One Simple Step (Journey #3)

Our relationship might have started off a little stranger than most. Things were casual when we first got together. I wouldn’t really even classify what we had as “together.” I knew Teddy was seeing other girls—well, not really seeing, more like screwing—and I had the occasional date or two.

I was probably lucky I didn’t end up with some disease during that little stint, but I was adamant about the use of condoms, even though I had been on birth control since I was eighteen and Teddy hated using them. I started to get jealous after a while, though, and couldn’t handle seeing him with all of the groupies that followed him around to all of the college bars.

So when Tyler joined the band, I moved on. Or at least I thought so. I think Tyler had pretty much been a substitute for Teddy, even though he was a really great guy and I didn’t see it at the time. I think Tyler and I having a steady relationship is what made Teddy realize that he wanted me all to himself. And that’s exactly what he got when we jumped feet first into marriage.

After four years together, I thought he’d gotten his fill of the crazy man-whoring days, and that they were far behind him. He may have wanted me all to himself, but he still couldn’t be a one-woman kind of guy, and had proved exactly that when I caught him in the act.

The first thing I did when I came to Florida was go to the nearest health clinic. I didn’t know if Teddy screwed around throughout our whole marriage or what, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Luckily, I had been in the clear.

Thank God, I hadn’t stopped taking my birth control when Teddy first started mentioning kids. This mess would have been a lot stickier if a baby had been added into the equation.

Getting lost in conversation with everyone, I didn’t even notice that Nick had left, without even a goodbye to me or to any of his friends. I wasn’t going to lie, it hurt, but I tried to push that feeling down and enjoy myself, even if Teddy being here was really awkward.

He somehow managed to avoid every girl that was flirting with him. At least three of them had the guts to come over to our table, trying to give him their number, but he avoided each one, keeping his eyes solely on me. I could tell he was trying to win me back, but it wasn’t happening.

“Well, I think we need to head out, Al. We have an early flight to catch, and I need to get a little bit of sleep. You ready to go?” Leah and Chase both stood up and looked down at me. Ben and Remy had already disappeared together, I’m sure to have their own little goodbye, and the guys were headed to Clammy’s for a little more ‘drinking action’ as Danny put it. I wondered if Nick would be there.

“I’ll make sure Ally gets home,” Teddy piped in, grabbing my hand that Leah had already latched onto. The two seemed to be playing tug of war with me as they both pulled in opposite directions, and I yanked my hand away.

“No, she’s coming with us,” Leah answered through gritted teeth. Chase gave me a tight-lipped smile, probably knowing that his little spitfire of a wife was about to come unhinged, and reached for Leah.

“Babe, I think Ally can handle herself. If she wants to come with us or stay with Teddy, that’s her decision.” Leah seemed to relax just a little when Chase wrapped an arm around her waist, but I definitely never wanted to be on the end of the look she was currently throwing Teddy’s way.

“Please, Al. Let me take you home.” Teddy twisted his lips into a smirk while ignoring Leah, and gave me a look, his chocolate brown eyes pleading. “I think we need a little bit of alone time. There’s some things I want to talk to you about.”

“Ally, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Leah pursed her lips at Teddy, whose focus remained on me.

“Leah, it’s alright, really.” I stepped over to give her a hug. “I know what I’m doing, and we do need to get some things figured out. You go get some sleep so you don’t miss your flight, and get back to those amazing kids of yours.”

“Ya sure?” She pulled back from our embrace, and looked at me, eyes filled with worry.

“Positive. I am definitely gonna miss you. We’ll have to plan another one of these trips soon. My mom keeps bugging me to visit, so maybe I’ll do just that.”

“Definitely, Al. I can’t wait. Let me know some dates when you get them, maybe I can get a few days off.”

I gave Chase a hug before they left, and he pulled Teddy aside to say their goodbyes. They really were like brothers, and I know they wouldn’t ever admit it since they were guys and all, but you could tell how much they missed being around each other all the time.

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