To Not Let Go

Chapter Six

         "What're you doin' here, Reagan?" Swayde's voice was hostile, completely uncharacteristic of him. His eyes were glued to the television that was broadcasting the evening news, as he took a bite of his dinner. 

         Since the moment that she walked in, Swayde had not looked at Renne even once. With a scoff, Renne tromped further into the living room, picking up the television remote, turning off the TV, in a motion to make him give her attention. Standing in front of Swayde, she demanded, "Why are you so upset? What happened?" 

            Swayde replied with a scoff as he continued eating his supper. "I think you already know why, 'Rein.'" He said the nickname with emphasis. There was only one person in the world who called Renne that. That person was Matt. 

         It was then that it hit Renne why it was that Swayde was so upset. "You saw the text from Matt. You...you looked at my phone? Why would you do that?" Renne's voice raised with the last question as she still stood in front of him, hands on her hips. 

         Swayde finally looked up at Renne. "It was sitting on your bed, and a text came in. I saw it when I took the basket of clothes up to your room. When I saw Matt's name, I picked it up and read it." Letting out a scoff, he added, "And frankly, I'm glad I did."

       "Whatever happened to trust? You have never just picked up my phone and randomly started goin' through it." 

         Swayde stood up from the couch, taking his now empty, plastic dinner container to the kitchen. He let out a frustrated chuckle as he breezed past Renne, with her hot on his heels. "Oh, don't you dare even talk to me about trust, Reagan." He was furious, and it was rare Renne saw this side of him. They hardly ever fought.

        "It's not what it looks like, Swayde." Renne tried her best to stay calm, despite the anger cauldron boiling inside of her. 

        Swayde tossed the empty tray in the recycling bin before responding. "Oh, it isn't? So it doesn't look like your ex is texting you, saying he misses you, wanting you to come 'home?' It doesn't look like you have been in communication with him since you've been back here with me? It doesn't look like you have been lyin' to me? Sorry, Reagan, but I think it is exactly what it looks like." Swayde walked out of the kitchen. 

         "Are you even goin' to give me just one second to explain?!" Renne shouted, making Swayde immediately turn around to face her. 

        Taking a step closer to Renne, Swayde pointed a finger at her, "Don't you dare raise your voice at me, young lady." 

        Renne took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Listen, this is the first text that I have gotten from Matt since I broke up with him, and moved back here to Alpine Ridge. I have no idea why on earth he is texting me, but I promise you that there is nothing goin' on between us." 

         "Did you lead him on to believe that you were goin' back there, to him?" 

        "What? No. No, not at all! Like I have already said, I have not talked to him since the day I broke up with him and gave him back his ring." 

          "I want to see all of the texts from him." Swayde reached out his hand, demanding her phone. 

        "Fine. Here." Renne surrendered her phone, punching in her pass code, opening the messages from Matt. "You're not goin' to find anything, because I am telling you the truth."

        Swayde began to scroll through Renne's text messages, not even really reading them. 

       Her voice still laced with frustration, Renne added, "Why are you actin' so jealous? That's something that a boyfriend would do, so I don't know why you are tryin' to act like that."