The Choice - A Small Town Love Triangle by Piper Phoenix

That’s nothing new,” he said as he walked to the door, “I’ll be back.”
    “Cash, I couldn’t wait forever, I didn’t even know you were coming back. I thought it was just sex.”
    “It was. Until it wasn’t,” he said as he closed the door.
     
     

 
     
     
    CHAPTER FOURTEEN
     
    Traci didn’t want to wait for Cash. She didn’t even know what to say to him at this point. Everything was just such a mess. All she knew was that she had to see Sawyer. Her car was back home, so she was stranded on Sawyer’s property with both of the men gone. One of which hated her and the other, well she had no idea how Cash felt about her now.
    It felt like she went from having two men wanting her, to having two men hating her.
    All she knew was that she had to apologize to Sawyer. Even if he hated her and wouldn’t ever forgive her, she had to try to explain. He hadn’t done anything to her, he’d only ever been kind and sweet to her, and this is what she did to repay him.
    She had to try to talk to him even though she knew he’d never forgive her. She had to explain what had happened. She had to tell him she was sorry for what she did to him.
    Traci made her way to Sawyer’s house with her arms crossed in front of her. She felt cold even though it wasn’t particularly a cold night. She was trying to think of exactly what she wanted to say to him. The white wicker patio chair seemed like as good of a place as any for her to sit and wait for him. He’d have to come back home eventually for work. She would tell him it was over between her and Cash, and how sorry she was that he had to find out like that. She’d tell him she hadn’t planned any of it. That it all just sort of happened, and she never wanted to hurt him, she just didn’t know what to do since she had feelings for both of them.
    She knew everything running through her head wouldn’t be enough. It was all just excuses, at least that’s what Sawyer would think. Her shoulders lurched as she sobbed into her hands, knowing how badly she screwed everything up.
    After an hour he still hadn’t come back. She rested her head on her arm, tears still dripping down her cheeks. Traci was so worn out from the emotionally draining events that she drifted off into a fitful half-sleep in the mildly comfortable chair.
     
     
    * * *
     
     
    The nudge at her shoulder startled her. She sat up abruptly and it took her a few minutes to realize where she was. It was still dark out and she was still on Sawyer’s front patio. She looked up to see Sawyer standing over her. He looked distant and disheveled. His hair was wild as if he’d been driving 100 mph with the windows down. His eyes were red and the knuckles on his right hand were scraped and bloody.
    “You’re bleeding!” she said reaching out for his hand looking concerned. He twisted away so she couldn’t examine it. Pain coursed through her veins at seeing his reaction to her. She felt sick.
    “I’m fine,” he said not looking at her, “What are you doing here?”
    Sawyer sounded cold. He was in pain she could see that and he wasn’t doing much to hide it. His rage had calmed but his hurting hadn’t. She looked at her feet, “I wanted to explain.”
    “Traci, I don’t even want to hear it,” he said, “You should go.” Sawyer started walking away.
    “I can’t. I don’t have my car.”
    “Then you’ll just have to go back to Cash.”
    “He’s out looking for you.”
    “Doesn’t sound like my problem.” Sawyer said reaching for the doorknob.
    Traci buried her face into her hands and her shoulders shook as she started to cry all over again. She hadn’t wanted Sawyer to see her like this, but she hadn’t been able to stop it. How there were even any tears left surprised her.
    “Fuck!” he said and took a step towards her, “Don’t cry.”
    “I’m… fine…,” she said between sniffs.
    “I can see that,” Sawyer said with sarcasm so thick it dripped off his tongue.
    “Sorry,” she