It Was Always You by S.L. Sterling (9)

Elliott had dropped me off around nine, after helping me in with my groceries. Once he was gone, I noticed how quiet the house was. I stopped putting everything away. I needed some type of noise.

Elliott had spent some time hooking up the TV in the living room and bedroom, so I went and put the TV on. I heard my cell go off in my purse and realized I hadn't checked my messages all day, which meant I hadn't sent Jen a text to let her know I had arrived safely. She was going to be freaking out.

Grabbing my phone, I typed my password in, and another message from Dean flashed across my screen. My shoulders tensed as I read it.

I felt sick. I wanted no reminders of him at all, so I erased all his messages from my phone and typed out a message to Jen. My phone started ringing seconds later, and Jen’s face popped up on my screen.

"Thanks for messaging. I've been worried sick about you. How's everything?” she blurted as soon as I picked up.

"Hey, Jen! Yeah, I'm sorry about that. It's been a long, busy day."

"How was the flight? Did Elliott pick you up on time?"

"No."

"What do you mean?"

I let out a tiny laugh. "Elliott didn't pick me up. Parker did."

"Well, well, well. Is he like you remembered or did he get all fat and ugly?" I could hear the laughter in her voice.

"Does it really matter?" I grew quiet. He had bulked up considerably since the last time I had seen him. I remembered the way his T-shirt stretched across his muscles. My center began throbbing at the thought.

"Really, you know, I was thinking…you guys were always so good together. We all thought you should have gone with him when he moved, even Elliott."

I frowned. "What are you saying, Jen?"

"I just think that it's never too late to give something another try? Is he available?"

Inwardly, I winced. I'd always known our breakup was a mistake. But to find out your best friend and your brother agreed didn't make it easier.

"Jen, I told you I didn't come down here to get involved with anyone. So it doesn't matter if he is available or not."

Jen knew me well—too well—and I was sure she already knew I didn't mean the words I had just said.

"So are you telling me that if he made a move on you, you would turn him down?"

I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks at the mere thought. "I'm not even going to dignify that question with an answer."

"That’s what I thought you'd say. It’s okay, though, because I know the true answer."

I stood there in the kitchen, biting my lip.

"It's sad that you can't admit the truth to yourself, Tatum."

"Jen, please let this go."

"How’s the new place?"

"Wait until you see it. You’re going to fall in love with it. It couldn't be more perfect. You’re still planning to come down in a month, right?" I questioned while pulling the kettle and a mug from one of the boxes in the kitchen and plugging it in to make a cup of tea.

"Of course, you know I'll be there." Jen got quiet for second and cleared her throat. "Tatum, I don't mean to sound like a broken record," she said, her voice growing serious.

"Then don't." I knew what was coming, and I didn't feel like listening to it.

"Have you talked to Elliott about what happened between Dean and you?"

I closed my eyes. I wanted nothing more than to forget about him. About all of it—about him hitting me and attacking me in that room and lying to me that night in my apartment. I hadn't even shared that part with Jen because I felt like a fool for thinking he wasn't still cheating on me.

"No, I haven't, and to be honest, I don't plan to. I've moved here to leave that part of my life behind, and that is what I plan to do. Elliott worries about me enough. I think it's unnecessary to add to that worry." I knew her heart was in the right place, but she needed to let it go already.

"Well, I wasn't going to tell you, but I think you should know. I am almost positive that I saw Dean at the airport when I was leaving. That message he sent you while we were there having coffee? He was watching us. Has he messaged you since you arrived?"

I was losing my patience. I knew she cared about me, and I was trying to keep that in mind. "I promise you, if he contacts me in any way before I get a new phone, I will tell Elliott. Do you feel better?" I poured the boiling water into my mug and headed into the living room to watch TV.

"I guess. I just hope you really will talk to him. I'm sure you’re tired, so I'm going to let you go. You better call me soon."

We said our good-byes, and when I hung up, I shut my cell phone off. As I sat watching TV, I couldn't help but feel exposed. The first thing I was doing tomorrow was putting up curtains, I thought to myself, looking out the window.

Making sure the front and back doors were locked, I made my way into my bedroom and crawled into bed. The noises were strange in the house. The fact that I had no curtain over the sliding door in my bedroom was driving me crazy.

Getting up out of bed, I took my old comforter and hung it up over the old curtain rod that was still attached to the wall. Feeling a little more secure with the small change, I crawled back into bed and nodded off to sleep.