Tethered Hearts | ✓ | Books 1 & 2

Lost Episode #0022 | How Conner Got Kelsey

BONUS CHAPTER
How Conner Got Kelsey

Kelsey's P.O.V.

In college, when people observed my relationship with Conner, they made the assumption that we always were two peas in a pod, magnetically drawn to each other by the hip. The reality was far from that. There was once a time that I couldn't stand the boy I called the love of my life.

The first time my eyes laid on Conner Blackwood, weeks into the second semester of my Freshman year, I had no intention of giving him the time of day. I wasn't naïve to his wandering gaze, studying my body whenever he thought I wasn't looking—but in fact, I was. I never stopped noticing the blonde boy in my anatomy class, peaking back at me without any intent to seem discreet.

In my communications class, I unintentionally befriend one of his associates, Bryce Matthews, and got stuck going to parties with their crew. I endured even more of Conner's distant, yet longing gazes, taunting me to make the first move. We shared a few conversations and lots of arguments, here and there, but he knew better than to cross the line. And there was a reason for that.

Neither of us were ever available at the right time. Either I was with a new guy, or he was transfixed by some girl he picked up at the bar. I could see how frequent he changed around girls in his life and I saw that as a sign to stay away.

I was growing weak to his words. He knew what to say, but I constantly pulled back. This semester, I would've caved in earlier, fallen into his arms like all the girls before, if it weren't for the undeniable existence of my boyfriend of four months. He was a shy man, asking for my permission any time he touched me, kissed me, or wanted to hold me.

I was fond of his forbearing, tenderness at the beginning stages of our relationship. However, the infatuation was starting to sizzle out like a dying fire. For years, I had yearned for a compassionate, sweet guy to waltz into my life because I was tired of attracting bad natured men who had no interest in staying around longer than a month, and then finding a new girl to tend to their horny needs.

There comes a time in most girls lives where living on the edge and going for the bad boys withers away, making way for logic to take place. I wanted stability; I wanted longevity in a relationship. Gang members like Conner weren't designed for that. They fed off lust, clung on to a different obsession every so often to satisfy their deviant cravings, and at last, tossed the poor soul as though they never had care for her at all.

I was done with that sad, sick cycle. I wanted out, so I settled for the nice guy for once. Even though I pretended to be content, a rush went through me now and then whenever I went back to thinking of the hot, steamy moments I shared with the boys that broke my heart. I couldn't survive piecing back the parts another time.

But with our five-month anniversary coming by, and still no sex, I was turning into someone I didn't know I could become. I was fiening for some type—any type—of intimacy, itching for any way of being close to my boyfriend.

On the day of our anniversary, I talked to Bryce about my dilemma. As I expected, he shook in a fit of laughter when I described my situation.

I swung a slap against his arm, abruptly putting a halt to his rich, full mirth. "This isn't funny."

"Oh, yes, yes it is." He wiped away a tear at the corner of his eye, sighing a slow breath. "I can't believe you're thinking of asking him for sex. Like you're a prostitute of some sort. He's your boyfriend. If he's not trying to bone you at every hour of the day, I don't know what to think."

"Maybe he's a cake boy," someone off at the side of our table said, sitting across from me. I looked up, putting a hand to my brows to block out the sun and see who had just made the rude assumption that my boyfriend was gay.