A/N~ This is going to be a twoshot! It's just too much to compile into one chapter for my tastes and I don't want to make it a full blown story. Please enjoy though :)

"I made decisions that I regret, and I took them as learning experiences. . . I'm human, not perfect, like anybody else,"

-Queen Latifah

Fang~

I had many regrets in life. So many things I've said I yearned to take back. Many experiences that I wished that I could just have one more shot at. I'm sure I wasn't the only one that wanted a chance to redo their life. I couldn't be the only one that hated my life and the position I landed myself in.

I had so many mistakes like everyone, I'm sure. Some were minor and barely a distant memory that I could easily shrug off now. There were the other ones though, the ones that weren't so tiny, that stuck with you every single day you woke up. It could be something that simply made you cringe at the thought if something or someone were ever to spark the memory.

I however, got to see my greatest mistake every single day of my life.

Sounds a bit dramatic, I know. That was honestly how I felt about the situation. I was young and so easily conformed. I let myself rush into something that I had absolutely no clue about it would seem. And now I was paying for it.

Because my mistake ladies and gentleman, was my lovely and beautiful wife Lissa Beaumont. Well technically it was Ride now but I tried not to acknowledge that.

Lissa and I had been high school sweethearts. We had started dating our junior year and continued all throughout college until I proposed after we graduated. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. My parents loved her, her parents loved me; I just felt it was what was supposed to happen. You date for four or more years, you get married, and you have kids. It was the process, the way things were supposed to go. I guess I never really asked myself if I was truly in love with this woman. I think I just settled with her and did it more out of obligation.

And now look at me. Age 25 wishing I could take back my life. Get a time machine and reverse all the way to the point of when I graduated high school. Still so young and already hating life and the boring process. A tedious job, a high-maintenance wife; I felt like I was aged way more than my time.

And it wasn't that I hated Lissa, because I didn't. I cared about her a lot. In fact, she seemed perfectly fine. It was as if she couldn't sense that I was depressed or that I didn't love her anymore. I thought I made it so obvious too sometimes. I tried to cover it up, always put on a façade so she wouldn't catch on. But when we stopped spending time with each other and had no more in depth conversations like we used to, it made me wonder if she really loved me that much or she just wanted to ignore it and act like everything was how it was when we had been dating.

Of course I've looked into divorce or separation at least. I never would go through with it though. I didn't know why but I just couldn't bring myself to take that final step. I think deep down I was hoping she would present the papers to me, assuring me that I wasn't an ungrateful bastard and this really wasn't working out for the both of us. I dreaded the day she would ask for kids.

"Man, if you're so upset with your marriage then you need to tell her."

I rolled my eyes at my best friends' words. "I just- I don't know how to tell her," I muttered. It was true. While I was done with my marriage, I cared about Lissa to a certain extent. I was considering the idea of giving her the papers and it's going to hurt one or both of us. It's a breakup and it's going to bring pain to at least one of the parties. I knew that whatever I did, it would have a permanent outcome. I didn't want to regret my decision right after making it.

"You said so yourself. You guys haven't even had sex for six months, Fang. Six months!" Iggy shook his head. "If I was her, I'd see this coming."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "It's not like she denies me sex and so I want to leave her. She's tried. . . I'm just not into it anymore. . ." I trailed off awkwardly, leaving the rest hanging but we both knew what I meant. I wasn't interested in sex with her. I couldn't be too irritated with him. He had a point. Though sex didn't count for all of a relationship it had to do with a big part of it.

"I bet she's fucking around," Iggy snorted.

If she was, I honestly wouldn't blame her. I wasn't giving anything to her and though that doesn't mean she should cheat on me, I wasn't being the most affectionate husband. I didn't like the idea of her sleeping around because I have never done that to her, but I couldn't bring myself to truly care. I wouldn't be surprised by the fact either. She claims to stay late for work purposes but I know better. Iggy bringing this up to me was not the first time I considered that she might be cheating.

"Dude, that right there should make you get a divorce or at least take classes with a marriage counselor." He reclined back on his couch next to me before pointing right at my face. "If I can sit here and tell you that there is a possibility that someone other than you is fucking your wife and all you do is shrug-" He shook his head again. "If someone was messing around with Nudge behind my back. . ." He couldn't even finish his sentence as his face tensed in anger and his fists tightened. Just the idea seemed to piss him off.

