Candy Apple Red-Book Two

Chapter 16 - A Shoulder To Cry On

THREE MONTHS LATER...

Seth's POV

A few months have passed since Brie jetted outta here like a bat out of hell back to Knoxville; it still feels fresh, like it happened yesterday. She obviously thinks that I had something going on with Rachel since she was there that night at the hospital. She had no prior knowledge that Rachel was working there as a PCA and only wanted to check on Mariah to ensure she was doing okay after her shift was over at 3:00 pm. She didn't even bother to listen to reason, either. I made every effort to explain the situation to her, and she wanted no part in it.  That woman is so stubborn, I swear! 

I attempted to contact her several times after that happened, but she never returned my calls. I can't figure out for the life of me why she just shut me out. I explained what happened over voicemail since she refuses to call me back, but I haven't heard a word from her. It's like she just disappeared. It would have been nice if she had just made one attempt to call me. It would have made a huge difference. 

I've been very alone in my grief. My best friend is busy being a new daddy, and I haven't gotten out much lately. I couldn't tell him anything about this even if I wanted to. Every day after I get home from work, I have the same routine, I tinker around in the garage and drink my sorrows away.  I know it's not the most therapeutic way to get over heartache, but it temporarily puts a bandaid over it, I can tell you that.  I just need a bandaid to get by right now. 

One evening in June, I come home and tinker around in the garage while drinking an entire case of beer as usual when I receive a surprise visit from none other than Rachel. I can tell you that what happens between us that night changes the course of my life permanently. 

"Hey Seth, are you doing okay?" she asks as she enters the garage. 

I snort and turn around to face my workbench, "Yes, I am fine. What do you want, Rachel?" I ask with an irritated undertone. 

She tiptoes closer, "I have been worried about you lately. You seem more on edge since Dylan and Mariah had a baby. Do you want to talk about it? I know he's your best friend and all. I'm sure it's tough on you having to get readjusted to life without him in it as much."

Geez, this girl has no f*****g clue what she's talking about, "No, it's fine. You can see yourself out." I tell her. 

She exhales audibly, "Seth, why are you so cruel to me all the time? What have I done to you to make you hate me so much? I don't understand it. I know we don't have much in common, but there is no reason we can't be civil with each other."

I relax my shoulders and sigh aloud. She has a point, though. Why am I such a d**k to her? There is no reason I should be cruel to her; she has done nothing to me, "You are right. I'm sorry, Rachel. Come and have a seat in the fold-out chair and hang out with me for a bit."

"Okay, I'll hang out for a bit. Remember, I'm a shoulder to cry on if you need one," she says reassuringly. 

I walk over and open up the refrigerator before turning back to her, "You want a beer?" I ask. 

She nods her head, so I grab a bottle and twist the cap before handing it over to her. I reach out and grab a second fold-out chair and situate it next to her, "So what have you been up to lately?" I ask her in an attempt to make friendly conversation. 

"I've just been working at the hospital. I am getting ready to start nursing school in January next year. I'm trying to save up enough money for a car first." she adds. 

I take a swig of beer, "Oh, that's nice. I'm happy for you." I tell her. 

"How's Brie doing in college?" she asks. 

I glance at her before lowering my beer between my legs. I know she's trying to get the scoop on us, "I don't know; I haven't heard from her." I answer while awkwardly standing up and trudging toward my workbench. s**t! I think I'm drunk; the room is spinning. 

"I thought you two were friends. Why haven't you heard from her?" 

I spin around and throw my hands up in the air, "I don't f*****g know, Rachel! Can we not talk about this?"

She snickers, "Well s**t, I must have struck a nerve there.  I'm sorry I brought it up."

I feel enraged at the moment after I am reminded why I don't care much for Rachel. She can't seem to mind her own f*****g business. Stay in your own lane, Rachel! I spin back around and place my hands on my workbench to stabilize myself. Suddenly, I can hear footsteps as she approaches me, but I don't turn around; instead, I place my head in my hands, resting my elbows on the workbench.  I'm startled, and my entire body jolts when I feel a warm set of hands-on my back. God, it feels good to experience a woman's touch. It's been too long, and I had forgotten how it felt, to be honest, "Wh..wh..what are you doing, Rachel?" I ask breathlessly. 

