Her Men (book 2)

Chapter 8

Teagan

Saying I forgave him came out easier than I'd ever planned in my head when I was 18 and his words hurt me like knives, worse than a punch or hit Leo ever gave me, I cursed him to hell and back hated him so much then and the idea of me forgiving him wasn't even a slight possibility. What he did hurt but I loved him and maybe that’s why it hurt so bad. But what about Leo , I loved him? And he hurt me? Why’d I stay, why’d I let him do what he did and continue to stay?

I hated Aiden when I left, months would go by and I'd let myself think of him, I'd type his name in the f*******: search bar and see his face pop up and click the profile and notice how he changed from gangly teen who used the high school gym for a few minutes a day to built and strong college athlete with a routine, I also noticed how insanely hot he looked now as an adult going through life’s trials and the man he was now.

I would check out his newly updated picture scroll back till I got to the 18 year old boy who broke my heart in to a million pieces. Then the feelings of hatred him returning and swore I'd never look at his face again, pissed off I'd close out of f*******: and tell myself to forget him all over again. Months would go by something would trigger a memory and I'd go searching again, new profile picture catching my eye and the cycle would continue, I never stayed far away maybe with each peek my heart thawed a bit he grew, I grew, things like stupid high school rumors seemed like insignificant issues to the ones I now had collage, bills, jobs, avoiding a punch or fight that could lead me to my grave. The walls I built never fulling coming down, but I definitely never let myself love the way I loved him, it wasn't till tonight that I realized how much my think my heart and mind wanted to hear his apology, his voice, tell me he was sorry and deep down I know that he meant it, despite the hurt I endured by the same voice, I think somehow knew I'd forgive him as easily as I did tonight. Eighteen year old Teagan would be so pissed right now.

I jumped in the shower to wash the day away as the water falls down my body I take in the fading bruises on my body, I will be glad when they are completely gone and I don't have to look at them, my scar from stitches a thick angry scab along my fore arm, the heat from the scalding water soothing my body but it stings when it hits the scab. Tonight's shower somehow feels different my heart and head, the weight I usually feel on my shoulders aren’t as heavy, I feel lighter and that makes me happy like I can some how breathe easier, I think about how the day started and how it has ended. I didn't see this ending when I woke up this morning this feeling, is a feeling I haven't felt In so long.

When I pull the sheets up under my chin I smile and drift off to sleep.

Aiden

Thinking about Teagan is nothing new but what makes today different when Im done getting ready I get to see her, she’s back. As excited as I am I have to play it cool. She knows the truth of how I felt about her despite what I did and her accepting my apology came surprisingly easily. Years of trying to perfect my apology, praying I’d get the chance one day and here she comes out of the blue, home. I had planned on weeks of groveling, weeks of the cold shoulder, her ignoring me, her avoiding me like the plague I didn’t expect her to talk with me on my first try. It still doesn’t even feel real that I just asked once to talk and she listened, accepted my apology with her usual cool as a cucumber smile and maybe thats what had me feeling a bit uneasy.

Was this too good to be true? Was it supposed to be this easy? had I hurt her so bad her heart really is ice cold now or did that mean I was just nothing to her now and my apology went in one ear and out the other, I meant what I said when I wouldn't take this 2nd chance with her for granted but man I kind of don't know what to do now. It just seemed TOO easy.

"Good morning" my mom smiled as I walked out of my door she was walking out of the bathroom.

"Morning ma, how are you feeling?" She follows me down the stairs to the kitchen. I go to the coffee maker before she does so she sits at the table, I add the coffee she likes, fill the water and flip the on switch

"Fine just like I knew I would be." She says with attitude

"I didn't mean to be nosy but I saw you and Teagan talking, how'd that go?" She smiles

"Ha, you trying not to me nosy huh?" I say

"Ok I heard your door open the front door open but no truck leaving so I got curious" she shrugs her shoulders, she stands and gets a coffee mug

I grab my keys and walk over to give her a kiss on the forehead as I kiss her I hear

"Don't be so afraid this time" she says quietly

"I know" I smile softly and walk out the front door as Teagan is pulling her house door closed. We meet at drivers side door, I have a huge brain freeze, lifting my arm like I was going to hug her, habit I guess but I quickly lower my arm when I see her scrunch her eye brows up and her arm raise like a flinch. I direct my arm to the door

"What are you doing?" She asks and backs a bit.

I quickly say “I was going to open the door for you? Why" I awkwardly say hoping she believes that then a hug I was going to try

"Oh, I'm completely capable of opening my own door?" She beats me to it and opens it "see" she says and slides in.

I run my hand through my hair, “sorry” and walk to the passenger side. Was that a flinch? Did she think I was going to hit her when I was going to hug her?

Teagan

I sit in silence, the space between us quickly turning awkward as I look out of the window, driving. We were never this quiet when we were young every car ride, one of our moms spent half the drive yelling at us to be quiet our laughter filling the car or kicks to the back seat because one of us said something at the time was the most funniest thing ever, and my dad would turn back and glare. Maybe I should have just let him open the door? But when I saw his arm I flinched out of habit I really hope he didn’t catch it. I tried to play it off.

"Thanks again for letting me borrow your truck as soon as I can get my own vehicle here I will" I say like I have one coming, or like I even will be saving for that right now I just need enough to get out of this town and far far far away that Leo can even find me. I'd be safer with a cash, bus ticket that can't be traced or a plane ticket to a different state.

"No worries I have the work truck take your time" he says quietly

We pull into a oil field office portable , it's small but they have builders working on what looks like will be a larger office building.

"This is new?" I ask

"Yea maybe a month or so, I was the first hire I didn't plan on working but the job was too easy to pass,"

"So you staying in Woodrock permanently?"

"Yea I think so, my moms doing better but who knows, I don't want to be far away if something were to happen" he says

"How is she after her fall?"

"She says she's fine we don't need to worry."

"Well good, she's a tough cookie plus she's a PA I'm sure she'd know first if she needed a doctor" he parks and I see a few other workers walking around getting ready to start their day

He shows me where to park and I do but don’t turn the engine off as he unbuckles. Again quiet awkwardness settling in, A loud knock at my window, makes me jump, a red headed man says “Let’s go..”but stops when he sees me and then looks at the passenger to Aiden, “ohh sorry” he says. I look back at Aiden and smile “Thanks again Aiden"

"No problem, you have a good day T" he says returning the smile and closing the door behind me, I haven't heard his nickname in years and my heartaches at the sound.