"I've considered the counselor," I grumbled.

"And," Iggy asked before sipping his beer.

"I'm not going to pay some stupid shrink that thinks he can fix a marriage that has been broken from day one." Not worth my money or my time. They were like doctors. Not really useful and only wanted to get money out of you. Neither cared about their patients in my opinion.

The door opening and then slamming shut had us quieting down. Iggy's pale blue eyes visibly brightened as we heard Nudge make her way to the sitting room. When she entered her eyes widened a bit when she saw me. "Oh hey Fang," she smiled before walking to her husband's side and kissing him firmly on the mouth.

The scene made my stomach clench and I had to look away. I felt a jolt of envy go through me and it wasn't because I wanted Nudge or Iggy. I saw her as a sister and as for Iggy, I didn't swing that way.

What I wanted was their connection. The obvious love they held for each other was set deep in their gaze. It made me turn with jealousy and I knew in that instant I wanted to leave. I had enough of their spectacle whether it was intentional or not.

"You don't need to leave! I just got here," Nudge whined in protest. Iggy simply pulled her onto his lap and I moved even closer to the exit. These two never held back with the PDA, I swear.

"Lissa should be getting home soon." That was a good excuse to tell Nudge but Iggy however knew better.

"Call me later. Maybe we can go out, you know? Like a guy's night."

Yeah, I knew what he meant.

I never took Iggy up on his offer. Not. Once. It would have been different if we just went to a bar and grabbed a couple of drinks. But then again I knew Iggy and I knew that wasn't quite what he had in mind. There would be alcohol but there was no doubt in my mind that he wanted me to meet somebody. He was always adamant that Lissa was sleeping around on me and he wanted me to go out there and have fun of my own.

Just the thought of doing that though made me sick. I'm not that kind of person. I'm not the type of guy to cheat on his wife of three years no matter how upset I was with my marriage. I never even considered Iggy's proposition for a minute.

Until I knew for a fact Lissa was having sex with a guy other than me. Like I said, there was always that inkling in my head that she was cheating. But it didn't really set in until I had the proof. It happened a few days later when I once again got back from hanging out with Iggy. Unlike most nights, Lissa was actually home when I got back and it made me want to groan. I preferred to be in the house when she wasn't.

"Where have you been all day?" Lissa was grinning at me as she stood at the stove preparing some sort of dinner.

"I was at Iggy's. I thought you would still be at work." I walked further into the kitchen for a drink when she blocked my path.

"I thought I'd come home early so we could spend the night with each other." The way she said it, I knew what she wanted. She thought we could spend the night together, in bed.

"I already ate with Ig. I thought you wouldn't be coming home until late." Not wanting to flat out tell her no, I tried to let her down easily. I attempted to subtly dodge the question but it was clear that I was not interested at the moment.

I watched as she sort of deflated at my words. It was obviously not the response she had wanted. Instead she settled on leaning in to give me a peck on the lips. When we were almost kissing though, I stiffened and recoiled a bit. It wasn't by much but she sure as hell noticed when her mouth landed on my cheek.

"What's wrong," she frowned.

I stared at her intensely having mixed feelings at the moment. In the end I settled with a slight shake of my head. "Nothing. I'm just not feeling too well. I think I'm going to lay down." I didn't wait for a response and turned around sharply giving her my back as I made my way to our room.

Well, Iggy was right and he would probably rub that in my face. Lissa was cheating on me and I wasn't happy nor was I too upset by the fact. When she had moved in to kiss me, it gave the perfect view of her neck as her red hair brushed to the side. A hickey had been on the crook of her neck and it looked like she had at least attempted to cover it up. The makeup must have rubbed away some and I saw it clear as day on her pale skin.

I haven't done more with her other than a swift kiss on the lips. It was apparent to me that that mark was not put on her by me.

I didn't feel the need to confront her about it though. Like I said earlier, I couldn't blame her for turning elsewhere for her desires. I think it was still wrong of her to do but I honestly didn't care. What I did do however, was a send quick text to Iggy.

Let's go out. His response was instantaneous.

"What a tramp," Nudge pursed her lips as she shook her head.

We were all sitting at a table in some popular club that Iggy and Nudge went to all the time. According to those two, this was the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night. I couldn't see why though. The music was incredibly loud that I felt like my ears were throbbing, it stank, and it was crowded. Why would anyone come here?

