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Reid's POV

I walked Dakota to his car the next morning.

"Once again, thank you so much for staying." He smiled and shrugged.

"It's nothing Reid." He squeezed my shoulder and I rolled my eyes and hugged him. "Take care of yourself. And your father. If you need anything please call me."

"Okay. Same for you. I'll see you around?"

"Definitely. Bye." I smiled and waved at him, my heart dropping at seeing him leave. I watched his car go before walking into the house.

"Do you like him?" I heard my father say as I closed the door. I turned around and raised my eyebrow.

"What?"

"Do you like him?" I studied him, seeing that he actually did his hair. He seemed... sober, which was weird to me. Maybe because he had work today he had to be a bit better? But I hadn't seen him try this hard in a while.

"Uhh, no Dad. I'm straight. He's just a really good friend." He smiled at me.

"You two were cuddling." I raised my eyebrow. Were we? "If you did like him, you know he'd be good for you? He cares so much about you. He came and talked to me. Seemed like you had fun swimming with him."

"He talked to you?" He nodded.

"Yeah... Reid, I know you don't trust me. I say this so much. But, I'm going to get better for you. The kid talked to me and... he made me realize that I can do it. You deserve more than this. I want you to have a life again." I stared at him.

"Let me see it happen then Dad." He nodded and hugged me.

"I'll do it for you Reid. I promise." I closed my eyes tightly, trying not to cry.

"Okay." He nodded and sighed.

"Well, I've got work. I'll see you later. I love you."

"I love you too Dad. See you later." He left and I went to my room. I saw a call from Sadie. Damn, I hadn't talked to her in a while.

I called her and she picked up quickly.

"Hey... is everything okay?" She asked, apprehensively.

"Yeah. I'm fine. It was my dad again, you know? I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you'd just scared me. Do you think you'd come over today?" I pursed my lips. I honestly wanted to sleep today. I slept wonderfully last night, but I rarely had those nights. At the same time, I had been abandoning her quite a lot lately.

"Uhh, yeah. I'll be right over."

"Okay! Great, I can't wait." I hung up and ran a hand through my hair.

I got dressed, all the while thinking about Dakota. I appreciated him coming, and I was shocked that he talked to my dad about recovering. No one had ever done that... he was a special one.

I knew he'd be good for me, but I wasn't gay. I think I just think of him as a good friend. I think.

But I want to figure it out first. I know he wouldn't ever date me anyway because he's Sadie's best friend.

He was attractive though, honestly. I knew he kept checking me out in that pool. Weirdly enough, when I was pressed against him, I had to move away because he probably would've felt something hard on his butt. I looked down at my pants now and threw my hands up in exasperation. Stupid penis. Maybe I do like him.

Like I said, he'd never date me. So why does it matter? On the other hand, I know this sounds selfish, but I need someone. I don't know if Dakota will stay, but it seems like he will.

Sadie's been here for eight months now. I expect her to stay. But can I actually develop a love for her? Who said I could for Dakota? I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

I left the house, driving slowly to Sadie's. I was still thinking deeply about everything. I didn't want to hurt Sadie. Like I said, she'd been there so long. I liked her a lot, but I always knew we wouldn't last forever. I sighed, seeing that I pass by Dakota's house on the way to Sadie's. I smiled, almost turning into his driveway.

But I kept going to Sadie's.

I parked outside of her house and pushed my hair back. I walked up the path and knocked. Her father opened the door and I gave him a small smile.

"Hello, is Sadie here?"

"Yeah, she's upstairs." I nodded. I never really engaged with them. He tried to talk to me a few times, but that's not why I come here, so I avoid it.

"How've you been?"

"Good sir." I went around him and up the stairs. It seems rude, but I don't care.

I went into Sadie's room and she stood quickly. She ran over and hugged me tightly.

"Hey baby! I've missed you." I smiled, I did miss her. I'd just been busy.

"I missed you too. I'm sorry I haven't come to see you."

"It's okay, I get it. How's your dad?" I shrugged.

"The same. He's at work, so things are better." She nodded, but seemed uninterested. "Are you okay?" She gave me a small smile.

"It's just that both you and Dakota have been kinda distant lately and I feel like I'm losing you two. I love you so much." She said, tears coming to her eyes. For a second, I thought she was selfish. Because I'd been taking care of my father.

But I knew that I did avoid her phone calls while I was. But I was so tired. I didn't feel like dealing with anything crazy while I was focused on him. I sighed and went ahead and apologized.

"I'm sorry Sadie. But, my father comes first in my life. You know that. Then there's you, okay? And you are important to me, so I don't want you to feel neglected." She nodded and hugged me. "We'll spend the whole day together, okay?"

