I had come to the conclusion I was a coward. I would never be able to tell Joey what I had done to his face. There was only one alternative. I was sitting on my bed staring at my phone I held in my hands trying to stop myself from backing out again.

Joey deserved the truth I reminded myself. And the last thing I needed was for him to hear from somebody else before I got a chance to come clean. Damien had no loyalty to me and I feared he might let it slip to cause trouble for me.

I consoled myself that if it went really bad I would skip school the next day.

Just as I was about to hit dial my phone started to ring. Taken by surprise I dropped the phone on my lap before I managed to pick it up.

It was Joey.

I slid from the bed staring at my phone, the ringing pierced right through me. My heart began to pound.

After a few rings I finally lifted the phone and answered it. “Hi.”

My voice was breathless.

“Hi,” Joey replied. He didn’t sound his usual self. This wasn’t good.

I took a breath trying to calm myself but my heart was racing and I felt physically ill.

“What’s up?” I asked trying to sound casual but I wasn’t sure I was pulling it off.

“You were acting a bit strange today.” He sighed. “I know there is something bothering.”

I reeled. I was so sure I had hidden it so well but apparently I hadn’t.

“What makes you think there is something wrong?” I asked, trying to delay the inevitable.

I began to pace, feeling a panic that this would come out whether I was ready or not.

“I know you Tessa.”

I exhaled slowly. The weight of what I was carrying was too much to continue to hide. I had no idea how he was going to take it but it was time to tell him the what happened.

“Um….” Words escaped me.

“I’m outside.”

“Outside?” I asked, walking to my bedroom window that face the front of the house.

There stood Joey under a streetlight leaning against his car. He waved.

I forced a smile and ended the call. My hands shook.

There was no more hiding or keeping the secret any longer. I made my way downstairs slowly feeling like the worst possible person. Who cheated on a person they loved? I did.

My footsteps heavier as I reached the front door and opened it.

Joey straightened as I closed the door quietly so I didn’t wake my grandmother. I walked across the front lawn to Joey. He stood with his arms crossed.

“You came all the way here,” I murmured, unsure of how to start this conversation.

He nodded. “I know there is something going on. I kept hoping you would open up to me but you didn’t.”

I studied him. “Was I that bad today?”

He shook his head. “Talk to me Tessa.”

I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to admit any of it to him. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him but I could not go back and changed what happened. And that meant I had to tell him the truth, consequences be what they may. I deserved them all.

I dropped my gaze from his, unable to look him in the eye.

“Tessa,” he prompted.

I shrugged. “The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

When he remained quiet I raised my gaze to meet his. He was frowning.

“I don’t understand,” he murmured, a frown marred his handsome features.

Briefly I closed my eyes, feeling the wave of emotional pain clawing its way through me. Then I opened my eyes. It was time to face the music.

“I kissed some one else.”

It was out and there was no taking it back. I watched his features harden from shock to anger.

“You kissed someone else?” he echoed, like he wasn’t sure he had heard me right.

I nodded, feeling the shame wash over me at his physical reaction to my confession.

“I didn’t mean-”

He put his hand out to me. “So what? You tripped and your mouth landed on his?”

I pressed my mouth closed. He was right.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, hating the pain I could see play over his handsome features and knowing I was responsible.

“Who?” he asked, dropping his hands to his sides. His hands fisted.

“I doesn’t matter.” Telling him it was Damien would benefit no one.

“I have a right to know Tessa.” His eyes blazing.

“I’m the one you should angry with. The guy doesn’t matter.”

I feared telling him that it was someone who didn’t mean anything to me would only worsen his reaction.

His jaw tensed. “When?”

I cleared my throat. “Um yesterday.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “Why?”

It was a question I couldn’t answer.

“I…I don’t know,” I admitted as honestly as I could in a quiet voice.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” he asked angrily. His voice rising.

“Shh,” I told him, looking back over at my house hoping he hadn’t disturbed my grandmother.

He turned from me and paced before turning back to face me. “You kissed some guy and you can’t even tell me why you did it? I deserve an explanation Tessa. You owe me that.” His voice was so loud but I feared if I said anything more about it it would make him angrier and louder.

“I wish I could tell you but I don’t know Joey. I feel awful, I really do.” My throat burned and I could feel tears start to gather.

I reached a hand out to him.

He shook his head. “If you felt anything for me you wouldn’t have done it in the first place. I trusted you and you don’t hurt someone you love.”

Maybe he was right. If I truly loved him, I never would have kissed Damien back. Maybe that was the most difficult thing to face. I had believed in what I felt for him and the incident with Damien and stripped that away leaving me confused and vulnerable.

I dropped arm back to my side.

“I’m sorry.” There wasn’t anything else I could say but I had a feeling no amount of words was going to ease the situation. I would still feel like biggest asshole and he would still be heartbroken.

“Stop saying that.” He hissed loudly, breathing hard.

I winced, fearing how far in the quiet night his voice would carry.

He approached me, his features thunderous.

“How could you?” He was so angry, I had never seen him like this.

“I don’t…” My words floundered.

“There are no excuses,” he continued.

I nodded. He was right.

“I loved you Tessa more than…” He ran an agitated hand through his hair. “And you ruined it.”

There wasn’t anything he could say that I hadn’t already agonized over.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, feeling more tearful.

“Stop saying that!” He yelled.

I flinched but nodded. Tears began to stream but it did nothing to soften his glare.

“Is there a problem here?”

Damien. This could not be happening.

I closed my eyes. I wanted to the ground to open up and swallow me whole. He was the last person I wanted here.

“This is none of your business,” Joey snapped, looking over my shoulder.

I turned to see Damien standing a few feet away with a frown.

“It is if you’re shouting at her.” His voice calm, his bold gaze on Joey.

Oh god. This was the last thing I needed.

I wiped the tears and took a trembling breath. “It’s fine.” Damien’s gaze dropped to take mine for a few moments before he returned his attention to Joey.

“No it isn’t. He doesn’t get to talk to you that way.” Damien walked to stand beside me and Joey backed a step up.

It was the weirdest experience watching Damien face off with Joey.

“We were just talking,” Joey snapped.

“That wasn’t talking,” Damien muttered. “I could hear it all the way to my bedroom.”

“This is a private conversation that has nothing to do with you,” Joey argued.

“Damien you can go home,” I added, not wanting a witness to this.

Damien shook his head. “I think this conversation is over.”

“I’m done,” Joey announced. He swore under his breath before turning back to his car. He got in and started it.

I hadn’t quite expected it to be quite this explosive. He gave me one last glare before he drove away, leaving me standing beside Damien.

“That wasn’t necessary,” I muttered, feeling a headache coming on. I felt wiped, emotional spent.

“He shouldn’t have yelled at you. Why would you let him talk to you that way?”

I stared at the empty space where Joey had been parked only moments ago. “I hurt him.”

“That’s no excuse Tessa. He was out of line.”