Standing there looking back down the road, I battled with myself over going to him now. My dad’s warning about avoiding confrontation had me walking toward Creed’s house. I didn’t want to be my dad. I loved him, but he had left a lot of pain in his wake.
It wasn’t Creed I saw when I came around the corner of his house but a female. One I recognized from the apartment in Boston, Ember. I stood there staring at her as she laughed at something as she walked toward the back of the house, carrying a Louis Vuitton duffle over her right arm. She was staying it would seem.
So many emotions churned inside me and I just watched it all unfold. I didn’t move to go find Creed. I didn’t walk toward my house. I wasn’t sure I could. This wasn’t what I was expecting to see. He had said the ball was in my court and after a week of no communication he is back to his old girlfriends…or had he ever stopped them?
Creed walked out the back door this time and was headed toward his Jeep when his gaze landed on me standing there at the end of his driveway. I was sure I looked as lost as I felt. I didn’t belong here. I hadn’t been invited yet I watched him.
He didn’t make a move toward me but I heard a female voice call out something and Creed looked back over his shoulder and replied. I was too far away to hear what was being said. I was thankful for that. One less thing to haunt my dreams. I needed to make my legs work and start home.
Dropping my gaze to the ground and away from his, I managed to start moving again. My legs felt heavy and everything my dad had said seemed pointless now. The last time I’d been broken over Creed Sullivan no one had been able to fix me but Griff. I didn’t even have that now. I didn’t deserve it.
“Sailor.” Creed’s voice stopped me from walking in the house just as I opened the door. I glanced over my shoulder to see him in my backyard. He’d stopped coming near me, but he was close enough that I could hear him easily enough. “I gave you time.”
I laughed then. Loudly and slightly frantic. “A week. You gave me a week,” I told him then shook my head in disbelief. Did he honestly think that was a good excuse? He had been in my house having sex with me less than two weeks ago and now he is having a sleep over with Ember. No. I was not okay with this.
“You went to Boston last night,” he said with clear accusation in his tone.
Angry now, I turned completely around to face him. “Yeah, I did. How the hell do you know where I went?”
He shrugged. “Does that matter? It’s a fact.”
I glared at him and took a step in his direction. “My going to Boston to spend time with my father who I never see is reason enough for you to bring that woman back to your house? Right under my nose? I’m sorry, Creed, that I made you wait a week then spent time with my dad. Please forgive me!” I was yelling now and I didn’t even care. It felt good. I needed to scream.
“I thought you were with Griff,” he said.
“I know exactly what you thought, Creed. But no. I cheated on Griff with you. Sweet, kind, loving Griff who would move mountains for me. I chose you. Not my brightest moment,” I said it before I could stop myself and I saw him wince. I wasn’t one to say things to hurt others, but I wanted Creed to hurt. He’d hurt me and I wanted to hurt him.
Creed looked away from me and shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his leather coat. He said nothing and I didn’t know what else to say. A large portion of me wanted to apologize for what I said but the other part was too selfish.
“Why don’t you think about this, Sailor, if Griff is so fucking perfect then why wasn’t he making time to see you? Call you? If what you had was so great, why did you have sex with me? I can’t think of one damn thing the guy did for you that was selfless. Maybe if you’d open your eyes and,” he stopped then and closed his mouth. Shaking his head, he turned and headed back toward his house.
“Say it!” I called out to him. Whatever it was and however hurtful it would be, I wanted him to say it. If just to make us even.
He paused and turned back to me. “I didn’t sleep with Ember. I was never planning on it.” He said nothing more then turned and started walking away again. No more words. No more anger. He was just gone.