Page 6 of Barron's Second Chance
"If it's all the same to you, Mrs. Carter, I would prefer to see him now and get it over with." Eden looked his Mom square in the eye. Despite her cracking heart, she held herself with a steely resolve.
"Oh, but -" Whatever Mrs. Carter was about to say was cut off when a loud girlish shriek split the air. Then, the unmistakable sound of Barron's laughter rang out, followed by a few splashes. She recognized the owner of that shriek. Forget cracking; her heart was crumbling like a house of sand.
"Please, Mrs. Carter. I know what I'm going to find."
Kelly searched Eden's face, and whatever she saw there loosened her stance. She gave her a slight nod before stepping aside.
Eden moved into the large familiar hallway of the Carter residence, rigidly making her way to the kitchen where the sliding doors opened onto the spacious deck and pool.
She saw Simon first. He had a bikini-clad Maria Smith wrapped in his arms by the side of the pool. He jolted when he spotted her, his face looking like he had seen a ghost. His head quickly swiveled towards the pool before calling out Barron's name.
Eden now understood why Barron hadn’t replied to her texts and calls for the past few hours. Kind of hard to use your phone when your hands are busy being wrapped around Lissa Kelston. Kind of hard to talk on the phone to your girlfriend when your tongue is in Lissa’s mouth, too.
Barron hadn't heard his cousin's frantic calls, so lucky for Eden; she got a few more seconds of watching her boyfriend with Lissa. His body was flush against the other girl, and Lissa’s wet blonde locks flowed down her back as she eagerly accepted Barron's kiss.
"Barr!"
Simon's loud bellow finally pulled Barron away, where he turned his head and met her blue-eyed stare head-on.
"Shit!" He sputtered before frantically pushing away from a smirking Lissa.
"Eden," he clumsily waded to the pool's edge to climb out.
"Don't bother coming out on my behalf," she calmly said. "After all, according to your Mom, we’ve broken up now, haven't we?"
She quickly turned and stormed back into the house, blinking furiously to ward off the tears threatening to fall.
"Eden, wait!" Barron shouted desperately after her.
She ignored him and continued walking.
Fuck. Him. That lying, cheating bastard.
She almost reached the front door before Barron caught up with her, grasping her arm.
"Wait, Eden, baby, wait."
She spun around and slapped his face. Hard.
His usually dirty blonde hair was dark from being wet in the pool and was slicked back on his head. No doubt pushed lovingly aside by little Miss Head Cheerleader.
"You do not get to call me ‘baby’,” she hissed in anger. "Not after ignoring my calls, and texts, and then blatantly flaunting your cheating around town. Sofia had to call me to tell me what was going on."
Barron’s eyes flashed with regret and guilt.
"Shit, Eden."
He hung his head in shame as droplets dripped down his toned body and onto the wooden floor of his house. She noticed that his body had beefed up a bit over the summer. Had he done it in an effort to please Lissa?
"Why?" She whispered in torment. "Why did you cheat on me? How could you?" The last sentence caused her voice to crack.
Tears pooled in Barron's eyes, the shame of his actions causing him to drop his gaze from hers. "I'm so sorry, Eden. I didn't mean for this to happen, for you to find out this way. I still love you, but -" he stopped.
"But, what?" She pushed.
When he remained quiet, the anger of the last few weeks exploded.
"At least have the balls to look me in the eye and tell me why you're a lying, cheating asshole!" she growled. "I deserve that much!"