It was supposed to be just Iggy and I but when she found out where we were going, she was adamant about going. I didn't know if it was because she didn't trust Iggy in this place or if she actually wanted to have fun, but sure enough when I arrived at their place she was all dressed and ready to go.

"Please tell me you are going to take that final step and divorce that cow."

I hesitated and that was all it took for the both of them to start hounding me.

"You were telling me earlier that you couldn't find the right reason to leave her and now you have the perfect one. You don't even have to make it out like you're the asshole. Make her think it was because she was cheating," Iggy exclaimed.

"Fang," Nudge began in a gentle tone. Or as gentle as she could be when she had to yell for me to hear practically. "You're obviously not good for each other and the longer you both dance around this, the more miserable you are going to be."

"I don't even think she is aware on how I feel," I mumbled.

"She probably has an idea. You can say she feigns innocent and can't see it, but any girl in her situation with a brain would be able to. And it probably hurts her. But the longer you let this drag out the harder she is going to take it, especially if she really does love you and you act like everything is fine." Nudge patted my hand softly in reassurance. "Now I'll be back. I'm getting a drink. Want one?" She directed the question at both her husband and I. I declined Iggy told her a drink and she was off.

"Now relax and have fun. Let loose, Fang." Iggy wiggled his eyebrows at me playfully.

I flicked my gaze around the room before sighing in agitation, my heart sinking. "I can't."

"Seriously! I bet your wife waited for the exact moment after you left to call up some random meathead. I just find it great the amount of loyalty you have to her and she absolutely has none," he snorted. I wanted to correct him and say it was respect I held for her but knowing him he'd probably say she didn't have any of that for me either.

"It's not that I don't want to. . ." I rubbed the back of my neck uncomfortably. Iggy forgets that this is all new grounds for me. I've never been out to a club without Lissa. I've never tried to flirt with a girl other than Lissa. I've never had sex with a girl except for Lissa. I was out here and I had no idea what I was doing or what I was supposed to do.

All at once his eyes lit up with a mirthful understanding. He was laughing inside about it but thank God he understood me without me having to spell it out. "Don't worry. I got your back man," Iggy winked and I instantly got a bad feeling. "What else is a wingman for," he smirked. I watched him curiously as his eyes scanned over the crowds of people. When they suddenly stopped, I froze. "What do you think about her?" He nodded his head in the direction of some brunette. "She's bangable."

If Nudge were here she would pummel him.

I rolled my eyes but nonetheless looked over in the direction he was aiming at and spotted the girl. I shrugged, "I guess she's fine."

I should have kept my damn mouth closed.

"Works for me," he grinned mischievously and before I could react he was out of his seat. My mouth fell open and I paled at his intentions. To avoid embarrassment, I snuck away from our table and went in search for the bar, hopefully without him seeing which direction I went in. I regretted not taking Nudge up on her offer to get me a drink and I decided to get my own.

Sighing, I waited for the bartender to acknowledge my presence as I scanned the crowd for Iggy or Nudge. I could handle Nudge and her blabber mouth at the moment but Iggy had surprised me with his actions. Who knew what he was telling that girl I wanted. I hadn't been about to stick around to find out and I really hope he's not chasing me down with some random chick. This was really proving to be a long and terribly boring night.

When I first called Iggy, I had been pumped. I had been fully prepared to take some girl home. Now that I was here though, I wasn't so confident. I've been out of this game for a very long time, if I was even in it to begin with. Getting back into it was harder than I expected. Maybe I should just go back home. I obviously was too old for this ga-.

Out of nowhere, I saw a hand fly out next to my face to hail down the bartender. I looked next to me and scowled. Good luck with that because I've been doing that for the past five minutes and got nothing. The scowl slipped away slowly when I took in the features of the girl next to me.

Just from a quick glance I could already use beautiful as a word to describe her. She had to be about my age, maybe younger. Her eyes looked slightly dark in this lighting leading me to believe they were brown. Her hair was to her mid-back in golden brown waves. The dark purple dress she wore was tight and clung to her every curve, only reaching to mid-thigh. Against my will almost, my gaze zeroed in on her glorious cleavage from her low-cut dress. If I was thinking clearly I probably would have felt a bit ashamed for openly gawking.

She was definitely bangable, as Iggy would put it.

