Operation Revenge

Chapter Thirty-One: Playing Cupid

Reese got up and went down to our "Chill Room" as he calls it, and he seemed really upset. We all looked around at each other trying to decide if we should follow him or give him space, then everyone started telling me to go check on him.

"Why me?" I groaned.

"Because you're good at cheering people up!" Tadley insisted.

"Fine, i'll be back..." I got up and made my way downstairs and saw Reese sitting at the bar with a glass of dark liquor. I walked around and poured myself a small glass of wine and then sat beside him at the bar.

"What's up?" I asked softly.

"Just didn't feel like being around everyone right now.." He shrugged.

"Wanna talk about what's going on then? Judging by your reaction at dinner it's not because you broke up with Jade." I looked over at him and waited to see if he was going to talk to me or tell me he didn't want to talk about it right now.

"I mean it kind of is... but i'm not really upset that we broke up... i'm more upset that we couldn't make the relationship work. I want a relationship. I want to be happy. I want to settle down... I want what you and Tad have! I don't know why i can't just be happy? Why do i attract all the psychopaths? Why can't i find a good girl who wants to make me just as happy as i want to make her? What's wrong with me?" He was getting emotional and i felt bad for him. I've been there before, i've wondered what was wrong with me that i couldn't find someone who wanted to be with me for me.

"Nothing is wrong with you, Reese! You just haven't found your right girl yet. That doesn't happen over night. You have to go through some shitty relationships before you find the one that makes everything feel right even when everything is going wrong. You wanna know a secret? Sometimes the one for you is the person you least expect. I came back from Texas wanting to make you fall in love with me, wanting to get revenge on you...but then Tadley came along and he healed all of the broken pieces inside of me slowly. He was always there, and i just overlooked him because i wasn't ready for him. I wasn't looking for him when he came to me, and that is a lesson in and of itself...When you stop looking for the right person, the right person, the person that is meant for you will find you." I assured him.

"It's crazy, you know? This life could have been ours if i hadn't been a dumbass... I'm not saying that i'm going to try to steal you from Tadley or anything because i'm not. I think you guys are great together. I just can't help but think about how differently things could be. You know?" He looked over at me and then looked back down at his glass.

"I don't think so. You've become a really good friend, but i think that's what we were meant to be all along. Just friends. We're too different, we would never work out." I took a sip of my wine hoping that i hadn't just hurt his feelings.

"You're probably right.." He sighed and took a sip of his own drink.

"You know.... I'm not the only one who had a crush on you growing up...Ava liked you too. But Ava knew that i really liked you, and she's too loyal to mess that up so she stepped back. But i've been watching her since i got with Tad... and i can see that spark still in her eyes when she looks at you. I can see the way she blushes when you talk to or flirt with her. I found my missing piece in a place i wasn't looking....maybe she's your missing piece?" I smiled at him and gently nudge his shoulder with mine.

"You really think so?"

"I know so. You guys could be great for each other if you'd just give it a chance. I really think you guys could make each other really happy, you can have that happy ending you want. You should go for it!" I encouraged.