116 — People really don’t change.

“Tyler?” Laura asks, stealing the words from my mouth, “What are you doing here?”
“I was at home, of course. Have you forgotten where I live? Of course not, right? Since you’ve been knocking on my door so often these days. Oh, and if I’m not mistaken, you got to know this restaurant because I used to bring you here.” Tyler replies slowly, crossing his arms and looking directly at Laura, who remains pale, blinking.
“Laura...” Jackson calls her slowly, looking around cautiously.
“Can you not do that now, Tyler?” She stutters, looking at him with fearful, begging eyes.
“What? You called me this morning and last night... I thought you were missing me.” Tyler gives a sarcastic smile, and I confess that I’m so tense that I can barely enjoy the panicked expression on Laura’s face. “Do you even have the face to deny it?”
“What’s he saying?” Jackson asks, this time in a slightly louder, harsher voice — *and now he really does sound like the man I know.* “Laura?”
“Jackson, my love...” She opens her lips and tries to appease him with her high-pitched voice...
But Tyler interrupts her, cutting off her intention like a razor, “So you’re doing it again, Laura? Being committed to someone and stabbing them in the back like that?”
“Tyler!” Laura scolds him, but he just gives her a smug smile that immediately makes her wilt. “Please, not here...”
“I thought you’d changed. You said you missed me, and I almost believed you... To think that I was thinking of giving us both another chance after everything you did to me...” Tyler says with a sigh, pressing his strong, muscular arms tightly, making her eyes shine.
“What does that mean?” Jackson stands up abruptly, making me hold my breath. I think he’s going to punch Tyler, but that would be a big mistake, considering he’s shorter and visibly weaker than his opponent. And really, he seems to have understood that a physical fight wouldn’t be good, so he just stares at Tyler deeply and says, “Who are you?”
“Laura’s ex-boyfriend, and you?” Tyler asks without much interest, his chin slightly raised.
“Exactly as it seems, she’s with me now... But why are you here? Are you following Laura? What are you, a stalker?” Jackson asks in a harsh, louder voice, drawing even more attention.
“A stalker? Funny *you* telling me that... considering it’s your girlfriend who’s been calling me every day, sending me more than ten texts, knocking on my door begging me to come back.” Tyler doesn’t raise his voice, just moves his eyes to Laura, who is lowering her head, running her hand through her hair, and hiding her face behind the red strands — which is a shame; I’d love to see how her face is burning with embarrassment.
“You’re lying-”
“Am I?” Tyler interrupts him, now more serious, his stern eyes once again on the man who shudders at his sudden change in posture. “I can prove it now if you want. I can read the messages out loud, especially when Laura said that she misses riding my cock.”
“Tyler, please...” Laura turns her face away, covering it with her hands this time, probably feeling the stares of everyone around.
“Are you insane?” Jackson shouts and takes a step toward Tyler, who doesn’t move a muscle; he stands still with his arms crossed and his chin raised. “Laura would never say anything like that!”
“If she don’t talk like that to you, maybe the problem is what’ you have in your pants?” Tyler smirks, and I can see even from this distance how Jackson’s pride is hurt... “But don’t blame yourself. Laura is never satisfied with just one dick. Just as she cheated on me with another guy, she’s trying to get back into my bed while she’s with you.”
Jackson grabs Tyler’s collar and pulls, making me flinch slightly.
Julian’s hand strokes mine slowly, his thumb circling mine, a caress that calms me down a little more.
“You can’t talk about her like that!” Jackson says between his teeth, and in the face of Tyler’s sarcastic laugh, he looks confused and stunned.
“I’m not telling any lies... Laura cheated on me in my own bed. I can’t even imagine what she does behind your back... Oh, no, wait — *I can.* After all, she’s been saying how she wants so bad to suck me off… how she’d give anything to be with me again. If you want, I can show you all those messages.”
“You’re bluffing!” Jackson practically spits out these words and pretends not to be shaken, but anyone can see his distress. “Show me, then.”
“Sure.” Tyler raises his hands in surrender, and Jackson slowly loosens his collar, crumpling his shirt.
But as soon as he’s released from the grip, Laura’s voice sounds shaky and desperate, “Tyler, please don’t do this.”
Jackson turns to Laura, his eyebrows furrowed... “Did you do it, Laura? Are you sending texts to this guy?”
Laura opens her lips, but no words come out. Her cheeks are so red that I can see it even from here... And I confess, seeing her so embarrassed is extremely satisfying.
How many times has she made me feel this way, the target of so many judgmental eyes? How many rumors and whispers around me were caused directly or indirectly by her hands?
