Mistakes

'That,' Marco says, a little out of breath, 'was a mistake'

'Get out of here, Marco.'

'Yes, ma'am. And I don't know what the hell you were thinking, anyway.'

Silence.

'…Rachel.' Hey. He sighs. 'Rachel-'

'Mistake,' she almost whispers. 'Accident. Get out.'

.

.

.

'That,' says Rachel, 'is not going to happen again.'

'You started it.'

'Marco—'

'Don't say it, Rachel. It's me. You won't ever live it down.'

He doesn't leave just yet. He draws it out, like agony.

'You know, I never wanted to. Well maybe, I wanted it a little, but you and Tobias-'

'Don't you dare say anything, Marco, I'll. Kill. You.'

'Isn't that romantic,' he retorts.

The door slams behind him.

.

.

.

(Marco had been rough when he kissed, and still, terrifyingly, all warm breath and knowing smiles.)

But Tobias is hers. He always will be.

.

.

.

'Rachel, seriously, I'm not-'

'Shut up.'

'Rachel, it was fucking stupid, it was me, it was us all right? Won't happen again, like you said. I can't do that- to Tobias.'

She listens hard. She knows when he means it.

'And I can't do that to you. So I won't say a single word about it.'

A lump rises up her throat.

He turns to leave.

'Marco, I-uh-'

'Yeah?'

'Shut up. I mean- all right.'

He waits

'I mean- thanks.'

'My god. It has a heart.'

(He makes her laugh. He always does.)

(It never happens again.)