What Would You Give

Mistakes Made

Dante opened his eyes to see Roe sleeping beside him. He remembered the moment that he had leaned forward and kissed her silly, picking her up by the thighs and bringing her upstairs to his room while she tangled her fingers in his hair. They had argued over the offer she had gotten to go study overseas and finish her degree there. He didn't want her to go and the way that he showed it was lack of intrest and a bad attitude on his part. Now, he knew he had done something that she probably wouldn't forgive him for. It was a moment of weakness and he took advantage of it.

He had put her down on the bed and she began to take her clothes off without her lips leaving his. The whole time he was thinking to himself how wrong he was for doing this. Looking at her face in the morning light and seeing how beautiful she was only made him feel worse. He would never admit it to her, but his feelings went way deeper than friendship and he was sure she felt the same, but he was stubborn. He of all people prefered to keep romance at a distance despite how much he played at charming the ladies. He had more respect for women than he made it out he had. After all, his mother was a very classy and sophisticated woman herself.

She taught him how a woman should be treated and he had failed her by taking advantage of Roe in the state she was in. Moreso, he failed himself and he was ashamed of it. He wouldn't admit it to anyone and certainly not to Roe because that was his problem to deal with, only he didn't want to deal with it. He reached over and dragged his knuckles lightly over Roe's cheek as she slept before leaning over and kissing her on the cheek in an apologetic way before getting up and dressing himself.

If there was ever one thing he regretted in his life, it was when he left her sleeping in his bed that morning and not talking through things with her. Instead here he sat regretting everything including avoiding her for weeks before she finally said enough was enough. Sure they repaired the friendship, but it seemed the damage was done and irreversible considering the way she acted when she saw him at the casino.

What really confused him was how she kissed him on the cheek before walking away from him for the second time. At first he thought it was just a way to distract him and allow time for her to get away, but after thinking about it, it held more meaning. She had openly scorned him when she first saw him, then the second time she seemed to be okay with him and almost challenging him to do something. It was downright confusing and it felt like a game.

"What has you all mopey today?" Lady said as she walked into the shop with Patty right behind her.

"Maybe he lost another bet with someone." He heard Patty whisper to Lady.

"Nah, this is a lost puppy mope, not a lost bet mope." Lady told her as she went to the desk and slammed her hands down making a loud noise that made Patty jump.

"Shit. What do you want Lady?" He said with his eyes snapping to her. "I was enjoying the silence."

"Get real. You have been this way since the poker game and I know it has everything to do with Roe." Lady said crossing her arms over her chest and sitting on the desk. "You should go talk to her again. Maybe you can get a little closure and be mopey about something else other than the amount of money you owe me." He glared at her and growled.

"Wait what did you do to that lady?" Patty asked coming up to stand beside the desk with her hands fisted.

"He messed up years ago. Did something he shouldn't have done and really hurt her." He didn't need Lady to remind him of what he did so he stood up silently and grabbed his coat before leaving the shop. It was bad enough he had made a huge mistake and regretted it, but he didn't need Lady and Patty telling him reminding him in the way they did.