In Too Deep

Temptation and Truth

Nicks POV: I watch Tara leave the bathroom and I realize what just happened. My heart is still racing, and my hands are shaking, and I'm not going to lie. I don't regret it, but I really think I got caught up at the moment and the wave of emotions that in felt when I saw her for the first time in so many years. *f**k! Did I just ruin the chance I had at getting her back? Oh s**t Becky! I am currently engaged to this absolutely beautiful woman and I just cheated on her with Tara. The reality is setting in on what I just did, but if I'm being honest, if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would. I mean I love Becky but Tara, she was my first love, my first EVERYTHING! How the hell do I tell her about Becky, I mean, should I? I'm pretty sure if I do she will definitely never talk to me again. I mean the whole reason we ended in the first place was because I made the stupid decision, a dumb mistake of cheating on her and now, I've cheated again, but with her on Becky. I threw my hat down on the floor and wiped my hands across my face in frustration. I definitely did not see this coming. I thought for sure I was over her, but I mean clearly, I was wrong!

I wash my face in the sink and pick up my hat. I take a minute to collect myself before leaving the bathroom and head back to the room. When I open the door, everyone turns to look at me and I now know for sure everyone knows.

TJ gets up and high fives me with the biggest grin on her face, "I knew it. I f*****g knew it man!!!! I knew you were gonna go after her."

I KISSED TARA!!!! I screamed loudly a few times, because the excitement was rushing through me and now everyone knows.

Nick: dude you totally hyped it up, so you are to blame here, due.

I steal glance at Tara, smiling at her but she didn't meet my eyes. I walked back to sit next to her and saw my phone in her hands. She saw the text that came through, s**t! I left my phone on her seat. Britt texted me and the look on Tara's face is one I never thought I would have to see again, it brought me back to the time we ended. When she handed me my phone without saying a word, I know she's overthinking this, she always does. f**k is all I can think.

Tara's POV: I got back into the room and TJ hits me with the famous eyebrow raise. I know she knows but she hasn't said anything but the grin on her face and everyone else says it all.

I hear Nicks phone being and realize its on my chair I pick it up simply to put it on his chair but seen a text from "WIFE". I feel stunned, especially considering what just happened. f**k! Not again Nick, not again is all I can think.

Liz is looking at me strangely and looks between Nick and I. She shakes her head at me and I hit her with a WHAT?

Apparently, Liz knew something I clearly didn't.

Liz POV: Im so excited to be here with my friends again, and we were all having a great time. I didn't think anything of it when Tara left the room. But as soon as Nick got up to follow her I knew something was up and I was truly hoping that it wasn't what I thought it was. Tara has always worn her heart on her sleeve and is really sensitive, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, but Nick is my cousin.

The night we all realized we knew each other. After we all stopped talking to go to bed, Nick and I started texting to catch up and I found out that he was engaged to Becky. She seemed cool and all I mean, I never met her, but she seemed to be so in-love with Nick from what I heard and saw during our little video chat session. When I saw Nick was heading out behind Tara; I knew something was up and I could already see where this is heading. I just hoped to God it wasn't true.

I pulled out my phone to text Tara and ask what happened. After the play by play she gave me. I knew I had to tell her.

I told everyone I wanted to sit outside for a smoke & get some air. I asked Tara to come with me, especially considering this isn't the "safest" neighborhood.

That earned me a few eye rolls, but f**k it, I have to check on my bestie.

We grabbed our jackets and went downstairs. I made some small talk to "check her temperature". When Tara is this quiet she tends to be a ticking time bomb and I have a lot of experience defusing this bomb, so I had to make it my business to get her to make her spill. I had to make sure she got it all off her chest & TJ and I are the only ones who could.

TJ was way too excited and totally missed the icing Tara gave Nick, so I decided to let Nick have the room with everyone else just to let the "guys" of the group talk s**t out.

We went outside and I started my cigarette. Okay b***h spill.

That's all I needed to say to get her talking and she let it rip!

Tara: How the f**k could he do this s**t ! Like really what the whole f**k!! Am I the only one that didn't know he's f*****g married? I mean you know how I feel about cheating? Liz, I told you about what the f**k he did to me when we dated and I thought he changed. It had been so long, but it was stupid of me to move that fast and think he had grown up. What the f**k.

I listened to the play by play of how it all went down, and I can see that there is a lot she left out of that short paragraph she texted me. She asks me if I knew. I'm hesitant to tell her yes, but I mean, after all, how could I have known what Nick was planning?

I'm honest with her and say yes, I found out the night we discovered we were cousins, but I told her I had no idea Nick would try this and explained that sometimes when you see someone, old feelings rush back and try to defend Nick a little. After all, I've been in a situation where old feelings rushed back after not talking for a while, but this crap here, I wouldn't even have done.

Hmm i guess that is true, is all Tara says, but I talked to her a little more about how he could have been feeling and the fact that when we act on impulse we tend not to think it though, and maybe just maybe he was scared to tell her. I can tell I'm getting through to her.

I tell her she's not leaving because I know her and, regardless of how much she may seem like she's understanding, I know she's more than likely still considering leaving, and with that I choose to take her keys. I tell her to hand them over and hold my hand out. Tara I know how you get when you are like this and you just can't leave like this. KEYS NOW. You're not going to leave and I haven't even had my bestie time. We all haven't seen each other in way too long & s**t just can't end like this. Got it? I say to her and grins and hands them over. I stick them in my pocket and offer her a cigarette.

