The Replacement Boyfriend

Chapter 29

Zayne

"What the hell?"

I pulled away from Tace to see a really pissed off looking Cassidy. I looked between them and a look of guilt washed over Tace's face. What was going on?

"Cass, it's not what it looks like," Tace said quickly.

"Is that why you told me to keep it a secret?" Cassidy demanded and I wanted to ask 'what secret?' but it wasn't the right time to open my mouth.

"N-no!" Tace exclaimed. "Cass, let me explain."

"It hasn't even been a day, Tace," Cassidy spat out. "I can't believe you'd do something like this."

"Cassidy, you don't get it," Tace rushed to her and took her hand but Cassidy roughly pulled her hand away.

"No, I don't think I do," she said through gritted teeth. "And I don't think I want to."

Cassidy turned around and left the room, slamming the door behind her. I thought Tace would run after her, begging for forgiveness even though I had no idea what they had fought about but she turned around and glared at me.

"What?" I asked, innocently. "What's going on-"

"Why'd you do that?" she asked, sounding confused and frustrated.

I let out a short laugh and she glared daggers into me. "You're asking me why I kissed you?" I asked her. "I think it's obvious that I like you, Red. In fact, I've always liked you."

"Don't," she said through gritted teeth. "Don't do this."

"Don't do what?" I asked her, confused.

"I can't lose Cass like this," she said, falling to her knees. She buried her face in her palms and groaned.

"I'm so confused," I moaned, looking at the ceiling. "Why would you lose Cassidy if we like each other?"

"The thing is, Zayne," she said slowly, her voice muffled by her hands. "I did love Dane but you were right, we were just protecting each other from getting hurt by other people. We weren't in love with each other."

"What does Dane have to do with you and me?" Now I was getting annoyed.

"I can't be in love with you either," she sounded like she was about to cry. "I love both you and Dane but not like...not the way you want me to."

"Tace-" Okay, maybe it was me who was about to cry.

"Zayne, I can't be with you like that," she mumbled. "After the way you've been acting, I can't stop remembering Dane and when I think about Dane, I think about how we never did anything more than kiss because we weren't in love."

"I'm not Dane," I shook my head angrily. "I-I'm sorry I was trying to be like him to get your attention and make you feel better but I'm not him. I'm me and I've always been in love with you."

I could feel my heart breaking because I had already gotten my answer. She didn't love me the way I loved her and I couldn't make her. I was reasoning with her when she was sure in her mind and heart that it wasn't me that she wanted. I was only hurting myself even more by trying to make excuses.

"I'm so sorry, Zayne," she scrambled to her feet but didn't face me. "I don't want to lose you. You mean a lot to me and I think we both need some time to think."

"Tace," I whispered. "Is it because you like Jax?"

I wasn't sure why I asked her that. I didn't want to hear her answer. I knew it already and if I heard her say it, it would only break my heart even more.

"I think you should leave," she whispered and half of me was glad she didn't answer but the other half already knew the answer.

"I won't let this change anything between us," I was lying when I said that because I wasn't sure whether I could be friends with her when I was in love with her and she was with someone else.

"Zayne, I want to be alone," she whispered and I made my way around her, being careful not to touch her as I exited the room.

I tried not to show how badly I was falling apart, especially when I heard her whimper through the door. I wasn't sure whether she was crying for me or crying for Cassidy. Maybe both.