Torn

Chapter 23

AN: ATCY reached 21.2 k reads and 1.1k votes, while Torn now has 2.5k reads and 323 votes! Unbelievable! Thank you guys. Let's keep it coming please! :)

But really, your support and love is amazing everyone. BTW, this is another one of my favorite chapters and I guess one of the most important ones, hope you love it, I was really excited to post this one up. :)

Selena...

I listened in amusement at the exchange of laughter and chatters in the room, taking delight at their hilarious stories.

"Hey"

"Hmm?" I hummed, lowering the beer on my hand after taking a swig.

"You sure you're okay?" Cara whispered in my ear as she nudged me with her elbow – the gentleness she exudes, an indication she was making sure to be discreet. I gave her a small smile and a nod, her blue eyes searching mine before seemingly finding what she needed and turned to face the conversation once more.

Her orbs had been trailed on me since we all sat down at the dinner table and I'm sure she had been itching to start questioning me already, fortunately for me, she was situated across from me and couldn't bring it up – though knowing Cara, I was pretty sure she'll find an excuse and a way to corner me. True enough she did later on, shortly after Anne and Robin announced they'll be leaving to spend the night at her sister's house a few blocks down, Cara occupied the seat next to me once we all decided to lounge in front of the fireplace.

I don't mind it actually – her inquisitiveness, but I do wish she would focus her attention elsewhere, since I would like her to enjoy this weekend instead of spending it looking after me.

I don't even find her behavior peculiar. If anything, I know I'm the one acting strangely since my thoughts have been all over the place from the moment Harry and I got back from the lake. I wasn't angry, nor was I sad, just...contemplative I guess? But whatever it is I decided to take advantage of the pensive mood and just observed the people around me.

We haven't discussed anything since we decided to get back, which was pretty much right after I came down from my high – the thought of his fingers working its magic, making me squirm a little as I fought hard to contain the blush that threatened to show on my face and it didn't help that it was that particular moment Harry had chosen to look my way. He had changed into a plaid red and black button up and black skinny jeans, and no matter how many times I've already seen his chest subtly peeking out of the three undone buttons, I still had an extremely difficult time prying my eyes away from him.

How could it be possible for one man to be so devastatingly handsome?

I gave him a small smile, trying not to give anything away of my current thoughts and I guess it worked as he returned it with a wink before turning back to his conversation with his cousins. Even though I've been here only one other time, I can't be more thankful for the back entrance and staircase, otherwise we'd be dealing with inquiries about our soaked forms when we returned from our rendezvous.

I was honestly still uncertain what to feel with the recent revelations I've unearthed and I'm glad that Harry didn't elaborate anything further when I pieced the puzzle together – because one, even if Taylor is almost a sister to me, I don't think myself privy to her secrets that she chooses to keep as hers alone – especially intimate ones like that. Second, and perhaps the bigger of the two, I don't think I'll ever like the idea of him sharing a night like we did with other girls – even if he says it's nothing like that. My own subconscious has even given up on trying to convince me of how much in the wrong I was – that this was Taylor we were talking about and not some random hook up, and no matter how much I twist this storyline, she would always be the legit one of the two of us.