After Eight Years of Hiding, I Chose Myself

"Tristan, it's been a while."

Tristan gave a slight nod, then turned his face away.

But I knew him too well. On the surface he looked unbothered, but every muscle in his body was taut.

He was nervous. He cared.

A few rounds of drinks in, someone started stirring things up.

"Tristan, Tessa, you two were the golden couple back in college. How'd you ever break up?"

"Seriously, it's been eight years and you're both still single. If that's not fate, what is?"

"You've come full circle. Just get back together already!"

Tessa smiled but said nothing, turning to look at Tristan.

Tristan picked up his glass and took a sip. He didn't look at Tessa. He didn't look at anyone.

His gaze drifted, just barely, toward the far end of the room.

Where I sat, in the corner.

Then someone suggested a game of Truth or Dare.

After a few rounds, the bottle landed on Tessa.

"Tessa, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Her eyes locked on Tristan as she answered without a shred of hesitation.

"Ohhh," the crowd drawled, all loaded implication, and the question came fast on its heels.

"Do you still have feelings for Tristan?"

The room went silent.

Tessa paused for two seconds, then smiled, resting her chin on her hand, holding Tristan's gaze.

"Of course I do. I always have."

The room erupted.

"Get together! Get together!"

"Kiss! Kiss!"

Tristan just sat with his head bowed, no reaction at all.

Then it was his turn.

"Tristan, truth or dare?"

He set his glass down. "Dare."

"Kiss one of the girls here!"

His eyes found mine, soft and warm.

I straightened in my seat, certain this was the moment he'd finally come clean, that he'd at least give some kind of sign.

Even if it was just enough to stop me from reading into things the wrong way.

But the next second, his gaze slid past me and landed on Tessa.

"I pick Tessa."

I froze. Every part of me locked in place as I watched Tristan walk over to her, lean down, and press his mouth to hers.

It wasn't a peck.

It was deep, rough, consuming.

More like a kiss laced with spite than anything resembling tenderness.

The whole room screamed.

When it was over, Tessa's eyes were rimmed with red. She threw herself into his arms.

"I knew it. I knew you hadn't forgotten me. You still have feelings for me."

I stayed hidden in the crowd, swallowing down the bitterness clawing its way up my throat, and watched her.

Tristan didn't push her away.

His hand went to her waist, steadying her, as if the only thing on his mind was making sure her trembling legs didn't give out.

Beside them, my brother Myron slammed the table, grinning ear to ear.

"No way! You two are serious?"

"Tristan, you sly dog. Eight years of staying single and it was all for Tessa. Saving yourself like a monk!"

I looked at my brother, brows pinched together.

The bitterness in my chest sank deeper.

Once Tessa was steady on her feet, Tristan let go of her, casual as anything, like nothing had happened.

"It's just a game."

Tessa tilted her face up to his. "But I meant every second of it."

The room went quiet for a beat.

That was when I stood up.

Every pair of eyes swung toward me.

"Doreen, what's up? You wanna say something?"

Tristan slowly lifted his gaze to mine.

Something flickered across his face. He looked down, grabbed his phone, and typed a message to me, fast.

Dee, about what just happened. Don't be mad.

No one kisses the woman they actually love in front of a crowd like that.

I don't love Tessa. That kiss was just to get back at her…

Don't say anything you shouldn't.

I almost laughed. A bitter, hollow sound caught in my throat. After everything, the only thing he was afraid of was that I'd lose my temper and blow the secret wide open.