He responded by hanging up on me. I stared at the phone in disbelief, feeling angry and out of breath. Shit. How could he do this to me? How could he believe I would stoop that low? I have loved him more than myself for years and this is what I get for it?
I didn't even recognise my lover anymore. He was not my Cole. He was hers now. The realisation made me want to howl out my pain but all that escaped me was a shattered breath.
Feeling even more pissed off, I tossed the phone on the vanity and turned on the shower, pounding my fist once against the tiled wall and hissing as pain shot through my hand. Why? Why would he do this to me? Had he forgotten how much he meant to me? That I was nothing without him? Just an angry, uptight version of myself.
How could he change so much in such a short amount of time and leave behind years of commitment? I gave him my soul, goddammit. And he turned around and kicked me in the teeth at the taste of the first pussy that enticed his heart.
I closed my eyes and tried not to let myself break. I was not that weak. I couldn't be.
~~~
Skye
My chest heaved with a long, in-drawn breath and I straightened, staring at the closed bathroom door with tears filling my eyes.
What a mess. What a huge fucking mess. And I was responsible. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their private phone conversation. When I heard Jasper saying he was leaving soon, I thought I would offer to drive him to the airport since I was free and despite his acting like a jerk earlier, I knew he was only kidding and I still felt bad about him and Cole.
But bad did not even begin to describe what I was feeling now. The pain and devastation I had heard in Jasper's voice, it negated all the arrogant, tough-guy vibes he usually gave out. That was only a front. This was the real Jasper. Unapologetically aching for someone's love.
And now I knew I was the reason. Jasper had been trying to reassure Cole that he was not interested in me. Which meant Cole suspected his boyfriend of wanting to get in my pants. That was so inaccurate. If anything, it was the other way around. I was the guilty one. Not Jasper. I deserved to be punished.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I waited for Jasper to come out of the shower. I waited for so long, my legs grew tired from standing. I just wanted to see him. Tell him I was sorry. And I really was. He was hurting because of me.
After I do my part when it comes to Jasper, I would talk to Cole and tell him the truth about how I felt attracted to his boyfriend. Then Cole would be the one hurting while I bore his punishment.
Oh, man. I was starting to hate this idea already but it was the right thing to do.
I frowned at the door when Jasper did not appear. Softly, I knocked and called out his name, feeling anxious for some reason. What if-? Oh, God, no, Skye, don't think like that. He wouldn't do anything stupid. Jasper was a smart guy.
But even the smartest people sometimes gave up when somebody they loved a lot hurt them.
"Jasper?" I called again but there was no answer.
With my heart in my throat, I turned the door handle and peeked inside. My mouth went dry at the sight in front of me.
Jasper, in the shower, facing away from me with his large hands braced on the opposite wall as the heavy spray of water pounded onto his big, tanned body. His entire naked back was presented to me. The broad shoulders and muscled back down to his tapering waist, tight buttocks and thick, long legs. Even his feet were large and intimidating.
I could not avert my gaze and for the life of me, I could not walk away. He was just standing there with his head bent and not even washing himself or anything. As though he had frozen in time.
"Jasper." My lips formed his name involuntarily and I gasped when he raised his head and turned to look at me.
We stared at each other as the water plastered his blond hair to his head and ran down his face and torso in rivulets.
He was the one who recovered first from the shock and frowned at me. "Skye, what the fuck are you doing? Get out of here."
His eyes were bloodshot, his features drawn in pain and it gave me confirmation that he had been crying. Because of me.
"I'm so sorry," I said to him, starting to cry myself because I wished I really could convince him how sorry I was. "I heard you on the phone. He told me it had nothing to do with me but that's not true, huh? I messed everything up."
His throat bobbed as he swallowed and continued to stare at me.
I realised my cheeks were wet and brushed at the tears again, taking a step towards him, wanting to comfort him. "Please believe me, Jasper. I...I never wanted to take him away from you. But I can't leave him now!" I cried, wiping my nose on my sleeve. "You saw what happened the last time. I can't do that to him again and I know you wouldn't want me to."
He sucked