"Okay."

~

I went over to Sadie's the next few days, making sure to go home at night. The weird thing was that every time I went home, my father was asleep. I was starting to get some sleep. I didn't call Dakota, because I know it's hard for him to talk to me.

At the same time, Sadie and I have been doing pretty great. Besides from the fact that I don't enjoy sex with her anymore. I'm sure she can tell, and we got into an argument about it.

"Are you not attracted to me?" She asked me. I sighed and nodded.

"I am, I just don't know what's wrong." Something told me Dakota, but I pushed it to the back of my head.

"Do you need to go get it checked out?" My eyes widened and I got off of the bed.

"No! Nothing's fucking wrong with me." I told her, starting to grab my pants.

"Are you saying there's something wrong with me?" I shook my head and sighed. I hated to make her feel bad. So I did something that I didn't ever want to.

"Here, let's try again." I climbed over to her and kissed her. I let the thoughts of Dakota raid my brain. I thought about if it was him under me and of course, things worked just fine.

"That was the best it's been in a while. I'm sorry for doubting you. It must just be that you're worried about your father." I nodded, feeling horrible for what I did. I kissed her cheek and stood up.

"Speaking of that, I need to go see him. I'll call you later." I got dressed and left the room.

"Okay, I love you!"

"Love you too." I told her, closing my eyes just before I closed her door.

I got in my car, and hit the steering wheel.

"Fuck!" I sighed. I called Oliver an asshole at first, but now it's me.

I drove down the road, seeing Dakota's house coming in view. I made the quick decision to turn into his driveway. Should I go in there? I looked up to see Dakota looking in my window worriedly.

I got out of my car and he stared at me.

"What's going on?" He asked me. I shook my head. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his house. I looked around, his house was always empty. "No one's here. Let's sit on the couch and talk."

"I... just left Sadie's." He raised his eyebrow, though I couldn't miss the jealousy.

"Yeah?" I rubbed my face.

"Maybe I shouldn't talk to you about this. I don't know if this is right." He grabbed my hands.

"You can talk to me about anything. I'll put my feelings to side." I nodded.

"I–I had to think about you to have sex with Sadie." His eyes almost popped out of his head. I blushed profusely. "See, I shouldn't have told you." He shook his head.

"No, it's okay. Well, it isn't okay but... Wow. Uhh, Reid, do you–"

"No! I don't, I–I'm not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with being gay but I'm just not." He nodded, though he knew what was going on. "I don't want to hurt Sadie, and I know you don't either." I mumbled. He hugged me and rubbed my back.

It calmed me, slightly, but my heart sped up and it scared me.

"If I would've stayed away from you, you would've never felt this way about me. I was selfish and I kept trying to talk to you and help you but ultimately it fucked the both of us up and I'm so sorry." I shook my head.

"I don't regret the time we've spent together Dakota. I wouldn't take back you coming over or talking to me." He smiled and grabbed my hand.

"How's your father?"

"I actually think he's getting better, thanks to you."

"It wasn't me."

"But it was. Dad said you and I were cuddling, is that true?" He blushed a little.

"When you were asleep, you laid your head on my shoulder and wrapped your arm around me. Not really cuddling." I laughed and shook my head.

"He likes you." His eyes lit up and he grinned.

"Does he? That's great!" I laughed and I peered into his eyes.

"Yeah." I leaned in to him and softly kissed his lips. His hands went to my chest and he gripped my shirt. I held his waist in my hands and he climbed on top of me. He grinded his lower body onto mine. I felt my pants grow tighter as he did and I groaned.

"Uhh, sweetie?" Dakota jumped off of me and I saw his parents standing there. I stood quickly and adjusted my pants.

"Mom and Dad... you guys are off early today." Dakota said, laughing nervously.

"No, we're on time. Hello Reid." His father said, his eyes twinkling.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Shea." I nodded to them and they smiled. They walked away and I looked at Dakota. "I–I should go." He smiled sadly at me and nodded.

"I understand. Talk to you later?" I stared at him, shaking my head.

"I'm not gay. I don't want to be around you so much anymore. I'm supposed to be dating Sadie and... I shouldn't feel this way about you. Don't call me, and I won't call you." He frowned, I knew I was hurting him, but it was best for the both of us.

"But Reid, I–"

"No, Dakota. Stay away from me or I'll tell Sadie you keep coming on to me." His mouth dropped and he pushed me out of the house.

"You're the one who came over. You were the one saying nice things. Don't do it again."

I walked to my car, trying not to think. I knew I'd basically just cheated on Sadie, but what was bothering me was Dakota's torn face.

I wished that I could forget about it.

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