Unexpected Goodbyes

Bea's POV

As the sun began to peek through the curtains, I groggily opened my eyes, my cheek still tender from the punch delivered by Josh the previous night. The pain served as a painful reminder of the chaos that unfolded, and a wave of frustration washed over me.

It was time to make some tough decisions.

As I sat up, rubbing my sore cheek, I found Luca already awake beside me. He shot me a concerned glance. With a gentle voice, he asked, "Are you okay, Bea?"

Letting out a sigh, I responded, my tone filled with resolution, "No, Luca. I'm not okay. I don't want to see Josh ever again."

Luca's eyebrows furrowed, surprise and concern etched across his face. He contemplated my words carefully before cautiously probing further. "Are you sure about this, Bea? Is there a chance for you guys?"

Closing my eyes for a moment, I took a deep breath and nodded, my voice filled with determination. "I'm sure. I can't ignore the pain he's caused and the disregard he showed for my well-being. It's time to move forward without him."

Luca's gaze softened, and he reached out to squeeze my hand gently. "If that's what you truly want, then I'm here to support you. No matter what happens, I'll always have your back."

So, there we were, me and Luca, strolling downstairs. And guess what? The whole gang was already gathered—Theo, Grace, Ryan, Steph, Hugo and Jess. It was like walking into a business meeting, and boy, were things about to get interesting.

Now, I gotta say, everyone was all smiles except for one crucial player in this drama: Josh. Yeah, he was MIA, and honestly, nobody seemed too broken up about it. I mean, who needs that kind of emotional tornado at a morning hangout, right?

I'm not ready to see him.

And just when we thought we were in for a smooth ride of laughs and good vibes, Grace and Theo decided to spice things up. Turns out, Theo had brought home a girl last night, and Grace wasn't having any of it. Oh, no, she was firing words like they were arrows in a fucking bow.

Steph, jumped in, trying to mediate, but it was like trying to stop a train with a feather. Yup, the tension was thick.

Just as I was about to mentally pack my bags and head for the hills to escape the drama, there came a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat, and I swear, if it was Josh on the other side, I might've just dissolved.

But, of course, life has a funny way of testing your patience. Lo and behold, when the door swung open, there stood Josh with his lopsided grin. Seriously, could this day get any shitty?

"Hey, guys. Mind if I crash the party?" Josh's voice was casual, like he wasn't aware of the mess he'd left behind.

I might've managed a weak smile, but inside, I was rolling my eyes. "Oh, great, just what we needed."

Luca, being the friendly dude he is, gave Josh a nod of acknowledgment, and suddenly, the room seemed to collectively hold its breath. It was like a scene straight out of one of those awkward movies.

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Josh's POV

Alright, brace yourselves for a wild ride through the mind of yours truly, Josh, the master of unintentional chaos.

You see, I found myself standing at Bea's door, and let me tell you, it was a fuckery of a situation. But before you go all judgmental on me, let's rewind a bit and get the whole story.

So, there I was, Mr. "Accidental Puncher of the Year," getting the boot from Bea's place because, yes, you guessed it, I somehow managed to deck her by mistake. In my defense, it wasn't intentional—more like a case of terrible timing. And of course, it ended with me being shown the door faster than you could say "ouch."

Naturally, I thought, "Hey, why not cap off this stellar evening with some good ol' regret?" So, I did what any self-respecting guy would do—I went home with a girl, had a few too many drinks, and, well, let's just say the night didn't end with a riveting game of chess.

I played another game.

But listen, I woke up the next morning with a head full of alcohol and a gut feeling that I had some serious fixing to do. I mean, sure, Bea and I were in this complicated dance, but it didn't mean I was gonna throw in the towel that easily. Luca might've been swooping in like a suave superhero, but this was my game to play, fuck it.

So, after a pep talk that felt like something out of a movie montage, there I was, standing at Bea's doorstep. I mean, if Hugh Grant could win hearts with his charm, why couldn't I give it a shot?

I took a deep breath, rehearsed my lines a thousand times in my head, and knocked. And when that door swung open, revealing Bea's surprised expression.

"Hey," I blurted out, my voice probably an octave higher than normal. "Mind if I, uh, join the party?"

Bea's eyes widened, probably just as shocked to see me as I was to be there. But hey, that's life—

So, picture this: I'm standing at Bea's door, ready to play the role of a heartfelt hero in the grand saga of our relationship. And what do I get? The door slammed right in my face. Talk about a plot twist.

Now, let's be real here, Bea's got a knack for doing the most. She shoves me back out and closes the door behind her, like some dramatic scene from a sitcom. I tried to keep the mood light with a flirty joke, you know, just me trying to salvage whatever dignity I had left.

Bea doesn't waste any time getting to the point. She calls me out on the whole Hugo debacle, accusing me of channeling the brainpower of a fucking clueless goldfish. Ouch, but she's got a point.

And let's not forget, she's the one who put the "open relationship" idea on the table.

But I'm not about to go down without a verbal spar. I throw my hands up in exasperation. "Come on, Bea, you're the one who thought this whole open relationship thing was a grand idea. Now suddenly, it's a game changer?"

Oh, but then, oh then, things take a turn for the real. I let out a shout. "You know what? This whole fucking show you're putting on is driving me insane! I mean, seriously, who wants a relationship that's full of this bullshit?"

I've laid my cards on the table, and before I storm off, I toss out one last- "If you're after the old Josh, you'll get him." And with that dramatic exit line, I walked off.

As I stroll away, I can't help but think that there's one person who might just have the advice I need right now. I whip out my phone and dial a number that I've got on speed dial—none other than Melanie.

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Bea's POV

As Josh's figure disappears into the distance, I can feel the lump forming in my throat. Steph, always the empathetic friend, rushes up to me with open arms, ready to offer a comforting hug. But I'm not ready to be hugged just yet, not when the world seems to be spinning out of control.

"No, Steph, I'm good," I manage to choke out, my voice wavering like a badly tuned guitar.

Luca, in a well-intentioned gesture, plants a kiss on my cheek, but I'm not in the mood for his affectionate attempts. My emotions are like a tangled mess of strings, and I want nothing more than to unravel them on my own terms.

"Go away, Luca," I snap, my frustration seeping through. He doesn't back down, though, and shoots back something about being there for me. But honestly, at that moment, I couldn't care less about his claims of loyalty.

I rub upstairs, my tears flowing as if someone turned on a faucet. It's the kind of ugly-crying that not even the saddest movie can prepare you for.

Just as I'm about to sink into the depths of my own sad life , a knock on my door breaks through the chaos. And there he is, Hugo, the unexpected source of comfort-

"What's wrong, Bea?" Hugo's voice is gentle, a soothing melody amid the storm.

And there it is, my moment of vulnerability. I spill it all out, my voice trembling with each word. "I think I've messed up everything."

Hugo's concern is palpable, his eyes searching mine for answers. "What do you mean?"

And just like that, I feel the dam burst, words tumbling out like confessions in a dimly lit room. "I asked for the open relationship, Hugo, so I could do this." And with those words, I lean in for a kiss, a fleeting connection that holds the promise of escape.

As our lips touch, it's like a bittersweet symphony—a momentary respite from the chaos. But beneath the surface. Is Hugo the missing puzzle piece I've been searching for, or is he simply another way to distract myself from the truth I've been hiding?