She runs her hands up my back and down my biceps. I look down as my erection grows; I can see the bulge in my jeans. You better stand down, traitor! Jesus, all this alcohol I've had tonight, and I still get a raging hard-on. f**k this! I have needs, and she is always down to f**k. I quickly turn around and pull her to me, jamming my tongue down her throat. "Is this what you want? You like it rough?" I ask. 

She nods her head and laces her fingers through my hair, and pulls me to her. f**k, if I close my eyes, I can imagine it's Brie in my arms. She sure doesn't feel like her or taste like her neither. She tastes like lipstick, where Brie always tasted like cherry flavored lip gloss. Her chest is flat compared to Brie's, but what the hell, I'm not that picky right now, "Lean on the workbench." I order her as I spin her around.  

She places her hands on the workbench to stabilize herself while she sticks her ass out towards me. I reach down and impatiently yank her pants down along with her panties before inserting a finger into her warm, wet p***y. Damn, she is ready for me, s**t! She moans with anticipation as I move my finger around, massaging her p***y walls, "I don't have a condom, f**k!" I cry out in an exasperated tone. 

"No worries, I'm on the pill. Don't stop." she chokes out.

I ran my erect c**k along her slit without hesitation, making it slick with her arousal before entering her.  The moment I thrust myself into her p***y, I realized I made a big mistake. My stomach was in knots over it. I couldn't stop myself, though. I needed to feel like a man again, and I was so sick of being alone. 

Rachel pushes her ass out to meet my thrusts, "You like that, huh?" I ask as I smack her bare ass cheek. 

"Yes, Seth! I love it! f**k me harder!" she cries out. 

I thrust my c**k inside of her harder and faster while I grasp her hips. I close my eyes so I can imagine that I'm pounding Brie's tight little ass. After a few moments, an old familiar feeling sweeps over me, "f**k, I'm about to bust a nut!" I choke out while keeping my eyes closed. 

As I tighten my grip around her thighs and pound her mercilessly, she cries out, "Seth, Oh my God, I love you!" 

As I hit my release, I cry out, "I love you too, Brie!" 

She gasps and freezes in place while I pull out before spinning around to face me, "What the f**k did you just call me?"

I realize that I just f****d up big time. I could have just not said anything back, but I somehow convinced myself that I was f*****g Brie at the moment, "I...um...I..." I start to say before she interrupts me. 

"You imagined that I was Brie while you f****d me, didn't you? Am I that disgusting, Seth?" she barks as she places her hands on her hips. 

"Rachel...I ...um...I am so sorry. I am drunk and not thinking straight. You are far from disgusting." I respond as I attempt to get my bearings. f**k me! The room is spinning. 

"Seth, How could you?! I really do love you. You are breaking my heart!" she cries out as tears stream down her cheeks. 

Now I feel like s**t. I stuff my c**k inside my boxers and zip my pants, "Rachel, I never meant to hurt you. That is why I pushed you away. I really think you are a great girl, but I..."

"You are in love with Brie, aren't you?"

I spin around to avoid eye contact with her, "I think you should go." 

"Seth, she isn't here! I am here, and I'm telling you that I love you. I am pouring my heart out to you and trying to be there for you while you are having a rough time to have you just kick me to the curb."

I turn and put my hand out to her, "Rachel, I am not trying to hurt you. Please don't do this to yourself. I don't even know why you have these feelings for me. We only went out a couple of times. We weren't even a couple. Not to mention, we have absolutely nothing in common. NOTHING! ZILCH!"

She covers her face with her hands, "I don't know why I love you. It doesn't make any sense. It kills me that you don't feel the same about me." 

"Listen to me, Rachel. It would be best if you forgot about me. I'm messed up; I'm no good, and I'm not right for you. You deserve something better. I'm sorry I can't be that guy for you, but I think you should go." I tell her. 

She stands before me, her lip quivering, her eyes wet with tears. I cross my arms in front of my chest, waiting for her to make a move. Suddenly, she lunges towards me, making a fist with her right hand before she strikes me across the jaw, knocking me to the floor as she sprints past me without saying a word. I lay on the ground in a daze as I try to make sense of what just happened until I hear her speed off in her car down the road, squealing her tires as she drives off. I sit up and rub my jaw. f**k! She has an arm on her. I deserved that, honestly. I can't even lie.  God, I am such a prick! I pull myself up to a standing position and grab another beer out of the refrigerator and sit down in the fold-out chair, drinking myself into a stupor for the rest of the night.