Hello everyone. We have reached the end of our journey. Here is Chapter Six, the FINAL CHAPTER, of Choices. I certainly hope you enjoyed the previous chapters. Thank you for continuing to read this story.
Please read and comment. Your thoughts are welcomed and I want to know what you think. So now, on to the story "Choices, Chapter 6".
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Terri watched her go and her heart broke. She'd once again hurt her best friend. It didn't matter that she didn't mean to. She hurt Lottie every time and it wasn't right.
Lottie left the flat with no clear destination in mind. She needed air. She couldn't breathe. She knew what the end would be. Why was she prolonging it?
Soon she found herself at the local pub. It was a straight pub, gays and bi's avoided the place.
As soon as she walked in, she felt people glaring at her as if to say how dare you come in here. She ignored them and took a seat at the bar. She ordered a long island ice tea and took time to contemplate.
Soon she realized she wasn't alone. Someone had sat next to her and spoke. She'd recognize that voice anywhere.
"You know, Terri's great and all that but you should be with someone that wants only you." The deep melodic voice whispered.
Startled, Lottie looked up into the face of the one man she was sure would never offer her a kind word.
"Stephen you hate me remember, what do you care?" she asked, pissed.
"You're right. I probably shouldn't, but no one deserves to be used and discarded like that. Lottie, you are a good person and an even greater friend to Terri, but you shouldn't keep letting her drain you like this." Stephen said feeling guilty for mistreating this girl in the past. It was only now that he realized how alone Lottie really was.
"She's my best friend, Stephen, my only friend. I know you don't-" Lottie stopped. "Never mind, you don't really care."
Stephen chuckled, "Surprisingly, I do. I have treated you unfairly in the past. I called myself to be protecting my wife, but she was fine. You've suffered greatly from your friendship with her."
He gently reached out and rubbed her back slightly. Lottie was struggling to not cry. She wouldn't cry, not in front of him. Brushing his hands off of her, Lottie stood to leave.
Stephen stopped her and hugged her for a moment, then he whispered in her ear, "You are so much more than what you think. Many people care about you, Lottie, but you have to let them in."
"If it were that easy..." Lottie whispered into his chest as for a moment of weakness she rarely showed, she absorbed his strength.
She pushed away from Stephen and looked at him. For the first time since he married her best friend, she finally saw his true character. Stephen was a decent guy.
"Thanks." She murmured as she walked away in search of solitude.
Lottie started to go home, but she didn't feel like dealing with Terri. Stephen, blockhead that he was, had a point. She deserved better than being second runner up.
Stephen watched Lottie leave the pub and was concerned. It bothered him but there was really nothing he could do. He thought about April and the call earlier and smiled.
He hoped that one day Lottie would find someone just for her. His heart broke for her and the pain she was in. He hoped that if Tom and Terri did get together, they stayed.
Lottie didn't need to be yanked around by Terri anymore. He could see now why Tom was so concerned about Lottie.
So taking out his phone, he called his friends to see if they were still joining him. He also called Tom, and was glad he agreed to hang out.
Lottie walked away from the pub to a nearby park. Laughing, Lottie thought,
Stephen, giving me advice, really. I'm the last one he'd try and help.
Tom hung up the phone from Stephen and dressed to head to the pub. He'd walk there because it was only a few blocks away. Just as he was leaving, the phone rang.
"Sir, a young woman, Terri, would like to come to your room?"
the front desk clerk informed him.
"Ms. Long, tell her I will meet her in the lounge." Tom informed the clerk.
He felt that having Terri come to his room was not a good idea. There were issues that needed to be resolved between them.
Tom dressed and walked into the lounge, Terri was sitting on one of the sofa's thumbing through a magazine. His breath caught, for she was a vision of loveliness. Part of his brain screamed to take her to his room they needed to be alone, but the other half argued that he needed to do this the right way.
Terri saw him and smiled. He was everything she never knew she wanted.
"Terri, hey." Tom greeted her with a brief hug.
She hugged him back, "Hey, Tom."
"What brings you here? Where's Lottie?" Tom asked.
Blinking back the tears Terri sat, "Um she went out for a bit. She needed a break from me."
Tom sat listening. She had to tell him something and she'd let him take his time. "Lottie and I are more than friends Tom. We're lovers. We're both bisexual."
"Well, Terri, everyone knows that already." Tom explained softly.
Terri laughed a little. "I know everyone does, but they don 't know how much we need each other. Tom, I love you. I want a chance at a life with you. I need you to accept Lottie. She's a part of me and I can't lose her friendship."
Tom, grasped her hands. "Terri, I would never force you to give up your friend. I know how important she is to you."
Tom exhaled. "I'm stationed on this job for two more months. I may stay in Vancouver, not sure yet. If I call you will you be willing to relocate? Be with me in Canada?"
"Tom, I'd follow you any where, everywhere, but I have to be fair to Lottie." Terri explained. "I don't know-"
Tom covered her lips with a kiss. This kiss told her everything she needed to know. Her blood heated, heart pounded, heat cascaded to the apex of her thighs.
She wanted him, but he then broke the kiss. "No, no." Tom whispered. "I want you so much that at times I can't think straight, but I'm not sneaking around this time."
Terri was breathing hard, pulse pounding, heart racing. Her body was on fire and he was the only one that could cool off the burn.
"Tom, please." Terri whispered as she reached for him once more.
"No, end the sexual relationship with Lottie first. If you can't then tell me. But make a choice Terri, Lottie or me." Tom pulled her close and embraced her once more.
He then kissed her forehead and asked if she needed a cab to get home. "You need to think. You don't have to choose tonight, but baby, you have to choose."
I'm walking over to the pub to meet with Stephen and the guys, do you need a cab." Tom asked as he hugged her before he left.
"No, I can drive you to the pub. You don't have to walk." She offered.
