Tempting - Chapter 30: Getting a lil Farther

"Calvin, you don't need to tell me the truth. I get it if its something personal, but just know I

won't get mad or anything if you do."

"I know. I've just been stressed out a little." I lay back against the couch, feeling the chill surface

of the leather cool me through my shirt. I've noticed that David has been using his downstairs

office a whole lot more then his upstairs one. Maybe it was because of me?

"I was actually going to tell you a little story on Friday but I had that meeting."

"Yeah, I remember." I mutter, still torn on whether I should ask David about what I had heard

from Coldren in the bar. It still made my stomach clench to think about it.

"Right now can be as right of time as any... I haven't told anybody this, but when I was younger I had a childhood friend named Brandon. We were really close, almost inseparable. This was at the time when my Mom and Dad were constantly fighting, the time before she left us. Please don't feel any pity." I nod, waiting for him to continue.

"This is before my Dad's company blew up, when he was still starting out. Brandon and me always played by the swings of an abandoned park because there was usually no one there. We liked that it was only us, no one else. It was like we were on top of the world... When my Mother left, my Dad decided to do so too. He wanted to move to the city so his business could have more traction. And of course I didn't want to go because through those years of knowing Brandon I fell in love with him. Deeply in love, but didn't have the balls to tell him how I felt..."

"...What happened after?"

He breathes in deeply.

"Me being the asshole I am I left with my dad. I was 18 at the time, I could've just rented a apartment or something just so I could still be with him, but instead I chose to leave so I wouldn't hurt my Father."

"Y-You weren't being a butthole David. He probably understood." I say solemnly. Even though

David is sharing something personal with me and I should be feeling 100% sorrow, I can't help

but feel slightly hurt that David had an important person in his life previously that he says he

loved. I feel wicked that I can even emit jealously right now. What is wrong with me?

"Well, whether he understood or not I would never know now."

"What do you mean? Did you lost contact with him?"

"Kind of... But I won't be able to ever contact him again." He rubs his hand over his face.

"He's dead."

My heart skips a beat as he let's those words fall like a bag of bricks from his lips. Instantly my

breath gives out and I grab David's arm as if that would help alleviate his pain.

"What? When-"

"He was in a car accident a year after I moved to the city. Friends were drunk and he was in the backseat. Flew right through the car's front. I didn't get word from my town until a month later. A man who I barely knew working in a auto place had called me when none of my friends had. He said he was looking all over for my number."

"David I-"

"People who I knew for years decided to not call me on that day. I couldn't even attend his funeral because it already passed. I thought they were the ones I could depend on, but all they did was keep that important thing away from me. Took that away from me. His whole family thought I didn't care because I didn't show up for the funeral."

I did something that even surprised me. I grab him by his shoulders and hug fiercely, praying

that he wouldn't push away. With my chin squished against his broad shoulder I feel him freeze

in my arms, but then gradually soften, warming to the hug. Well, if that's what you can call it.

I can tell that he hasn't been intimate with anybody like this in a while, and I should know, I

haven't either. Our crooked hug only lasts for a few moments, but in those moments I am able

to feel his heart beats, smell his pine scent, see the flush on his neck. Experience David

vulnerable.

"I had no idea you lost someone so important to you." I soothe, rubbing his back. He hangs on

tighter as he lets out a long sigh. Once we pull apart I can tell that something has changed

between us. David runs his fingers over my chin as I inspect the dark circles under his eyes that

are just now apparent to me.

"It happened years ago, I should just let it go..."

"Pain doesn't go away with time. It's a knife wound that's... that's deep David." I think back to things in my childhood that I would rather forget forever, things that still maim me till this day.

"But you have to find a way to heal yourself enough that you can live with that pain but also be happy."

"I feel like I can't do that. I keep trying to find something of resemblance in other people, giving them expectations that I had with Brandon. I know its not right, but I feel like I'm in a loop."

I grab his robust hand as I smile drearily.

"I still haven't found the answer to my own pain yet and I think I punish myself for it sometimes. Even without knowing it follows me everywhere, but I still cling to hope that it gets better. I mean, I got you right? Things got significantly better once you got in my life."

"Calvin, you're good person and I don't want to hurt you."

"And you're not. I would know because I have gotten hurt in the past. I just... that night on Friday when I came to your office. I- I just need you to be honest with me." I stare at the tan skin of his

hand and the veins acting like bridges all the way to his wrist. I inhale deeply.

"Were you and..." I choke on my words,

"Ms. Collete d-doing anything?"

"Me and Ms. Collete... how do you know about that?"

"Someone told me."

"Who?"

"So its true." I counter, feeling my grip on his hand slightly tighten. I let go as I feel a deep pain in my heart.

"Calvin, its not what you think."

"Then what is it? A fling? Are you hauling her a long like you're doing me?" I say without even thinking.

"If I could tell you I would, but I can't. I swear, its not what it looks like. Whoever gave you this information gave you the wrong piece of it."

"Then tell me the truth David."

"I can't. I'm sorry..." He stands up gradually, readjusting his tie as I stare up at him

dumbfounded. Why can't he just admit to me that Ms. Collete is his girlfriend? The fact that he's

still lying to me makes me feel a sharp pain through my gut like a knife.

"I need to get back to work Calvin. I'm really appreciative that you listened to me. I think you should get back to work too." With that, he sits behind his desk with a nonchalant expression on his face.

I nod slowly, my eyes stinging as I leave his room. I see Ms. Collete walking around the lounge

area, reprimanding anyone that were not meeting their quota for work. Even though I want to

despise her, and I really do, I just can't pull myself to do it. I feel like we've both been played and

its a sickening feeling to have.

What was I expecting? I walk all the way to my room but stop when I see Chelsy eyeing me

suspiciously by the snack stand. She eyes me slowly up and down and then scowls. I look down

at the marble ground and walk into my office, just ready to get my day over with.

Calvin's heart is in shambles, Ms. Collete still being herself and Chelsy still making a fool. Lets see how these ingredients fair Calvin in the next chapters ;) Vote if you want to!