So enraptured by her I failed to notice the bartender take her order until it was too late. Still, I reached my hand out quickly calling for him. "Wait!" Not hearing me or completely ignoring me, probably the latter, he didn't even turn around and moved down the bar to help some other customer. I wanted to facepalm myself for getting distracted by a girl. To save myself from further humiliation, I hung my head.

"Well it was kind of your fault." I tensed as I looked over next to me. It was the girl in the purple dress and she was smirking at me cockily as she sipped on her drink. "You were too busy ogling my chest."

Oh great, I wanted to groan. Now I was in trouble with this chick for staring at something that was on obvious display. Slowly, I prepared myself for the verbal attack I was sure to come.

Surprisingly it never did.

"Can I buy you a drink? I feel kind of bad that you've been standing here," she grinned at me sweetly.

"You want to buy me a drink? I thought the guy was supposed to do that." Did I have this all backwards? Was the girl supposed to buy me a drink? I honestly meant to keep that last statement in my head but she clearly heard it.

Her brows raised and I could tell this time I actually offended her. "So I offer to get you a drink and the first thing you think to do is to call me a guy," she snapped.

I winced as I held my hands up in surrender. "That's not what I meant! You are definitely a girl, a pretty and gorgeous girl. I'm sorry, just forget I said anything," I pleaded as I tried to cut of my rambling. "I've just had a bad go and I haven't even been in a club for ages." I felt the need to explain myself so didn't come off as a jerk or a weirdo. If I could spend my night with any girl in this club it would be her hands down. I'm sure it was too late for that but a guy could only hope.

Her eyes widened, baffled. "Really?" she asked incredulously as if she didn't take any of my compliments to heart. At my hurried nod she continued. "I'm not any of those things but thanks anyway," she gave a small smile. "And I find it very hard to believe that you don't ever show up to this kinds of places. You just- you're just-"

"I'm just what," I frowned.

"Come on," she pouted. "Don't make me say it for you. This should be like you scene."

"My what," I scrunched my brows in puzzlement. Was she insinuating what I think she was?

She swallowed before shaking her head, a red tint lighting her cheeks. "Nothing," she mumbled while looking away. Finally the stupid bartender came around as usual he zoomed in on the gorgeous female sitting next to me. It was hard to miss though I'll give him that. Like the first time she got my attention, she shot her hand out so far it was almost impossible to miss. That's all a girl like her would need. All she would need is for him to see her hand before he saw the rest of her body and he'd make his way over here like someone lit a fire under his ass.

He looked at her so attentively, wondering what she wanted and I knew it wasn't only me that was put under a spell when they looked at her. His expression was almost comical when she directed him to take my order. Almost grudgingly he asked what I wanted and I responded with a winning smirk.

After I had my drink, I half expected the beautiful girl to ditch me. Shockingly she stayed seated next to me as she finished her drink. "So why are you here if you don't come out often?"

"I felt like I deserved to." It wasn't a lie but it also wasn't the whole truth either. But after I found out what Lissa's been doing, I think I'm more than entitled to one night. "What about you," I countered wanting the subject off me and my wife's affair.

"Well at first I was being someone's third wheel but then I ditched them to have my own fun." Her eyes gleamed and I didn't know if it was my overactive imagination or what, but to me it sounded like she wanted to have fun . . . with me.

I gulped nervously as I attempted to hide my unease. It wasn't that I wouldn't do what she wanted, I just didn't want to get ahead of myself. She was like a temptress and could probably get any guy in this club to fall to his knees. My form tensed again when she touched my hand casually. "What's your name," she grinned as she leaned closer.

"Nick, but just call me Fang." Thankfully she didn't question the nickname. It wasn't something I wanted to explain right now.

"I'm Max," she smiled openly and I almost forgot her hand touching mine until she held it gently.

In an attempt to distract myself from her touch I said the first thing that popped into my mind. "Isn't that a guy's name?" I seriously wanted to punch myself the moment those words left my lips. Could I get any stupider?

"Really? You want me to call you a tooth and you question my name," she chuckled at me. "You just love comparing me to dudes. I'll let it slide though because you're cute." When I flushed slightly, she laughed wholeheartedly and pulled me to a stand with her. Drinks forgotten, she yanked me to the dance floor and pushed her back into my chest. I stood there awkwardly as she moved against me and went to grind on me. I had no idea how I was supposed to react to her or what would be too much so I refrained from moving at all.

