My hands knot in my hair.

Fuck.

Fuck.

I dial her immediately. It just rings all the way through.

No, I can't go through this again.

I dial Delaney.