Listen to Circles by Post Malone

"I know it's all a lie, I know you're not pregnant"

I stared at him not sure of what to say.

"Sorry, it took me so long to figure it out."
I just smiled softly in response.

"Chlo."
He moved closer and held my face in his hands

"I messed up big time, what I did was very stupid. I can't imagine how hurt you felt that day, I should have stayed and fight for you. I should have proved to everyone that bastard was lying. I'm so sorry, Chloe."
I pulled away putting some space between us.

He looked hurt and I could see the guilt in his eyes.

"It's fine Grey, it's in the past now."
I said, avoiding his eyes.

"I'm probably the worse boyfriend on earth."

"Was."
I corrected him.

"Right."
He mumbled and looked down at his feet then back at me.

"It's all my fault, I should have done something. I was so stupid."
He groaned and punched the air.

"That bastard..."

"Don't call him that."
I cut in, he looked surprised.

"Chloe, he ruined your life, he took everything away from you. Are you happy here? Why did he do it? Did he tell you? Why is he keeping you here?!"
He screamed the last part.

"I don't know but I'm glad to be far away from the people who broke my trust. The people I thought will fight for me and have my back in every situation."
I said with my arms folded.

"You can move in with me, stop playing along with his lies. I will speak to your family, I will try and convince them."

"Good luck with that."
I heard Tristan's deep voice from behind, it almost made me jump. I thought he was angry?

I saw Grey's jaw clench and his hands fisted. He looked like he wouldn't mind committing murder on the spot.

"How did you get past the bodyguards at the gate?" Tristan asked.

"I told them I was family and showed them a picture of me and Chloe," Grey shrugged.

"You think you're smart huh?" Tristan snickered.

"Lying f**king bastard!"
Grey spat.

"Grey, calm down." I said, too scared to witness a fight.

"Yeah, calm down."
Tristan said wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.

"You have ten seconds to leave before I call the cops and charge you for trespassing, I'm sure you didn't enjoy your last stay in there."
He added leaning closer to my cheek and pressing his lips to my temple.

I took a glance at Grey, his eyes were drilling into where he held me.

"Drop the act, there's no audience for you to entertain with your filthy lies!"

"Act?'
Tristan laughed softly, I could feel the vibration from his body.

I pushed his hands away and shot him a glare, he wasn't helping.

"You should head home, it's getting late."
I told Grey.

"I don't know what you're up to but if I find out, I won't hesitate to tell the whole world, and if you hurt Chloe..."

"I will never hurt her."
Tristan cut in taking my hand, he gave it a light squeeze.

"You've hurt her already you moron, your lies and..."

"Grey, please go home."
I begged.

"I will be back."
He said more to Tristan than to me. I watched him walk back to his car.

I pulled my hand away and entered the house. I went back to my drink, I sat on one of the couch and gulped the alcohol. I was starting to feel the effect.

Tristan stood behind the couch with his arms folded, there was a long silence between us.

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier, " he said.

"So, how old is Nadia now? Are you still seeing her mother? Why were you kicked out of their lives?"
The questions kept flying out of my mouth without control.

I waited for him to say something but he was quiet.

"How did you know?"

"Research."

I looked behind me and found him walking away.

"There goes the typical Tristan, always running away like a chicken."
The alcohol was really taking over. He stopped and turned around.

"You know, I was starting to think this thing between us was real but you won't even give me a chance."

"You left me with no choice! I'm sick of the secrets." I yelled.

"So, you had to go behind my back? You do that every time and expect me to be cool with it. Well, I hope you're satisfied now."

"No, I'm not. I wanna know if you're still seeing her mother."

"Why don't you figure that one out yourself just like you found out about Nadia."
He said walking closer.

"And to think I made up my mind to apologize for ruining the birthday surprise."

He said sounding disappointed.

"You don't have to know about my past. You know how I feel about you, you don't have to go around digging for secrets that will tear us apart."

"I want to!"
I stood up and moved closer.

"I hate that you're keeping things from me. It's been four freaking months!"
I said breaking down in tears, must be the alcohol.

"Don't you think I deserve the truth after what you did to me?"
I asked stepping closer. He said nothing but stare at me.

"I can't be in a relationship where I feel left out, Tristan. A relationship is about trust, sharing your pain, and struggles with each other. I want to know, stop making feel like a kid that can't handle anything that comes her way."

"I can't with you right now," he said and began to walk away.

"I'm sure they left you because of the beast you are!"
I screamed as his figure disappeared.

I slumped on the floor in tears, I didn't even know why I was crying but I was frustrated. I was angry at myself, I gulped more drink as I cried. I grabbed my phone and called Vina.

"Hello. So how did it go? From the time you're calling, I'm guessing it didn't go well."
She asked.

"Vina."
I sobbed.

"Chlo? Are you okay?"
She sounded alarmed.

"No, I'm a big mess."
I cried.

