“Right.”
“Clara, your eyes are red from crying. What did that guy do to you?” he asks, studying me.
My lips start to tremble. Brandon comes over to me and pulls me into his arms, rubbing my back. “You’re a total babe. Any man would be lucky to have you. Fuck him.”
“Th- thank you for saying that,” I sniff into his chest.
“It’s the truth, doll,” he rumbles.
Such a nice guy.
Even if I could feel him hardening against me.
Awkward.
I pull away and offer him a forced smile.
A bang on the front door has me jumping. “Clara! Open the door!”
What the fuck is he doing here?
Brandon gives me an expectant look.
“Don’t answer. He’ll go away.”
*****
An hour later, Tag was still there.
I open the door and find him sitting on the floor, his face in his hands.
“Go home, Tag.”
“Not until you hear me out,” he says, dropping his hands, standing up, and letting his eyes roam over me.
“If you ever gave a shit about me, you’ll leave,” I say, my voice cracking.
“Clara—”
“I know, Tag. You gave me no promises. It’s okay. I’ll move on with my life. It will be fine.”
“I fucked up,” he says. “I thought I could carry on as I was, but I can’t. I thought I couldn’t commit to anyone, but for you, I can. I made a mistake. I didn’t sleep with her or anyone else.”
I purse my lips. “If I didn’t drop by today, would you have slept with her?”
He looks away and swallows. “I don’t want anyone but you. It took seeing you today to make me realise it. I never want to hurt you, Clara. I want to be the one taking care of you, making you smile. I know you won’t trust me now, but give me a chance to prove myself.”
“Tag, you were just with another woman. At your house. I don’t know what you expect from me.”
“Please, Clara,” he whispers, his eyes pleading with mine. “That look on your face. Fuck, I never want to see that look again.”
“Go, Tag.”
“I never even kissed her,” he says. “Her hands on me felt wrong. I don’t want anyone touching me but you.”
I smile sadly. “If only you’d figured that out before.”
“Clara—”
“Goodbye, Tag.”
I close the door and cry some more.
I ignore Tag for the next few days, even as hard as he makes it. He calls me, he drops by, and he sends flowers. He does everything he can to get me back. I find my own way to work, leaving earlier so I don’t have to run into him. Work is the only place I have no choice but to talk to him, but other people are always around.
“I miss you,” he tells me as he walks past. “When are you going to forgive me?”
“You’re never going to change, Tag.”
“I haven’t been with anyone since we got together, how is that not having changed?” he replies, looking frustrated. “I haven’t been perfect, but fuck Clara, I used to have women over every other night. You’re wrong. I have changed.”
“Why was she at your house?” I fire back.
He sighs, cringing. “She asked me out. I said yes.”
I throw my hands up, like ‘there you go.’
“My head was fucked up. You’d left to room with that guy closer to your age, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance?”
“They do,” I say slowly. “But when my heart is on the line, it’s not as easy as that, is it?”
He reaches his hand out, runs a finger along my jaw. “I messed up once, but I won’t do it again. That I can promise you.”
I don’t know what to think, but dammit, the ice around my heart is starting to thaw.
Tag kisses my forehead and then walks off.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath when I realise I was staring at his ass.
I want him, but he hurt me.
Could I trust him again?
*****
The next weekend, the club was packed. There was a live band playing, and the atmosphere was wild. Summer has been acting a little weird all night, but I ignore her and continue with my work. It’s not until later that I find out why.
“Clara?” when I hear Tag say my name, I look to the stage in confusion. He was standing there, looking sexy as sin, his brown eyes on me.
He clears his throat. “Clara, I just want to ask you… Will you be my woman? Officially?”
Cheers play out, and I can feel my cheeks heat.
He continues. “I want you to be mine, and I want everyone to know you’re mine. Oh, and you’re moving back in with me. You’re not fuckin’ living with another man. I love you, Clara.”
More cheers and catcalls.
“Get up there,” Summer says, nudging me.
“Oh and sorry to all the women. I’m off the market,” Tag says into the microphone, making everyone laugh.
I put down the tea towel in my hand and walk up to the stage. Tag jumps down and lifts me in his arms and spins me around, his lips finding mine.
“Is that a yes?” he asks, his eyes searching mine. “Please tell me you forgive me for fucking everything up.”
“It’s a fuck yes,” I reply, kissing him back with a vengeance. “I was already yours, Tag.”