Love Triangle (Wilkinson vs. Gilinsky)

10. Perspectives

SHAY’S POV

“Sam…” I start. “Will you take me home?”

I avoid Jack’s eyes. I avoid Sam’s eyes. I refuse to look at either of them.

There’s a moment of silence before Sam says, “Yeah. Let’s go.”

I keep my eyes glued to my feet and I stand up. Sam slides an arm around my waist and I close my eyes at his touch. I feel the tears re-emerging between my eyelids as I brush past Jack’s still body. Jack stands there soundlessly, still trying to process what happened.

I walk silently with Sam to his car, my eyes looking anywhere but at him.

Sam opens the door to the passenger seat for me and I slide in. He makes his way into the driver’s seat and starts the car. There’s a minute of silence before Sam breaks the ice.

“Shay…” He licks his lips. “I know we told you we wouldn’t make you choose right away and I know it’s only been a week. But when I saw you two holding hands…” He trails off, staring straight ahead at the road.

I know if I speak I’ll start crying. So I stay silent.

He looks over at me and I’m staring out the window.

“Shay. Say something.” I shut my eyes tightly until I’m 90% sure I won’t burst into tears.

“Sam,” I croak. “I like you so much.” My eyes swell up in tears. “But I just…” A tear rolls down my cheek and I pause.

“But you like Jack more.” He tightens his grip on the steering wheel and stares straight at the road ahead.

“Sam,” I sniffle and watch a tear drop onto my leg. “You hurt Jack. You slept with your best friend’s girlfriend. I tried to look past it because of how much I like you. And I could, for a while. But back at the playground when I was thinking about everything… I-I couldn’t look past it.” Another tear streams down my face. And another. “My last boyfriend cheated on me with his ex. He told me they were through and I trusted him. I-I can’t get hurt like that again.”

Sam stops in front of my driveway and turns off his car. He looks at me, face red and eyes glistening.

“Look. I can’t justify why I did what I did. I know it was wrong.” He slightly shakes his head at me. “It-it was a mistake and nothing like that will ever happen again. Shay, I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He looks away.

My vision is blurred by the water swelling up in my eyes. I blink once and the tears roll down my face. “I’m so sorry Sam.” I close my eyes and let the tears stream down.

I feel a hand on my cheek. I open my eyes and see Sam looking at me. He wipes away a tear rolling down my face and kisses my cheek.

“I hope he treats you right.” He whispers.

I smile sadly and whisper back, “You make it so hard not to like you.”

With that, he pulls his hand away from my cheek and back onto the steering wheel. He looks at me and says quietly, “Bye Shay.”

A tear rolls down my cheek as I hear him say those two words. I wipe my nose and say quietly, “Bye Sam.” I open the door and get out of the car.

—

SAM’S POV

I listen to Shay say in a shaky voice, "You hurt Jack. You slept with your best friend’s girlfriend." I grab the steering wheel tightly and cringe at her words. "I tried to look past it because of how much I like you. And I could, for a while. But back at the playground when I was thinking about everything… I-I couldn’t look past it."There’s a pause. "My last boyfriend cheated on me with his ex. He told me they were through and I trusted him. I-I can’t get hurt like that again."