Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Megan: Romancing the Cook (Part 5)

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After last night, I’m not sure what to think about Kellen. Sure he’s hot and that lip ring of his invites me to play tug-of-war every time we kiss, but he’s best friends with Chase’s little brother. How do I get past that? The more I think about it, the more weirded out I get.

When Chase and I were together, I never felt Tegan cared much for me. But last night during his monologue about his brother, Tegan started talking about how stupid Chase’s high school girlfriend was. He thought I should have been able to see Chase for the cheater he was, but it wasn’t that easy when I was seventeen. Over the last four years, I’ve gotten better at reading guys, but Chase will probably always be the exception. He used to lie to my face and I never suspected. He mastered the craft. Toward the end of our relationship, I knew about some of his cheating. But at that point, it didn’t matter. I was hooked. Chase was charming and he always made me feel as if I was the center of his universe, even if I wasn’t.

Tegan threw me off because I felt as if he was spelling out who I was to Kellen during his entire rant. But Kellen never seemed to figure it out and that’s what bothers me. He was just as oblivious to my lies as I was to Chase’s. Is it weird that’s what bothers me?

I’m waiting in the coffee shop for him this morning. He has the day off of work and we are going to hang out, without Tegan. I’m determined to tell him the truth about Chase and me because even though Tegan said it would count against me, I don’t want to be a liar.

I got here a few minutes ago and am seated at a small wooden table with my latte. When Kellen spots me, his lips twist into a smile and he sucks his lip ring into his mouth. He motions that he’s going to get in line for his order and I breathe a sigh of relief. It gives me a little more time to think about what I’m going to say. How do you start a conversation telling someone you can’t go out with them again because he’s an idiot for not seeing through the web of lies you spun?

I struggle to formulate my words for several minutes while he waits in line. When Kellen sits down, he looks at me questioningly and I realize I must be scowling. I try to brighten my expression as he sets his drink on the table.

“What is that?” I ask. It looks disgusting. “It looks like someone threw up in your cup.” Green and red chunks cling to the side of the clear plastic cup as green slime swims between the ice cubes.

He laughs, before taking a long draw on the straw. “It’s iced green tea infused with a spinach and strawberry smoothie. The girl at the counter makes them special for me. It’s not on the menu. I don’t drink coffee. Do you want to try it?” He pushes the cup toward me.

The fact that he doesn’t drink coffee is a huge flag. How can anyone function without coffee? Okay, I’m looking for flaws. I always do this with guys. No one will ever be good enough. I decide I am just going to tell him about dating Chase. It can’t get any worse, right?

“I need to tell you…something…before we let this go any farther.” The words stumble out of my mouth as if I'm fourteen.

“We’re going to get farther than kissing today?” He sucks his ring into his mouth and it springs suggestively back out.

I laugh. I guess he’s used to girls just putting out. I shouldn’t tell him.

“What you have a boyfriend? I’m not opposed to dating girls with boyfriends. We can work through this.”

“Really? You’d date a girl with a boyfriend?”

“Well, they can’t be too serious if she’s scouting for another guy.”

“Hum,” I say because he’s right. “Remember when Tegan showed up last night…how weird he got?”

“Let me guess. You’ve dated Tegan?”

“No. But I used to date his brother.” I watch as an expression I can’t identify streaks across his face. Revulsion? Wariness? I’m not sure what he’s thinking. He sits back in his chair, widening the distance between us as he purses his lips. He’s got nice lips.

“Whoa. Not what I expected,” he says.

“Just wanted you to know.”

He takes a sip of his infusion, looking around the coffee shop and not at me.

“Is it a problem?” I ask.

“Tegan knows you. Which means you both lied to me last night and you were the girl he was blabbing on about—the one who was blindly in love with his brother.” He folds his arms across his chest.

“Yeah,” I admit. He looks angrier than I expected.

He stands, picks up his drink and says, “I don’t need this.” Then, he turns and walks out of the coffee shop without looking back.


Wow. I can’t believe he just did that. That wasn’t even the worst thing I could have shared with him. Seriously? I am never opening up about my past to a guy ever again. What a jerk.
Copyright Susan Schussler 2016

Monday, December 12, 2016

Between Friends (Megan's Story) is out on Thursday December 15, 2016

Megan's book comes out on Thursday. Pre-order on Kindle today. I will get one more post on her blog tomorrow before the big release. You are going to love her story. I can't wait for you to read it.