I tell her we can move on from this, It's not that serious... Not sure if I'm trying to her or convince myself, but we have to try.

I mean this the first time we all got together like this and I refuse to let it be the last and I'M DAMN SURE NOT GOING LET IT END LIKE THIS! The night is young, and we all had a lot to drink, emotions are running high right now, I say that many times to her, so she gets it through her head. Once it sinks in, I hear her sigh a little, and say, yeah, I guess you're right. He's probably wasted and made a mistake. I made plenty of mistakes and poor choices when drinking.

She curses him out a little bit more just to get it all off her chest completely.She is still crying still due to feeling, in my opinion, kind of dumb, taken advantage of , maybe even embarrassed? When Bishop comes outside, she hugs him and I see this look on his face the way he looked at her. I try to brush it off because we've all been drinking and maybe I'm just seeing things weird right now... right?

Bishop POV: Alright Nick Spill.

That's all I needed to say and Nick when on a tangent. We had to make him slow down and sit, because his pacing was making everyone dizzy. I listened to him speak, and I really hated the way this s**t went down. I mean, let's be honest here. I had the biggest crush on Tara for years, but being the man I am, I always tried my best to hide it. I really thought that tonight, this night, was going to be the night I came clean about my feelings and get the girl, but this f*****g Nick character beat me to the punch. When Tara got up to head to the bathroom, I was deciding if this was the best time to go and when I got the courage to get up, Nick was already halfway to the door. Damn IT! Is really all I could think at that moment.

*Nick*: I think I totally f****d up.

Okay man, slow down, what happened?

Nick started pacing the floor back and forth quickly. Before he lets it all out.

*TJ* Dude calm down man, just start from the beginning. I know I hyped you up, but Brotha, what's the problem man?

You came in all smiles. What the f**k happened from then to now? I'm kinda lost.

*Bishop* Yeah chill, just tell us what's wrong?

*Nick* Okay, so I followed her into the hall. After she finished using the bathroom, she opened the door. I stood in the middle of the door way, blocking her from leaving and led her back in the bathroom. I closed the door and pushed her against the sink, i lifted her up and sat her on the sink & kissed her. She was shocked but quickly recovered. We kissed and felt each other up and when I went for her jeans, she stopped me. I mean I get it, it's been some time since then and a lot has changed for us both over the years. It's been a long time since her and I were together, but f**k man!

I listen to him rant on and, honestly, I think I see where this is going, and I'm going to be honest here. It hurt, and pissed me the hell off that she kissed him back. Those lips should be mine to kiss, and she f*****g let him kiss her. Damn it Tara! I keep my poker face on and listen to him go on and on, but I'm getting mad, and from the way he is reacting I get the feeling I'm not going to like this ending.

*Nick* OK, when I got back in the room, She had my phone and *sighs* so guys, just listen before you bite my head off, ok?

-We both nod...-

*Nick* So uh I'm engaged and I never said anything to her. So when she came back in the room, she picked up my phone that I left on her seat and my Fiance had texted me, and it says wife as her contact name with a picture of us kissing, so she has clearly seen it and probably thinks I'm married and after what just happened between us, she is never going to speak to me again and FFUUCCKK!!!! I really messed up and I need to talk to her and explain everything.

TJ and I both stare at him stunned and in complete silence for a minute, this f*****g asshole! What the f**k,

*TJ* So let me get this straight, your engaged, but you literally just had a make-out session with my baby mama?...

*Nick* ...Yes

*Bishop* Real Nice Nick, I shake my head. I can honestly say I did not see this coming.

So you didn't think that was valuable information to share prior to telling TJ your plan to "win her back".

*TJ* You really s**t the bed here Nick, I mean seriously, you know how Tara is and especially her views when it comes to cheating, and now you've put her in a position of being the other woman, & unknowingly at that.

*Nick* I was going to tell you guys, all of you, and I wasn't thinking. When I saw her, I just don't know. I wasn't thinking of Britt, I didn't plan for that to happen like that. I just went to talk to her but when she opened the door, I couldn't help myself.

*TJ* For god’s sake, Bishop, can you go check on Tara & Liz? They have been out there for a while and I don't doubt she has plans to leave. You know how she is. She knows the kids are always good here with me, but I just don't want her to drive off more than likely pissed the f**k off.

*Nick* I have got to talk to her...

*TJ* NO! Nick SIT! SIT THE f**k DOWN! YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH.

Nick sits down and talks it over with TJ in detail and I can hear TJ giving Nick advice about how to talk to her and emphasizing how he has to apologize.

*Bishop* I'm gonna talk to her. Maybe I can keep her from leaving and we can do some sort of mediation.

*TJ* Cool, sounds good, have them come back up when she's calm, we have to fix this or this whole night is screwed.

I made my way downstairs after throwing on my coat, I hope she's okay. I peeked out the window on the door. She was crying. I hate seeing women cry and Tara is extremely sensitive. I should have followed her when I had the chance. This could have all been avoided. I got to the door and heard Tara still going off and Liz comforting her. Nice job Liz! I thought to myself and open the door and I pulled a crying Tara into my arms. I hugged her until she stopped crying and told her it was going to be okay and that TJ wanted them upstairs. Tara and Liz both roll their eyes and say "yeah, f**k that" at the same time, Geeze. These chicks are always in sync.

I convinced them to come in and, with Liz's help, Tara agreed. We proceeded to walk upstairs, and I was wondering what was about to unfold next? Seeing how this night had turned out so far, It's safe to assume a hell of a lot more. Chaotic. * sighs *