Complicated

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I was in Chris's living room, showered and dressed, waiting for him to bring us both some wine. I was admiring the beautiful art pieces on his walls. Some were abstract, but others were landscapes, but only one thing was running through my mind - Caroline. What had she said to Chris and why does Chris act so different when she's around?

"Like what you see?" Chris asked from behind, offering me a glass.

I smiled and took a sip of wine, "They're beautiful" I commented.

"What's wrong MacKayla?" He asked as his eyes searched through me.

I looked at him wondering what he meant.

"I can see something's upsetting you. What is it?"

"It's nothing Chris"

"MacKayla" He repeated.

I signed, defeated, "What happened between you and Caroline?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked, surprised by my question.

"The way you were acting last night - after your mom told you she was coming over for dinner - your mood shifted and you became tense. And you barely talked to her. And when she was about to leave, she told you something but you didn't respond. What happened between the two of you, Chris?"

"Nothing happened between us"

"Then why doesn't it seem like that? When she came into the office, you two were so cozy together, and then last night it seemed like you didn't even want her there!"

"That's because I didn't!"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm with you and Caroline is part of my past and I don't want my past and present to collide" He explained.

"But that still doesn't explain why you were so cold and tense around her"

"She's one of my mom's good friends. I used to work for her when I was younger"

"What do you mean?"

"I was a teen, looking for some cash so I helped out Caroline"

I looked at him, watiing for him to continue. He took a seat on the couch and I sat down beside him, allowing him to go on.

"I was young and stupid. She was a wealthy woman and at that time, I thought she was beautiful. She had been recently divorced and she needed help getting rid of her ex-husband's stuff, so there I was, helping her out. She left the the room for a bit to get me some water and a snack but when she came back," He paused a moment before continuing, "When she came back, she was in a robe" He stopped and looked my way. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to even process what he had just said.

"She seduced you?" I whispered.

He didn't reply, but I could see from his face that that's exactly what had happened.

"How long did that go on for?"

"A few years. It was on and off and it didn't mean anything"

I couldn't believe what he was saying. "So what's up there, in the room... Did she introduce you to that?" I asked him.

He gently nodded his head but didn't reply.

I needed to get out of here. I needed air. I stood up from the couch and headed towards the door without saying a word to Chris.

"MacKayla, stop!" But I continued walking.

"MacKayla!" He grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"What?"

"Talk to me MacKayla"

"What's there to talk about? You screwed around with your mom's friend! You told me you two were never together. You lied to me, Chris"

"I didn't lie. You asked if we were dating and I said no because we weren't"

"Oh right, because you two were just fucking each other instead" I hissed.

"MacKayla!" He shouted, wanting me to stop.

"What did she say to you before she left?" I asked.

He shook his, "MacKayla"

"What did she say, Chris?"

He sighed before replying, "She said I shouldn't affiliate myself, sexually, with someone from work"

"Was she speaking the truth?"

"MacKayla, she was just concerned -"

"For who? You or me? Because I doubt she'll worry about me since she fucked you for so long"

"MacKayla, just listen to me. We can talk about all this, but what she said -"

"Just stop it Chris. Please, just stop" I raised my hands up, wanting him to just quit explaining. I got my answers and I knew what I had to do.

"Goodbye Chris" I said as I walked out the door, and this time, he didn't follow me.