“Tyler.” Laura insists, looking directly at him, ignoring Jackson, who is now walking in circles, wiping his hand across his face. “Tyler, please don’t do this to me.”
“What am I doing, Laura? You’re the one who worked so hard to get me back, and here I am, just like you wanted.” Tyler gives her a cynical smile and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone...
But Laura stands up abruptly, trying to reach Tyler, grabbing his arm that holds the phone, “Can we talk somewhere else? Please...”
“You can’t be serious.” Jackson shakes his head, and if I can bet on anything, I’m sure he has tears in his eyes. “Did you cheat on me, Laura?”
“No, of course not, love!” She turns to Jackson but doesn’t let go of Tyler’s arm. “It’s just... complicated.”
“Did you send the messages?” Jackson raises his voice, pointing at them resentfully.
“No, I didn’t say anything like that-”
“People really don’t change, do they?” Tyler holds Laura’s chin, turning her face to look at him... “You’re still a lying bitch, huh?”
*“Don’t talk to me like that...”* Laura’s voice comes out in a sigh so low I can barely hear it, and when Tyler slides his hand up to her neck, she bites her lip. “Please, let’s just talk somewhere else.”
“Are you going with this guy, Laura?” Jackson is offended and lets his hand fall around his body, helpless. “What about us? After everything...”
Laura casts a pleading look at Jackson but doesn’t move beyond Tyler’s touch. Right now, she has to choose who she wants to keep and probably think about all the advantages each one can bring her because she’s silent, staring at them like a homeless dog.
Jackson shakes his head and rushes out of the restaurant, with steps so fast that it makes him pass the door quickly, leaving everyone stunned. I think Laura will go after him... after all, this man has done something big for her today. He has given a lot of himself, and the risk he offers is high... Jackson is someone she needs to please and keep by her side...
However, that doesn’t happen.
Laura turns to Tyler and touches his arm, caressing the firm muscles and snuggling into his touch. She blinks slowly, raising her face to look directly into Tyler’s eyes, and seeks to get closer to his body as if she needs his warmth.
It makes my stomach twist, and I feel strange to see them so close, perhaps because I know everything she’s done, and I see him like a dear friend who’s holding the person who hurt us the most in his arms again.
Why is that? Why isn’t Laura choosing Jackson?
What’s so important about Tyler that she’s giving up a key, fundamental piece that could harm her so much?
*What is so special about Tyler?*
“Tyler...” She calls him slowly and slides her hand up to his chest. “Are you serious? Do you really want to give us both another chance?”
“You’ve taught me a few things, Laura,” Tyler says, stroking her cheek, and she closes her eyes. “One thing is that some people deserve exactly what happens to them... especially when the world turns, and they taste some of their poison.”
Laura opens her eyes, surprised by his words, but he’s quick to add, “And the other thing you taught me is how to lie.”
She takes a few steps back.
“Do you really think I’d go back to you after everything you’ve done to me? You haven’t changed a bit, Laura... And even if you had died and been born again, I couldn’t feel anything but disgust for you.” Tyler’s voice is harsh and loud, causing the whispering to intensify.
“You still love me, Tyler.” She says in a shaky voice, jerking her head in complete denial. “There’s no way you could have stopped loving me.”
“Think what you want...” He approaches her, shortening his distance until their faces are close...
Then, Tyler whispers something I can’t hear, but I can see his lips moving and revealing something that makes her eyes widen.
Laura quickly grabs her purse and pulls out her phone, tapping something with desperate fingers, hurrying to leave the restaurant... But then Tyler grabs her by the shoulder, stopping and drawing her desperate eyes... “The bill, Laura... your boyfriend didn’t pay.”
“Get your hands off me!” She shouts, bucking the arm that’s easily released, and hurries her pace once again, crossing the restaurant so fast that I think she really will make it...
However, a tall, strong security guard stops in front of her pace, causing her to freeze in place, her feet steady on the floor. A waiter approaches slowly, and she starts shouting meaningless words, trying to argue, saying that she won’t pay a single penny when she hasn’t even eaten...
And I remember to breathe finally.
I look at Tyler, who quickly meets my gaze; he gives me a discreet smile, then turns away and walks past Laura, who tries to hold him back, begging for help to pay the expensive bill, but he keeps walking until he finally leaves the restaurant.
“That was quite a show,” Julian says between his teeth, and I can hear irritation in his voice. I rest my gaze on him and notice that he’s not happy, typing something into his phone.
“What are you doing?” I ask fearfully, with a dry throat.
“I’m finishing all this now.” He presses a single button and then raises his beautiful green eyes to meet mine. “It’s time to have a long talk with that Jackson guy.”