BETH.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Tony said as he patted my head slowly. We’re still in the hug position, and with my head on his chest, it was easy for him to pat my head. In some way, I found it amusing and soothing, but I couldn’t just let him have his way with me anyhow he likes. I wasn’t fine with the way he only always comes to me whenever he had a fight or wasn’t on good terms with Lara. It was tiring.
Thinking of this, I pulled away from the hug and wiped my tears off my face. I was about to walk further into the sitting room when he pulled me by the arm to face him. I jerked his hand away gently and looked at him, he stared at me confusedly.
“Why did you pull away? Are you okay?” He asked me, a sincere look of concern on his face.
“Why are you here?” I simply asked, sounding uninterested in his questions.
“Uh, to see you, of course. What else would I be doing here aside from that?” He asked and shrugged. “I mean yeah, I saw the video of what Lara did to you at the event, and I couldn’t just let you be by yourself. I guessed you wouldn’t be okay after that, so I came to check up on you and make sure you’re doing fine.” He explained.
I scoffed and looked away. “So, you care. Wow,” I said.
I heard him chuckle slightly, but it stopped as quickly as it came. “What are you talking about? You’re telling me that you have no idea I care about you? Or you just don’t believe it?” He asked, but I didn’t give him a reply. “Do you want me to prove it?” He asked again, but I still didn’t reply to him, looking away. “Fine,” he said and touched my arms but I jerked his hand away, making him move backwards a little.
I turned to look at him. My chest felt a bit heavy, and I was going through a hurting phase already, I didn’t want to put myself in another one. “What? Aren’t you only here because Lara left you?” I blurted out and I could see that his face stiffened, as his face went a bit sore.
“Beth, you need to understand that-”
“That I’m a second choice and that’s all I’ll ever be. Of course, that’s what I’ve always been to every one! A second choice! It’s funny that I was acting blind to it before, but I can’t do this anymore. You only come to meet me when you and your lover are not on good terms! Why? Because you see me as another girl that you can get into her pants and find solace in between her legs, pending the time you’ll get back with your real partner. Isn’t that what you take me for?” I asked him and shook my head continuously. “I am not stupid or dumb, Tony. I’m an adult too, and I have feelings. I’m tired of getting used to or being taken as a second chance. So, please, I’d appreciate it if you can also stay away from me.”
He folded his arms and let out a sigh, before running his forehead gently with his right hand. “You are overthinking this, Beth. I came to you because I truly feel for you, and I figured that you weren’t like other girls. You’re an honest and loyal lady, and I admire that a lot about you. I didn’t choose you because anyone left. To me, you’re not a second chance. You need to believe-”
I cut in, unable to believe his words. He was a man after all, and through my years of falling in love, I’ve heard a lot of their lies and it is hard to believe him now. “Do you think any sane lady would ever believe what you’ve just said?” I asked and scoffed, unconvinced by his words. “Tell me, would you be here if Lara wasn’t a cheater? If the pregnancy she was carrying was yours, would you come back to me? What if she was good to you, would you even remember that I existed somewhere?” I paused, while he just stared at me without a word. “You wouldn’t! If it didn’t get busted with her, you would never have remembered me. After all, you only remember there’s a Beth somewhere whenever you’re down.” I let out all my anger and hurt, and after speaking up, it felt less heavy. In a way, I felt better.
“Have you said everything in your mind?” Tony finally asked some seconds after I was done ranting. The way he spoke calmly, I would have sworn that my words didn’t affect him in any way. “Or do you want to tell me more?”
“I’ve said all I have to say. When you’re done, you can always return to your Lara, the door is always open.” I said and turned to leave, but he was quick to pull me back.
“Don’t you think it’s only right for you to give me a chance to prove my sincerity?” He asked.
I scoffed. “All men do is lie. I used to believe in you all, but for once, I’ll agree with Lara’s words. You men don’t deserve love. You see ladies that give you true love from the depth of their hearts, but you decide to fuck it up, hurt them and go for a lady that cheats. Why? Because you find the latter sexier and more beautiful.” I said and chuckled sadly as my mind went to all the men I’d been with and how we all ended. I let out a sigh.
Life is cruel to the sincere ones.
“Beth, I can say a lot of things, and still not be sincere with it. But now, I don’t want to say much, I want to prove it to you, and that would never happen if you don’t let me.” He said and moved closer to me but I stepped backwards. Then, he stopped. “I want to prove to you that you are not a second chance. I love you, and I honestly care about you.”
He walked closer to me and I moved back a bit. But he didn’t stop, he continued to move closer and closer to me. I took a few steps back until my back was against the restroom wall. Then he began to close the distance between us, caging me in with his arms. I couldn’t explain it, but my heart was beating so hard and my skin felt strange chills.
He leaned in, his lips grazing the lower part of my neck, and to me, it felt really good. My body became aware of the heated closeness and it made me feel things in my lower belly, things that made me giddy and dirty. I shouldn’t be having such thoughts at this moment. I needed to maintain my stability, but I just couldn’t. Tony had an effect on me that I couldn’t quite explain.
“I want to build forever with you, Beth. So, please, let your guard down and let me in.” He said against the crook of my neck as he used one of his hands to touch my stomach. “I want to watch my child grow, and I want to do that with you and you alone. All you need to do is trust me, and I promise not to hurt you.”
The words touched my heart a lot and at that point, I decided to give in. I decided to trust him. And the first time with Tony, I initiated the kiss.