It's Always Been You

Bittersweet Brews

"So, are you sure you guys are as happy as you said?" Wes asked, his voice taking on a softer, more serious tone.

I turned to look at him, my shoulders tensing defensively. I was far from in the mood to deal with his commentary about commitment and relationships anymore. "Please, don't start," I warned him curtly.

Wes exhaled softly, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm just saying, it seems like there might be some trouble in paradise." This time when he peered at me, his features had softened, his eyes gentle and non-judgemental. "Help me understand. Why are you dating an asshole like him who so blatantly disregards you?"

I tried to shove aside the flare of annoyance, but I couldn't. I scoffed loudly. "Who do you want me to date instead? An asshole like you?" I shot back, regretting the words as soon as they left my mouth.

Wes dramatically frowned, placing a hand over his heart. "Hey now, that hurts. I may be an asshole in many ways - but I couldn't imagine disregarding you and making you feel so small in the way Nate just did."

While his words may have induced a treacherously warm and fuzzy feeling in my chest, I chose to ignore it, shoving it down stubbornly. "He's not that bad," I mumbled sheepishly, avoiding Wes's too-perceptive gaze as I began walking down the dormitory corridor. "He's just tired, maybe having a bad day. When you've been with someone this long, you can't expect either of you to be at one hundred percent every single day."

Wes followed alongside me, listening intently with a contemplative look. He shrugged softly. "I don't know, Fia. Maybe not, but I'd imagine if you choose to stay with someone this long, you're also making the choice to respect and appreciate them every day, no matter what. It doesn't seem like that's what Nate's doing - regardless of if he is having a bad day or not."

I sighed softly but chose not to respond.

I couldn't think about my potential problems with Nate right now - not when I wasn't even sure if there really were any serious issues. I would gladly chalk up his dismissive attitude to him just being tired and needing to recharge. That had to be it...right?

I ignored Wes after that, figuring he would head his own way as soon as we exited the dormitory building. But to my surprise, he kept pace with me, that infuriatingly charming smirk playing on his lips.

"Uh..." I stopped to look at him quizzically. "Are you planning on following me all day now?"

Wes grinned, the amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Nope. But you are coming with me to the cafe, just like we told that dear boyfriend of yours."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I am?"

"Well, loverboy of yours didn't seem to mind us spending some quality time together, so why not?" He shrugged casually. "Let's go test out these supposed matchmaking skills of yours."

I gaped at him, still finding it hard to decipher whether he was actually being serious about this ridiculous idea or not. "You weren't really serious about that matchmaking thing, were you?"

"Of course, I was," Wes replied easily. "You're my new wingwoman, Romero. Get used to it."

Somehow, despite my lingering annoyance, I found myself giving in to his playful insistence.

Frankly, I could use some enjoyable company right now to get my mind off the weird tension with Nate. And Wes, despite his massive ego and near-constant smirking, was turning out to be rather entertaining company.

Plus, I'm an eternal hopeless romantic at heart, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity of playing Cupid and maybe finding this self-professed commitment-phobe someone who could make him want to change his ways.