I throw my legs over the side of Chrissy's bed and stand up. I stretch as I watch her slide on a pair of high-waisted slacks, pulling them up over her camisole. She eyes me in the mirror, specifically the nakedness below my waist.

I cock a tempting eyebrow at her. "Think you can handle another round? You were barely hanging on last night."

"Don't even temp me." She twists her hair into a tight bun on the back of her head before shaking her head at me. "I'm surprised I can even walk after the past week. You have quite the stamina."

"Hey, you are the one looking at me like a piece of meat right now." I laugh as I pull up my jeans. "You working today?"

"Yeah," Chrissy begins applying a coat of lipstick. "I'm working with your friend, Rae. You know you never really told me much about how you know each other or like things you guys did together as kids. You, her brother, and her were just childhood friends?"

Hardly. But I don't say that. Instead I go with, "there's not much to tell besides the basic stuff, honestly. I can give you a lift to work if you'd like."

"I'd like that." She gives me a giant smile in the mirror. "I'd like that a lot."

I smile but I'm frowning at myself internally because I know she wants more from me and the only reason I'd offered to give her a ride is because I want to see someone else. I want to see Rae. I want a chance to talk to her and the only excuse I have to do that is this girl.

When I had walked into the gallery that night and seen her there I felt like my insides were going to fall straight out onto the floor. She looked beautiful, as usual, but she also looked like she didn't give a single fucking shit that I was there with her coworker or that I was specifically there to fuck her coworker that night. She knew, I could tell, but she didn't even care. I'd clearly misread our hug at the restaurant a couple weeks ago.

She'd just shrugged us off like some casual acquaintances and I'd just stood there like a mute idiot knowing we were a hell of a lot more than that. At least to me we were. But there I was, once again, watching her leave with Liam, the better man. It was honestly something I was sick of seeing because it was just a big fat fucking reminder that she'd chosen him over me. Rae had one person to go home to at night and I had one too many these days.

All those things people had thought before about me sleeping around were now true. Whether people would believe it or not Rae was one of the only people, other than Sarah, that I'd actually slept with before. I'd had a few awkward sexual encounters as a teenager, even into my early twenties, but nothing serious, the loss of my virginity included. Cringe.

As much as I hate to admit it, Sarah taught me the majority of everything I know. Well, her and porn both had a hand in that. After my mother died I'd met Sarah. She became the only female presence in my life and she treated me like her personal property. I honestly didn't even mind her crazy, possessive personality at first because it made the sex all the better.

I was able to take all of that pain out on her in the bedroom and she had gladly let me, teaching me exactly how to do so along the way. She let me dominate her, let me fuck her relentlessly. She was mine to fuck and there was not one moment she let me forget I was hers after. But the only way Sarah fucked me hard was mentally.

Any time I'd try to break up with her she'd make sure I knew just how pissed off she was. Flat tires, busted windows, a screaming argument in a public place, and a smack or two across the face every now and again let me know I'd fucked up in some way or another. But then I'd just take her back to her place and fuck out all of my frustration with her, on her.

Even though she was nearly psychotic, she was mine and, because I'm usually not the type to indulge in sleeping around, I'd stayed with her. Over these past few months though I'd done my fair share of trying to forget Rae and I did that by taking other women to bed. I'd taken my fill but ultimately never felt full. I was never satiated, ever. It didn't matter how many times and there had been more than plenty.

Every time I was with someone there was just never enough sustenance there. It was just my dick, their pussy, and usually a fuck load of dirty talk. No one has fucked me like her. No one has taken me to bed and absolutely dominated me. Not one person. And I longed for it. I longed for her to take out her damage on me. I longed for her.

"Hurry up, Seth. We have to leave in five minutes." Chrissy's voice pulls me out of my thoughts but all I give her is a curt nod before throwing my shirt on.

✩✩✩

I walk Chrissy to the doorway, she gives me a kiss goodbye but I only partially reciprocate. I can't seem too caring, she might think I actually care. Unfortunately for her, at least I think she would think it's unfortunate, I really don't care. Yes, the sex was good and she was one of the most beautiful women I've ever been with, but she was now just a reminder of another person.

She walks inside and I peer through the window, seeing Rae staring at a piece of art. She's talking to someone but I can't see who, it's probably Chrissy. Liam walks up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, dispelling the previous notion. He presses his palms against her thighs and then slowly works them up every single one of her perfect curves until he cups her breasts through her blouse. She pulls away from him, swatting his hands playfully before he pulls her in for a long kiss.

I'm like a deer stuck in the fucking headlights. I'm like a witness to a horrible car crash. I'm just staring at them, knowing it's completely unhealthy for me. She pulls away from him again, telling him something before he places a quick kiss on her lips and swats her ass before he turns to leave. She's chuckling to herself as she turns to face the window, turns to face me.

Once her eyes find mine her movement freezes, her laughter stops. That happy look on her face dissipates into nothingness. Then there's a look, one that I'm sure I'm wearing as well. Hurt. But how I'd hurt her is a mystery to me. She's happy now. She has Liam.