"Dance with me," she leaned back and whispered. I don't know if she meant it to but her words came out sensual and I felt my body stir. Slowly, I let my arms wrap around her waist to secure her to me. I let her sway against me and I merely moved with her.

I was so out of my element right now. Even when I was with Lissa, I never wanted to dance. It just wasn't my style and no matter how much she whined I would never bend on it.

I wanted to do this for this girl though. Call it hormones but I was completely willing for anything she suggested. I had no idea how she pinpointed me out of all the guy's in this club but I wasn't about to ask her. She might realize that I wasn't even close to her league and would discard me.

I let my hands fall to her hips to grip them on each side when her hand came up to grip the back of my neck. I didn't want to touch her the wrong way and she slap me away. I only moved when she moved. I only got more open when she got more touchy.

I stilled when she forced my head down, her lips barely an inch away from my own. Her breath fanned across my face as she continued to sway against me with the bass.

Was she testing me? Was I supposed to kiss her? I honestly had no idea. All I knew was that this incredibly sexy girl was wrapped around me like a vice and that I had this intense urge to kiss her myself.

Throwing caution to the wind, I connected our lips and she instantly responded. It was almost as if she had been waiting for me to take that first step and now that I had, she gripped me with relief. She turned to fully face me instead of straining her neck to kiss me and latched onto me tightly. Our mouths were moving against each other's hotly and every time she rubbed along me in a certain spot, I felt myself getting even more overheated.

I gasped when Max yanked my face away from hers. She was staring at me with desire set deep in her gaze. She was gripping my hair tightly in her hands as she held me away. She wouldn't let me pull away fully though and I soon realized it was because she wanted to say something.

"Your place or mine?"

Past my fogged up mind I found myself able to muster a shocked expression. "What?" Was she suggesting. . .

"Well, I don't really want have sex in a club." She said it as if it was an obvious thing.

Okay. . . so she was suggesting what I was thinking.

My mouth dropped open as I tried to calm my rapidly increasing heartbeat. Max all of a sudden pulled completely away from me. Even with the dark setting I could see her features erupt in a bright scarlet. "Wasn't that where this was headed?" She moved to hold her face in her hands suddenly. "Oh my God! I completely read this wrong. I'm so sorry- I thought you wanted to-" She interrupted herself while shaking her head in mortification.

I was still gaping at her incredulously. I just couldn't comprehend that this girl, astoundingly gorgeous girl, actually wanted to spend the night with me. Man, it had been too long.

It took her getting ready to walk away to get me to snap back to reality. She is not leaving! She can't walk away after saying she wanted to sleep with me! In a flash I had her wrist ensnared in an unbreakable grip. I made sure it wasn't to hurt her but she was not walking away.

Max turned back to face me, her eyes ablaze and probably ready to maim me for yanking her around. "What-!" I cut her off with the only thing that came to mind.

"Yours."

This time her mouth fell open and she simply blinked. Her blush slowly began to dissolve as she finally understood what I was saying. After a second she had my hand back in her grasp as she dragged me away from the dance floor and too the exit. I wasn't paying attention to where she was taking me as my gaze was on her rear, in all honesty. I was watching the way her dress hugged her waist and how every step she took would raise the material ever so slightly. Maybe I should have been paying attention because she stopped suddenly and I bumped into her back.

I thought she would be mad but she turned around and gave me a knowing smirk. "Did you drive here?"

My eyes widened as I realized I was about to just walk out without telling Nudge or Iggy. "Actually my friend drove me. Let me go tell them I'm leaving."

When I went to pull away, she jerked me forward. "They'll be fine. It's not like I'm taking you back to my lair to hold you hostage and overtime eventually kill you." She laughed at my weirded out expression. "Just text them," she waved me off and continued walking giving me a glorious view.

It took me a second to notice we were walking down the street on an empty sidewalk. "I could of paid for a cab."

"It would have been a waste. I live just around the corner," she smiled as she proceeded with a hurried pace. She was beginning to make me stumble though so I yanked her back and walked with her at my side. This time I controlled the pace. She seemed surprised but soon just melted into me. It was clear she wanted to get there as soon as possible and I did too. But it wasn't necessary. I wasn't going anywhere so we'd have each other in due time.