"Are you drunk?"
I wanted to deny but she knew the answer already.

"Kind of."

"What did you do?"
She groaned.

I told her everything that happened since I came back from her place.

"Oh God, you shouldn't have."

"I was upset."

"You don't know what he is going through, it must be hard for him. Stop pressuring him."

"I couldn't control it."
I sniffled.

"Now you listen to me."
Her voice boomed with authority.

"Drop that alcohol, go to your room, take a bath, and go to bed. Tomorrow, take your stupid ass and go apologize to him."

"Apologize? How is this my fault?"

"For Christ's sake, is his birthday, did you really have to? You are in love with him and I'm sure he feels the same, why don't you stop being a nosy bit** and wait for him to tell you, goodnight."
She ended the call before I could open my mouth to object.

"Great."
I mumbled and dropped the alcohol in my hand. I brushed my hair back and stared at the huge Chandelier above me. My one-year sobriety badge will be laughing at me right now. I was a huge mess.

***

My hangover made me stay in bed the whole day. Vina had been avoiding my calls and texts, she was angry at me for what I did. My outburst from last night was still replaying in my head, it felt like torture. Alcohol and jealousy played a big role in my anger, making it hard to control my words.

I avoided Tristan for one more day, pretending to be asleep or locking myself in the shower until I was sure he had gone to bed. The next day I summoned the courage to go and apologize to him. I walked up to his room after dinner, I had hoped he would come down for dinner but he told Morris he was busy with work and only asked for a cup of coffee. I knocked but he didn't answer, he never answered anyway.

I opened the door and found him in his home office that looked larger than my closet. He was busy on his computer with a few files next to him.

"Can I come in?" I asked knocking on the wall.

"Yeah."
He replied not looking back.

I walked in with slow steps like it could stop the thumping in my chest. I rehearsed my apology speech in my head again as I stopped one foot from where he sat. He closed the file in front of him and turned around in his seat. I tried to keep my eyes on his face and not his shirtless torso. How I missed waking up to those strong arms and mouth-watering abs. His eyes scanned what I was wearing. Great, today that I decided to wear my big pajamas, he was checking me out? I probably looked like a stick wrapped in a blanket.

"Did you discover one of my skeletons?"
He asked folding his arms.

"I'm...um...I'm sorry for that night. I was a little drunk." Well, that was not how the apology speech was supposed to start.

"I shouldn't have done that," I said trying not to stutter.

He didn't say anything, he stared at me like he was waiting for me to say more.

"I...I was angry and...um..."

"I have never seen you lost for words. I'm not mad at you, Cassie but I accept your apology since it was the hardest thing you've ever done."
He said with a playful smile. Was I dreaming?

"So, we are cool?" I asked.

"Yes, if you help me type this," he said raising a paper.

"Ok but quick warning, my fingers are not that fast," I said walking to his large desk. I leaned closer and tried to type a sentence but Tristan gripped my hips and pulled me to sit on his lap.

"Make yourself comfortable," he said moving his hands to my waist. I tried to focus on what I was typing as his fingers played with the waistband of my pajamas. 

"Nice handwriting, " I said starting at the neat and delicate writing.

"Thanks, " he said and gave me a soft squeeze on the waist.

"How have you been?" he asked.

"Good," I tried to keep my composure.

"You smell nice, new shampoo?" he leaned closer to my hair.

"Yeah," I replied. I adjusted on his lap to find a comfortable position, Tristan's sharp intake of air made me smirk. I moved again and he groan, I tried to move again but he gripped my hips halting my movement.

"If you do that again, I won't be responsible for what happens next," he said, running his palm down my thighs and up to my waist. My mind didn't care about the typing anymore, I wanted him to touch me everywhere.

"You owe me, Cassie, so keep typing," he said close my ear. I tried to ignore the heat that spread to every part of body and the bulge in his pants wasn't helping. I kept my eyes on the keyboard and continued typing.

I gasped when he slipped his rough palm up my stomach almost touching my breast. My fingers paused and I closed my eyes. 

"Keep typing," he whispered nibbling on my earlobe.

"Can't I continue later?" I asked almost out of breath. He laughed lightheartedly against my neck. His hand left my chest and he sat back, I grumbled at the lost of contact.

"No, that's an important paper I need to prepare for tomorrow," he said and I rolled my eyes. I decided to tease him a little. I leaned closer to the table, shooting my ass out. I smiled at the sound that escaped his lips.

"Come here," he said pulling me closer to him, he angled my head from behind and met my lips in a hungry kiss. I withdrew and stood up, I climbed on his lap and straddled him. Our lips found each other again like the north and south poles of a magnet. Tristan ran his palms down my ass and gripped my skin, I moved my hand up his chest to his neck.

I put my arms around his neck as our tongues found each other. I missed him so much, it was like being away from each other for years. He slid his hand up my back touching my scars and brushing his fingers smoothly against them.

