“Maybe that was never really who I was. Did you think about that? Maybe I didn’t enjoy it as much as you think,” Sterling said flatly. Eden’s words had caused his lips to twitch, but he kept up the calm, blank mask. “I found someone who I actually like. And I like her a heck of a lot more than I ever liked you.”
Sterling's words nearly caused her cool exterior to break. She looked away, biting her lip to keep the smile away, squeezing Sterling's hand. His ex-girlfriend turned her gaze toward Eden, who returned it with an icy glare of her own.
"All right. We'll take that," she breathed. "But let's hope you don't regret your decision, yeah? Let's hope she's just as good in bed as I was, perhaps a little more."
Eden felt like someone had punched her right in the face.
Sterling snarled again, a growl slipping loose. “Relationships are not all about sex, Evelyn. It doesn’t matter how good she is, I would like her anyway. And I don’t plan on taking her to bed until she is ready for it, until we’re both ready. So you can shut your mouth and walk away now,” he said through clenched teeth.
Eden swallowed thickly before she regained control of her composure.
Good in bed.
No matter how good she is, I would like her anyway.
Until she's ready for it.
She exhaled, fists clenching, craving for a release she knew she couldn't get. Not right now. So she gripped Sterling's arm. "Hey, let's go," she murmured. "It's not worth it. You're wasting your energy on someone who doesn't deserve it."
"You know what? You're right," Evelyn breathed, running another hand through her hair. "That was out of line for me. I'm still hung up over you, Sterling, but I suppose if you want… her, then there's nothing I can do about it. I'll be taking my leave now."
Sterling clenched his fists, his gaze furious and burning. “Don’t ever try to find me again. I don’t want to see you. And stay the heck away from my girlfriend,” he growled before, setting a hand that trembled with anger on top of Eden’s. He turned around and started walking away, almost visibly shaking from rage.
Eden winced as Sterling walked away, feeling a little overwhelmed with the anger he was radiating. She should be joining him, but she turned her attention to Evelyn, eyes as cold as she could make them. She crossed her arms over her chest and regarded the other girl with disinterest.
"I think we're a bit clear on that, but I'd like to say it, anyway," she started, her voice just as harsh as her expression. "You look at him again and I'll tear out your eyeballs. You even speak to him and I'll make sure you never do so again. You had your chance and you blew it. He's mine now, so what your steps. I'll tear you apart if you so much as breathe the same air as him. I'll ruin you if you're ever the cause of his stress. I hope we're clear on that."
Without giving the other girl a chance to speak, Eden turned her body and made her way back to her boyfriend, hoping he was calm now.
Sterling let out a shuddering breath and tore a hand through his hair. A few feet away from the girls, he had realized that Eden was no longer beside him, so he had stopped walking and paused to wait for her. Now he shook his head and glanced back for her, hoping not to see Evelyn.
“Hey,” he greeted Eden quietly when she reached him. “I’m sorry about that…”
Eden hesitantly approached him, afraid he might lash out at her, though she knew he'd never. Sterling wasn't like that. She knew it.
"That's all right," she said quietly, biting on her lip. "Are you—are you okay?"
“Yeah… Yeah, I’m fine,” he sighed, running his hand through his hair again. He reached it to her, opening his arms. “Come here, please… I need you…”
Eden immediately wrapped her arms around him, breathing him in. How could she ever think he could hit her, even in his fury? He treated her with such respect. There was no way he'd ever hurt her.
Sterling wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her hair. “Thank you… You’re amazing,” he murmured.
"But I didn't do anything," Eden protested, closing her eyes as she relaxed against him. "There's nothing for you to thank me for."
“You’re here for me, and you were there for me then. That’s more than enough,” Sterling whispered.
“So that was her,” Eden murmured, gently rubbing his back. “The ex-girlfriend.”
Sterling hummed, nodding a little. “Yeah… Yeah, that was her.”
Good in bed.
Good in bed.
Good in bed.
Shut up.
“She was…” Eden released a puff of air. “Yeah…”
“I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry, Eden. For everything about this. For what she said… That was completely uncalled for,” Sterling murmured, tightening his arms around her. “And I meant what I said. About waiting for you, that is.”
Eden exhaled through her nose, tightening her hold around him. How long would she make him wait? She didn’t even know that herself. Just the thought of hands exploring her made her sick. How long would she make him wait?
“Thank you, Sterling,” she murmured, still rubbing his back. “That—that means a lot…”
Sterling hummed, nodding. “Any time, E. Any time…”
“C’mon,” Eden patted him on the shoulder. “We’ve got a date to enjoy.”
“Yeah. Yeah, we do… Let’s go find those cookies, hm?” Sterling murmured, kissing her cheek before pulling away.
Eden slipped her hand in his, smiling up at him. “Yeah, the cookies for my hungry puppy,” she reached up to run her fingers through his hair to fix it again.
Truthfully, she was shaken up from that encounter. How easy was it for people to think of sex as just an act. How easy it was for them to give themselves to their partner while she struggled with the littlest of things. And what if that tired Sterling out? What if he realized he wasn’t willing to wait anymore? She should tell him, shouldn’t she? Before he found out from someone else.
Later, Eden said to herself, though she knew she’d hold it off for as long as she could. Or never.
Sterling smiled softly and led her away. “I’m sure there will be a place somewhere around here… Seriously, if they have those cookies here, then I will be so happy. Those are honestly the best cookies ever.”
Eden tilted her head to the side. “What type cookies are they?” she questioned, letting him lead her. “You never told me.”
“Chocolate chip. The best fricking chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had,” Sterling sighed dramatically.