The walk was calm but when we walked over the threshold of her apartment, it was like a frenzy. I could barely remember kicking the door shut before we were stripped and I was hovering over her tiny frame in her bed.

Waking up the next morning, I felt completely refreshed. It seemed perfect almost. The sun was beaming into her room at just the right angle and the white of her blankets and walls intensified the brightness. I sat up a bit and noticed Max was latched onto me. Her face rubbed into my chest from my movement and her arms around my waist tightened. One of her legs was thrown over the both of mine and I gulped loudly as the white sheet slid down revealing her chest.

This was so weird. Touching a woman that wasn't Lissa was new.

As gently as I could, I eased out from under her. To my shock it didn't wake her up so I quickly pulled the sheet up to cover her nudity.

Though I felt great right now, I had no idea when the guilt would hit me. I thought I would feel it right when I woke up and I'd slink from her bed with everlasting shame. I felt completely the opposite though. Even as I walked through her apartment, picking up my clothes and pulling them on, I felt nothing. Nothing except for a deep satisfaction.

My shirt had been discarded somewhere in her living room but once I tugged it on, I made my way back to her room. I didn't even entertain the thought of just walking out on her. That would be rude and even if this was a one night stand, I'd feel wrong just walking out without saying bye. It wasn't like me to use someone like this.

If I thought about it, I didn't even want to leave. I knew that if I left all that awaited me was Lissa at my own apartment. She'd be expecting an explanation on why I didn't return last night. To her understanding I went to Iggy's to have a guy's night while Nudge was at a friends. Hopefully she didn't call Igs though. I forgot to text him last night so not even he knew where I was. Hopefully he knew better than to tell my wife that he lost me at some night club.

"Leaving already?"

I had wondered back to her room and thankfully I didn't have to wait for her to wake up. She was already sitting up and stretching her arms out, snickering when my eyes landed on her bare chest.

She obviously had no shame.

"Did you want breakfast or something," she asked as she climbed out of her bed naked. She moved to her dresser and pulled out a pair of panties and a baggy tank top. She raised a brow at me as she started brushing out her golden brown hair.

I cleared my throat and looked away. "Uh- actually I should get going." Was that what I was supposed to say? How do you do the night after?

Her features fell and I saw that I said the wrong thing. "Oh well, I'll call you a cab them. . ." She slowly left from the room and headed to her kitchen.

When she was completely out of the room I facepalmed myself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," I grumbled.

Yeah, I had definitely never been in this situation before. It wasn't that I didn't want to stay and possibly have a repeat. I liked Max, I really did. I just knew absolutely nothing about her, I had no idea how to tell her I wanted to see her again, and then not to mention I had a wife. A cheating wife but a wife all the same.

"The cab should be here in about twenty minutes," she said curtly and I winced. She was clearly annoyed right now and I bet she wanted me to wait outside.

Get to know her.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I'm not really a talker and I'm terrible with words. And if it wasn't already obvious, I don't do the whole one night stand thing" I sighed when she only raised her eyebrows at me, clearly not caring about my apology. "I would stay but I have work." Mustering up some courage under her intense scrutiny I said, "But I'd really like to have your number."

Max visibly relaxed when she realized I wasn't just trying to escape. And I wasn't. I honestly could see myself dialing her number. "You know, I don't do this at all either. You're actually my first," she spoke freely as she typed her number into my phone.

My eyes widened and I immediately felt like the biggest douche. "You were a . . . virgin. . " Did I just deflower some poor innocent girl?

Max laughed comically. "Yeah when I was 17." She went off into a whole other round of giggles at my flustered expression.

"Dude, next time you decide to hightail it out of there with some random chick, can you at least send a text. Nudge was flipping out all night!"

I grunted as I walked through Iggy's place grabbing my keys. "Sorry."

"A grunt and a monotonous apology is all I get?! After I told your wife that you crashed at my place instead of banging some club chick like you actually were! I had be all nice and everything. Do you know how hard that is when you're talking to someone you absolutely despise," Iggy was practically exploding and his features that were usually pale were an angry red.

I rolled my eyes at his words. He's always hated Lissa and Lissa always had something nasty to say about him. They disliked each other but they more or less tolerated one another for me. "Thank you, Igs. I know I owe you big time," I clapped him on the back. "Tell Nudge I'm sorry I scared her but I am alive and well. Not dead somewhere in a ditch."