✩✩✩

After walking along the stones that line the old streets outside of Quincy Market, for what seemed like hours, I'd finally stopped at a bar. A few drinks couldn't hurt, right? I'd been aimlessly walking around all day, blankly looking at the vendor carts that also lined the outside. I'd bought an endless amount of pointless shit but whatever.

  I'm sitting down at the far end of the bar away from the door, sipping my gin and tonic. I didn't ask Chrissy if she wanted a ride home and even if she'd asked I'd probably have bailed out anyway. I don't think I could take seeing Rae anymore. Well, Rae with him.

Watching Liam grab her like that, laugh with her like that, made me feel like I got punched in the stomach. Every single time that's how it felt, even several months later. I'm fucking pathetic. If sleeping with her coworker more than once just so I can catch a glimpse of her isn't proof of that then I don't know what would be.

"Hey Lou," a familiar voice calls to the bartender "can I get a green apple martini?"

"Sure thing, sunshine."

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Rae sits on a stool directly opposite of me, about twenty or so feet away and doesn't even look at me. She peers down at her phone and types, texting someone probably. She rubs her forehead with her fingertips afterward, like she's trying to rid herself of a mental image.

"What's got you all worked up, Rae?" Lou asks, sliding the glass to her. Apparently she frequents this bar often. Frequent enough it's tender knows her name and mannerisms.

"Nothing." He humphs in disbelief, crossing his arms over his chest at her response. "Fine. My coworker is sleeping with my ex and won't shut up about it."

"Yikes," He slings a rag over his shoulder. "That really sucks."

"It's not her fault, she doesn't know." Rae takes a sip. "I'm just tired of hearing about it."

"I'm sorry, sunshine."

Lou's attention is now directed at a couple sitting down and now his large body isn't obscuring me from her view anymore. She looks up and freezes the moment her eyes catch mine. She shakes her head and I can't read lips but I'm pretty sure she just said ooooooooooooof course.

I cock my head to the side and nod at the stool next to me. She stares at me for a moment but ends up hoping off her stool and walking toward me.

"Long day?"

"You have no idea." She drinks the rest of her drink as she sits herself down.

"Yeah, I heard your ex was sleeping with your coworker." She doesn't say anything, she just signals Lou. "The two of you never really dated though, so why does it matter who he's sleeping with?"

She swivels around in her chair irritatedly. "Are you kidding?" Her brow furrows. "Are you fucking kidding, Seth?" I sip my drink and shrug. "Wow. Guess that's why I never got an explanation."

"An explanation?"

"Yeah, as to why you fucking left me in the middle of the night. Why you left me after that... that-" Lou places the drink in front of her and eyes me suspiciously. "He's fine, Lou but I'll take two lemon drops." Lou nods and doesn't say anything as he takes my empty glass and walks away. "Are you serious about her?"

"Serious about who?" I feel like all I'm doing is asking questions out of confusion.

She rolls her eyes, "About Chrissy, Seth."

I laugh, "no, I just met the girl."

"And have already slept with her every night this week."

"How the hell do you know that?" I mean, she's not wrong, but still.

"Because I get to hear about all of the lovely things that happen between the two of you." She drinks the rest of her drink in a single gulp. "All of the amazing things you can do with your big cock."

Oh fuck. I did not even think about that.

Lou places the two shots down, one in front of her which she downs simultaneously and one in front of me. "Rae, you need to slow down," I said as I put my hand on top of hers.

"You know what, Seth?" She takes her hand out from underneath mine, snatches the shot in front of me, and downs it. "Shut. Up." She stacks the shot glasses one on top of the other. "Just shut the fuck up." Her voice is beginning to slur, so I'm assuming the four drinks she's had in about five minutes are quickly slipping into her veins.

"Do you want me to stop sleeping with her?"

She looks at me and shakes her head, "you do whatever you want to, Seth. Whatever the fuck you want. You want to torture me? Then go right ahead and do it because fuck me, right?"

"Rae, come on. That's not fair." I run my hand through my hair. "I didn't know who she was when I met her. I had no idea."

"But you know now." I don't say anything because she does make a point. "Exactly. Because fuuuuck me. Have a nice night, Seth." She goes to get off the stool and almost face-plants before catching herself. "Whoooooops."

"Rae, you alright?" Lou calls to her.

"Fine. I'm fine." She starts to giggle. "Everything is just fantastic, Lou."

"I'm going to take her home." I place a couple of bills on the counter, covering our drinks. "I'm a friend of the family." I reassure him when he gives me a questionable look.

"Rae, is he a friend?" He aims at her causing her to erupt in laughter.

"Yes," she says once she stops laughing . "He's just a friend." She lets out a hiccup.

"Take care of her." He says sternly to me and if I didn't know any better I'd think Lou had a thing for Rae.

"Don't worry, I will." I walk over to a now giggling Rae. "Come on, let's get you home."

"Just get me an Uber." She slurs, "you don't need to take me home," as we begin to walk out.

"No, I'm taking you home." I wrap my arm around her waist, holding her tight to me. "Now let's go."