I rocked my hips against him as we became a bit aggressive. Tristan broke the kiss and we both tried to catch our breath.

"Damn, I missed you."
He said brushing my hair back with his fingers, I smiled leaning closer to his touch.

"I'm sorry for being such an ass."
I said.

"Glad to hear you say that, is not something someone like you admits."

"Way to turn me off."
I said hitting him playfully on the chest.

"If we want us to work, you need to wait for me to tell you and stop going behind my back digging for my pasts."
He whispered.

"Okay, " I whispered. I leaned down and nibbled on his lower lip, he groaned and pulled me closer for a deep kiss. He pulled away making me groan in aggravation.

"Sorry, but this is gonna be quick," he said and stood up with my legs wrapped around his waist. He put me on the bed and was quick to come for a kiss. His tongue grazed my teeth and he sucked on my upper lip making me groan in pleasure, I withdrew and took my shirt off.

I was confident about myself around him, the way he always looked at me made me feel beautiful. He trailed kisses up my stomach to my chest, he moved to my neck and pulled at my skin with his teeth.

I arched my back in pleasure running my fingers intimately through his hair, I threw my head back with my eyes closed, I couldn't hold the moan back. He reached for the waistband of my pajama pants and pulled it down slowly.

This was definitely not how I expected the apology to turn out. I can't believe he wasn't angry the whole time.

∆
I woke up to someone tugging at my hair.

"What are you doing?"
I groaned at Tristan who was busy doing God knows what on my hair.

"Braiding."

"Ouch!"
I winced at the sharp pain from his braiding.

"Almost done, relax."
He said with a soft laugh.

I touched my hair when he was done and glared at him.

"The word is thanks."

"For causing me pain?"
He smiled and raised my chin so he could kiss me, it was slow and short.

"You look sexy. I feel like a stylist right now."
He said staring at the hair, I rolled my eyes.

"What time is it?"
I asked, looking around the dim room.

"Almost 6 am. I will be leaving for work soon."
He said caressing my cheek with his thumb. I turned to look at him.

"Is something wrong?"
He asked pausing the movement of his thumb on my cheek.

"No, I missed you."
I smiled, resting my chin on his chest.
I placed a kiss on his chest and touched his stubble, how did this happen? How did I end up falling for the person I once wanted dead for ruining my life?

"I promise to explain everything to you."
He said softly.

"It's fine, take all the time you need."
He cocked his brows in surprise.

"I will wait, Mr. Sanchester."
I moved closer and kissed his lips, he gave me a wide smile, the next words that left his mouth left me paralyzed.

"I love you, Cassie."
I was quiet and just stared at him not saying the words back.

"It's fine if you don't feel the same, I just wanted you to know."

I did but I couldn't say it for some reason, I kissed him again not liking the silence I created.

I moved slowly on top of him, he broke the kiss and looked me in the eye.

"Promise you won't leave after knowing everything?"

"I saw you at your worst and I stayed, I won't."
Partly because I was broke but now, it was because of him.

He looked relieved, he took my face and kissed me passionately, he switched our position hovering over me.

∆
Lately, a lot changed between us. I promised Tristan and Vina to lock detective Chloe away and wait for him till he was ready.

I saw a new Tristan, the Tristan I would want to spend my whole life with.
He took me on dates and forces me to visit the spa every weekend.

I quit the Yoga class since I was starting to get suspicious stares from everyone. I suggested one of those fake-pregnant-thingy but Tristan told me to stop attending the class.

The four bodyguards guarding the house seemed useless, whoever was messing with him still found a way in and didn't plan on stopping. The person still succeeded in torturing him with whatever happened six years ago, he started having nightmares where he kept muttering Forgive me, Fiona.

I didn't question him but I was there to help, I was always around to provide some comfort and to assure him he was safe. 

Tristan went crazy after he found a blue dress on his bed, he ripped the dress apart and refused to say a word to me that day but he hugged me tightly in his sleep.

The other day, he found some baby onesies in his room. He broke down that day, the first time I ever saw him cry. He kept spacing out that day and I almost gave up on talking to him.
It made me sad to see him so broken.

I made it my mission to catch the monster torturing him, more guards were hired but it still didn't help.

Who the hell was this person? And what did he or she want?
The person had to be someone he knew, it wasn't just anyone.

Wednesday, Tristan decided to sleep in his room. He told me he wanted to be alone and needed some space. I was worried to leave him alone. I stayed awake in bed staring at the ceiling, was he okay? What about his nightmares?

I sat up in my bed when I heard a crash from his room.

"Tristan?"
I ran out of my room to him.

I opened the door and found him throwing things around and cursing loudly.

"Tristan stop!"
I creamed but he continued.

I docked when his laptop came my way.

"Tristan, listen to me, it's Cassie."
I moved closer.

I tried to touch him but he threw his bedside lamp away, I was to slow to miss it. The lamp made contact with my head before I could save myself, I welcomed the darkness that surrounded me.

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