I was at the door getting ready to make my exit when Iggy pushed me to the side. "Whoa, whoa, whoa." I gave him a confused look as he settled himself between me and the door. "How was it?"

Giving him a deadpanned look I pushed him out of my way and shut the door behind me. Now that I wasn't actually facing him, I let the small grin I was holding back take over my features. For once I was actually happy about something and I had no clue if it was because I hooked up with some hot girl or because I actually liked this said 'hot girl'. I would definitely be seeing Max again though. This wouldn't be the last time I got to see her.

And it wasn't. I actually called her the next week when I was positive Lissa wouldn't be home. All Max had wanted to do was hook up it seemed and I wasn't going to complain. After we had met at least five times though, I told her I actually wanted to go out. I enjoyed being with her but contrary to popular belief, not all guys just wanted sex. I didn't know whether to consider it a date or not but we went out to a diner for some lunch. This was the time that I actually got to learn about Max. And we talked a lot.

I found out that she had just finished college. She had been at the club that night to celebrate with two of her best friends that also happened to be dating, hence why she was the third wheel. Apparently it was the first time she had been single in a while. Her and her boyfriend of four years decided to cut things off the date she went out. Her reason for why brought on that guilt I thought would never come.

"I realized that after these four years, I loved him. But I didn't love him the way he wanted me to, the way I used to. For the longest time I hadn't said anything because I was afraid. He was one of my best friends that I told everything and I didn't want to lose that," she shook her head with sad eyes. "Finally I gathered the courage to actually tell him how I felt and he agreed. We were too much like friends."

I didn't know what to say. I felt like God was shoving this is my face for a reason, reminding me that I still in fact had a wife that still thinks I'm in love with her. It made me feel like a coward.

"Are you guys still friends," I finally settled on saying.

This seemed to bring a bad memory as she solemnly shook her head. "He met somebody and the girl was uncomfortable with the idea that he's seen me naked and the whole past relationship. I didn't let him choose between us and I walked away."

"I'm sorry." I was saying more than she realized with that apology. I'm sorry for lying to her. I'm sorry for the day that I actually will tell her about Lissa and whether that will hurt her or not. I dreaded the day I would actually bring myself to tell her.

That night had marked the first time that we met up and didn't have sex. The first of many. I found myself meeting up with her to actually be with her. When I wasn't around her I would be texting her. Constantly she'd be on my mind. Now it wasn't just about sex to me anymore, it wasn't about a release. I actually wanted to be with her and I wanted to give her all of my time.

Two months passed by in a blur. We considered ourselves to be dating and in a relationship now.

Too bad I was already in one.

That guilt, it slowly grew. It was stuck in my head and I couldn't get away from it. And it wasn't because I was afraid of Lissa and what she might do if she finds out. It was because I was afraid of Max and what she would do if she found out. She never questioned why I always asked to go to her place instead of mine. She never noticed the slight tan line I had from my missing wedding band. She never asked why I always had to abruptly leave in the morning or during the day. She never questioned me and I saw that it was because she trusted me. And that trust pained me because I was doing her wrong. It pained me because I knew I would eventually ruin it and throw that trust in her face.

Every time I went to tell her I would always chicken out. Max could just blind me so easily. When I was with her it felt like I was in another world, everything was perfect and I didn't actually have a secret life. There was nobody but us and all my problems faded into the black. I was in a relationship with Max, only Max and no one else. And Lissa wasn't there. I may sound terrible that I hold such disregard for her, but I couldn't help it.

Being with Max had opened my eyes to many things. She had been sleeping around long before I ever met Max, I was sure. The way she acted when she came home sometimes resembled me in much the same way when I got back from being with Max. Dazed eyes, bleary smiles, obvious love high, maybe even a few love marks that couldn't be explained. . .

Max also showed me what I had missed out on. I wanted to say Lissa held me back but I wasn't going to blame her. I held myself back. I settled on Lissa. I missed out the college experience. I ruined my marriage. I was cheating on my wife. I was cheating on my girlfriend. It was all such a mess and I had no idea what to do. I was lost on whether to confront Lissa or Max first.

This couldn't go on anymore. I had to tell her. Max deserves to know and maybe if I explain to her how much the past two months have meant to me, she might be more inclined to accept me.

