Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 156: conflicted Between Chasing After Her Letting Go Gabriel's POV As Clairessa walked out, I stood frozen-caught between chasing after her or letting her go.

And I let her go.

Even though it felt like someone had reached into my chest and torn my heart out without mercy.

The last look on her face-God, I'd never forget it. That raw, agonizing pain in her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks.

I did that.

All because I let my emotions override every ounce of reason I had.

Because of a fucking photo. One I didn't even trust. I reacted without thinking. Without proof. Without giving her the benefit of the doubt.

I let it poison everything. Let suspicion consme. Let anger drive me—and now? God, now I might've destroyed the one good thing I had.

I may have just destroyed the only real chance at love I've ever had. At happiness. At peace.

"Fuck..." I muttered, dragging both hands through my hair, fingers tangling in the strands like I could burn the frustration out through my scalp.

But nothing made sense anymore.

Flashes from the night before hitlike a brutal tide. Standing Clairessa up on the rooftop. Ignoring her messages. Driving to The Cave, letting the music drown out my thoughts.

The burn of alcohol. The lights. The strippers. Tina.

Meeting her. Drinking. Letting her get close.

Bringing her here.

I remembered the strip tease. Her grinding on me. Her hands roaming as she undressed me-lips on my skin, fingers tugging off my shirt... then reaching lower, fumbling with my pants... my briefs.

And after that-nothing. Just a blank space.

I turned around slowly, dreading what I might've done.

Tina stood by the door, arms loosely crossed over her chest, biting her lip like she didn't know what to say.

Like she was sorry.

Like she knew exactly what was running through my head.

"What the hell happened last night?" I asked, my voice hoarse. "Tellwe didn't..." I couldn't even say it. The words refused to cout. My stomach twisted at the thought. I needed to hear her say it. I needed to know I didn't completely betray Clairessa-physically.

"No, Gabriel," she interrupted, raising a hand. "You were drunk. Completely out of it." I stared at her, the words barely registering.

"What?" "I mean... I tried," she admitted, looking away. "I used every trick I knew-ones that used to work on you back in the day. But nothing did." "We didn't," Tina said firmly. "You passed out right after I undressed you. I was already half-naked from dancing—I just lay down beside you. That's it. Nothing happened." I exhaled hard, a shaky breath of relief leaving my lungs, the tight knot in my chest loosening just a little.

Tina noticed my reaction and offered a faint, sympathetic smile.

"Contrary to what you might think, Gabe..." she stepped closer, her voice gentler now, "I have boundaries. I draw the line at taking advantage of a drunk man who kept mumbling another woman's name." I stared at her, shocked to my bones.

"I did that?" I whispered, floored by the idea that even through the haze of alcohol, Clairessa had stayed with me.

She nodded. "Over and over. You kept saying her name-Clairessa. It was honestly kind of heartbreaking to watch." Tina paused, then added softly, "And after seeing her so broken-thinking you cheated-the pain on her face the way she stormed out... and watching you fall apart too... I get why you couldn't go through with it last night. You should probably just tell her the truth-that nothing happened between us." I opened my mouth to respond, but my voice cracked. I looked down at my hands, the shtoo heavy to carry.

"I doubt she'll believe me," I said quietly. "I think I've burned it all to the ground." Even though I hadn't slept with Tina.

It didn't matter.

It didn't erase the damage. Didn't undo what Clairessa saw when she walked in.

The look on her face. The betrayal she must've felt.

And the worst part? She didn't even wait forto explain. She just looked atlike I was a stranger.

Like I'd turned into someone she could never trust again.

Tina laid a tentative hand on my shoulder. I didn't pull away.

"For what it's worth," she said softly, "I believe she still loves you And think there's still a chance for you to make this right."

"I don't know, Tina," I muttered.

"There's a lot going on andhonestly, I e don't want to keep talking about this right now." "That's fair," she noted gently, reaching for my hand. "But I want you to know something-you don't have to go through this alone. Our relationship doesn't have to be about sex." She paused, locking eyes withas she searched my face. "We can talk," she

continued, her voice low. "About what you're really feeling. It might help?...

e instead of keeping it all bottled up." I pulled away slightly. The only person I'd allowed to see throughin years was Clairessa-and no one else.

Then I looked at Tina-really looked at her. The seductress was gone. Standing in her place was a woman offeringkindness. A friend.

And maybe, in this moment, that was exactly what I needed: a friend to share sof my thoughts with...

my confusion. Someone who could help shed light on the clarity I desperately needed, because my emotions were clouding my judgment.

I nodded faintly. "You're right," I murmured. "Bottling it up hasn't doneany good. And getting drunk was the worst decision I could've made." "No kidding," she muttered with a small smirk.

"Talking might help," I admitted. "Because clearly, I can't trust myself when I'm spiraling." "Then come," she said, tugging gently at my hand. "Sit withproperly. Just talk." And for the first tin a long while, I let myself.

We sat in silence for a moment before Tina tilted her head and locked eyes with me. I knew the question was coming.

"So... Do you love her?"