Green Eyed Daydream #Wattys2016

Chapter 71

Carrie's POV

My eyes are filled to the brim with guilty tears, as I look at Tyler. My conscience is kicking me from the inside, calling me ugly names, and chastising me for being so foolish. "Confess! Confess!" it's screaming at me. I did this to myself. And now, the horrible truth of what I've done is clawing its way to the surface, and making me want to come clean to my boyfriend.

I stare into Tyler's eyes, and know that if I tell him the truth, I will seal my fate... Our relationship will end. To him, infidelity of any kind is the worst possible betrayal, and confessing about my kiss with Lucas will be my undoing.

But what if I don't tell him?

I cringe at my nefarious thoughts... I would be a hypocrite of the worst kind. After preaching to Tyler about the importance of honesty, and swearing that I only ever want to be with him, my confession will make me out to be a duplicitous liar.

I already know that I regret the kiss ever happened. I've shed tears, and lost sleep over how stupid and selfish I was, but do I deserve the ultimate punishment--losing Tyler?

Tyler is looking at me expectantly, and suddenly I know what I have to do.

"I...I'm just upset about how selfish I've been lately," I begin, averting my lying eyes away from his sincere ones. "I feel guilty...so very guilty for how I've been treating you. You've been so wonderful. Just really great..in every way. And I am sorry."

Tyler cups my cheek with his warm palm, and I look up at him.

"Carrie, I don't want you to feel guilty... I know you've been under a lot of pressure at work. All I want is for us to enjoy being together."

I attempt a smile, but my conscience won't allow such a false display. Instead, I hear her say over and over again: "Coward!" "Selfish!" "Liar!" "Cheater!" "Slut!"

I try to shake away the self-inflicting slander, but the words keep echoing in my mind.

"I want that too..." I tell him weakly, and he presses his lips to my forehead.

"Please don't cry, baby. It really tears me up to see you upset," Tyler whispers, and I feel my heart ache from how undeserving I am of his sweet words.

I wrap my arms around him, and close my eyes, feeling his warmth and tenderness radiate through me. I silently pray that Tyler's love will be enough to quiet my guilty thoughts, and maybe even convince myself that what happened in Chicago, will really stay in Chicago...forever.

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I spend the night at Tyler's, and wake up in the morning to the smell of bacon. Is there a better alarm clock? I throw on my boyfriend's t-shirt, and follow the delectable aroma.

When I enter the kitchen, I can't help but lean on the counter and stare. Tyler, clad in nothing but a pair of blue jeans, that hang loosely on his hips, is standing at the stove, and making breakfast. His wide back is corded with muscles, his hips are narrow, with two dimples at the base of his spine peaking just above the edge of his jeans. I take a moment to admire him, as I watch his bicep flex when he expertly flips a pancake in the skillet. I smile to myself. Not a bad sight to wake up to.

"I could get used to this," I tell him, as I approach closer.

Tyler turns around, and reaches over to give me a quick peck on the lips.

"How many pancakes do you want?" he asks.

"Two?"

Tyler puts two pancakes next to three bacon strips, and adds some cut up fruit on the side, and hands me my plate.

"This looks amazing, thank you!" I gush, and take a seat at the counter.

Tyler joins me, with two mugs of coffee, and slides one over to me.

He takes a sip, and smiles at me. "This is just a little preview of what it could be like...every morning," he says, and winks at me.

I shove a forkful of the fluffy pancake in my mouth, and smile. "Every morning?" I repeat his ambitious promise to him.

"Well, maybe not every morning... I'm gonna have to make you earn it," he informs me, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Sex for food?" I translate his indecent proposal.

Tyler bites a piece of bacon. "Precisely," he says, giving me a wolfish grin.

"I don't know if that's a fair trade," I continue teasing him.

Tyler leans in on his elbows, and squints at me. "You're right... it's like you're the one getting all the upside, and I'm just your sex slave...and your kitchen slave. It really isn't fair, is it?"

"Okay, okay," I giggle at his logic.

When I glance at the time, I realize I need to rush, or I'll be late for work.

I offer to help clean up, but Tyler insists that he'll take care of it, so that I have enough time to shower and get ready for work.

When Tyler drops me off at Valent, he reminds me that he has a business dinner meeting with an investor tonight, and won't be able to pick me up to give me a ride home.

"Can I come by afterwards?" he asks.

"Yeah, whenever you're done, just come over," I tell him, and kiss him 'goodbye'.

I walk through the vestibule of the building, a smile plastered on my face. Being with Tyler really does make me feel so at peace...so happy, and content.

One of the elevators appears to be out of order, and the other three are filled to capacity. There's a line forming with impatient people complaining about the wait.

I quickly make the decision to take the stairs, instead of waiting with that disgruntled lot.

By the time I reach the second floor landing, my high heeled shoes are already pinching my feet. Just one more floor, I tell myself, as I grab onto the banister, and pull myself along.

Suddenly, I hear descending footsteps coming from above. The echo of the approach sends my heart racing...I know who it is without even looking up.

When I turn the corner, I come face to face with Lucas.