“I was going to tell you the same thing.” He laughed and met my eyes. “Do you want to know now or later?”
“How about I go first?” I thought I might save him the trouble. He might turn us around and bring me home.
He seemed a little hesitant. “Let me at least buy you dinner before we get to confessing too much?”
“Okay. Let’s talk about our day instead.”
Seth smiled. “Mine didn’t start off as good as it ended. That’s for sure.”
I smiled, knowing he was happy to be with me. “I had a dull morning too. I had a dental cleaning before I went to class for my test. I think I aced it no problem. And I went to practice and took a run with the most handsome guy in town.”
Seth laughed, but he took a breath and glanced my way. “Some of the rumors are true, Avery.” The smile faded from his face. “The truth is, I didn’t treat Layla well, and yes, I did mess around when things started going south for us. I’m not proud of it, and I have apologized for it.”
That wasn’t easy to hear. “It was a long time ago, wasn’t it?”
“Well, not that long ago, but I feel like I’ve learned to be better. And I understand if you have a problem with that, but I’m trying not to be that guy ever again.”
“I believe in second chances,” I said, taking him by surprise. “But just in case you think you can do that to me, you can’t. And I’m ordering the most expensive thing on the menu, and you’re going to have to be as understanding about what I have to tell you over dinner.”
“I’m surprised you still feel like eating.”
“Hell yeah. You and Layla had your problems, and while I have to admit it does sting a little hearing you confess that to me, I know that doesn’t have to be us. If you don’t want it to be. I mean, I don’t want it to be, and I won’t let it be. I’m not going to put up with that bullshit at all.”
“I’d never expect you to, nor would I do that to you. It was stupid. I know I could keep telling you that I’m trying to do better, but I’d rather show you instead. If you’ll give me a chance.”
“Of course.” I had wanted to give him the benefit of that chance since I heard the rumors.
Our conversation fell quiet, and after a while, I reached over and put my hand on his. Seth smiled at me and told me about his day.
We arrived at the restaurant, which was called Sage and a lot nicer of a place than I expected. “How did you find out about this place?” I asked as the hostess sat us at a table. I wondered if he had brought Layla there before me.
“I drove past it one day and thought about bringing you.” He gave a shrug like it was nothing, but I thought it was the sweetest thing in the world.
“Well, it’s really great. Thank you.”
“Let’s order the food first, and we’ll be the judge of that.” He gave a laugh as the waiter came to the table.
The man’s name was Henry, and despite his thick southern accent, he managed to pronounce some of the menu specials better than I could have.
We quickly placed our orders, and when Henry left, Seth took my hand. “I need you to know something about me, Avery. I’m kind of impatient. And I really want to know what I did to upset you. Because I don’t want to do it again.”
I could tell he really meant it. “You hurt my feelings.”
He frowned and looked down at the table. “I’m sorry, Avery.” He glanced up and met my eyes. “I didn’t realize I’d done anything that would do that.”
“Well, that may be my fault because instead of confronting you about it and starting a big stink, I just let you think I was tired and had you take me home.”
He looked as if a light went off inside him. “The movies. That’s why you didn’t let me come in. I don’t know what happened.”
“It was after. At the Omega House. I overheard you and your friend talking about me and saying how I was a tomboy and liked girls.”
Seth’s eyes widened. His shoulders slumped as he sank in his seat. It was as if the wind was knocked out of him. “I’m sorry. I was just goofing around, Avery. I don’t think about those things.”
“But you didn’t correct them either. Instead, you said you were hoping for a threesome and laughed it up with your friend.”
“Look, I never cared what your sexuality is. As long as you like me, that’s all I care about.”
“I’m not bisexual, Seth. I’m straight. I just don’t like rumors going around about me any more than you do. And I’ve dealt with that ever since I was a girl who decided to play sports. Especially rugby. I’m not ultra-feminine like some girls, but that doesn’t mean I am gay. And it doesn’t mean you get hot threesomes with my friends and me, which was way out of line.” I had to let him know I didn’t intend to share him with anyone, and I wasn’t going to put up with anyone else in our relationship.
“I’m so sorry. I was just kidding around. Ben’s an Omega, and I just didn’t want to cause any problems with him. I should have spoken up.”
“I’m not going to say it’s okay, but you of all people should know how that feels, and I’d hope that you would set the record straight if that ever happens again.”
“Yeah, I was just acting stupid. I’m sorry I hurt you.” I could tell by his tone that he was really sorry about it.
It was