I was going to do it. I called her and gave her directions to mine and Lissa's apartment. Lissa was away on a 'business trip'. Wasn't sure if I believed that one or not. But I was adamant that today would be the day. I would tell Max the truth and when Lissa returned I would tell her how I felt. I was just praying that Max wouldn't hate me too much, hoping she wouldn't write me off so quick.

But like every time Max came around, I was distracted. The first thing she had done when I opened the front door was smash her lips against mine. I had quickly pulled her into my flat where I had half a mind to keep her in the living room. After I was undressed she pushed me down to sit on the couch where she then began to strip, my attention never straying from her form. Nude now, she moved to sit on my lap where I held her tightly. She reached for my pants, grabbed my wallet looking for the condom like she always saw me do. When she grabbed my wallet however, she held it the wrong side up. And a soft thump fell on my chest. It was a cold metal and held a firm weight. And all at once I felt my stomach drop straight down to my butt.

My wedding band.

With baited breath I watched as she looked down and slowly picked up the object. I watched with horror filled eyes as she rotated it between her fingers. When she finally seemed to register what it was, she gazed at me with a certain fear that shocked me. Her mouth opened and then fell close as I saw her eyes become a bit watery. "Were you married? I- is this old," she stuttered as she gazed at me with hope filled eyes. When I said nothing, too surprised to say anything, she rose off of me and stood in front of me, still holding the ring. "Are you m-married, Fang?" Her lips trembled and she looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Max, " I swallowed nervously. "I was going to tell you. . ." My heart broke at the tears that slid down her face and I tried to pull her to me, to sit back on my lap so I could explain. From the time that I've gotten to know Max, I quickly learned that she wasn't crier. She wasn't really big on emotions at all and didn't whine nearly as much as Lissa did. And that appealed to me greatly. But she was one of those people that if she was crying, you knew you fucked up. I had never even once seen her shed a tear. And now it looked like a whole dam was about to break and I felt like shit.

Like I should.

She slapped my hands away violently. "Don't touch me! Do not touch me." She was holding tears back it seemed before she rested her face in her hands. I felt myself becoming more and more lost. I should have done something though because faster than I could blink, she was throwing her clothes on and running to the door.

"Wait!" I jumped to my feet and I could hear her trying to open the door until she realized I locked it, to which she began fumbling with the lock. "MAX!" I heard the door open and I quickly ran after her with only my jeans covering me. She was standing at the elevator waiting for the doors to open and I took my chance. "Max! Please just listen to me," I begged as I grabbed her at the crook of her arm.

"Don't you ever call me again. Don't look for me, don't contact me, don't even think about me. I don't want anything to do with you," she hissed vehemently as she yanked her arm away. "You're disgusting. Using me on the side and then coming home to your wife afterwards." She made a noise of distaste in the back of her throat as she finally entered the elevator.

Before they could close, I pushed them back open and entered myself. "You're the only person I've been with for the past eight months."

"You expect me to believe that you didn't touch your wife at all while dating me." She scoot all the way to the other side of the elevator. "You used me." Her voice cracked and I cringed. Seeing her so obviously distraught tore me apart.

"I was going to leave her and whether you want to believe me or not, I was going to tell you about her today. It's why I called you."

She rolled her eyes before turning on me with a blazing furor. "Don't lie to me," she said between clenched teeth. "You called me over here for what you always call for. That's why you kept me around." She shook her head humorlessly. "You were never going to tell me." She jabbed me roughly in the chest as she spit her words before she turned and left out the open elevator. I was about to follow her but people were openly staring with their mouths hanging open.

"Mr. Ride?" I saw my neighbor from a few doors down gazing at me baffled. Lissa was sure to hear about this. I couldn't bring myself to give a shit. Lissa didn't matter to me. The only thing that I truly cared about just walked out those doors.

Dejectedly, I pushed the button for my floor and set my face in my hands. I felt moisture gather in my eyes but I forced them back down.

I lost her. Max was gone and I'd never see her again.

A/N~ So this is just the first part. I don't know if I should post the second part or not but if enough people ask for it I'll post it. If I do post it, it will be switched to an M rating. If it would make certain readers more comfortable, I'll put a line thingy where the scene starts and another for where it ends. Thanks for those that read and I hoped you enjoyed. Please tell me what you think.

~PurpleLlamanator