Once In A Lifetime

Crossing The Line

Seth's POV

I was hurt. I finally seemed to be making headway as Lissa agreed to let me come home. But she saw the text from Charlize and was hurt even more. What she didn't know was I was going to tell Charlize I couldn't be friends with her anymore. I wish she would have let me explained. I went to the restaurant early and decided to drink at the bar. I wanted to feel numb. I drank for a few hours. I didn't realize how long I was there until Charlize showed up. She asked, "Seth?"

I turned to her and said with a huge smile, "Heeeyyyy, Charlize. You're here!" I said, loudly as I was drunk.

"Jesus, Seth. How much have you had to drink?" She asked.

"A lot." I slurred.

She shook her head. "Come on, let me get you home."

She tried to help me out of my seat but I pushed her away. "I don't have a home to go to."

She seemed confused. "What do you mean, Seth?"

"Lissa kicked me out." I told her.

"Why?" She asked, almost in shock. I looked away and tried to stand up on my own. My legs gave as I was drunk. She helped me catch my composer. "Okay, where are you staying? I'll take you there."

I nodded. We moved out of the restaurant and got into her car. I sat in the passenger seat as she drove. I told her where I was staying. She drove and asked, "Why did Lissa kick you out, Seth?"

"You." I only said.

"What? Why me? What did I do?" She asked, almost upset.

"Nothing. It's what I did. Well, not exactly what I did, but what I felt." I said to her.

"What do you mean, Seth?" She asked.

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. I messed up, bad."

I was feeling sorry for myself. She didn't say anything, just kept driving. We pulled up to my sister's house. She then turned to me and said, "I don't know what happened exactly, Seth. But I know that she will forgive you. You are a great guy. She is lucky to have you. I know I am lucky enough to be your friend." She smiled at me.

I smiled back as she made me feel warm and better. I don't know what came over me, maybe it was the alcohol, but next thing I knew I moved in and kissed her. She was shocked by this and pushed me away. "What the hell are you doing?" She said in shock.

I realized what I did. I looked away and began to freak out. "What did I do? What the fuck was I thinking? I can't believe I just did that."

I needed to get away from her. I opened the door and tried to get out, but the world was spinning. I stepped out and fell. I heard Charlize say, "Shit."

Next thing I knew, she was out of the car and next to me. She was trying to help me up. I pulled away. "No, don't. I've done enough. I don't deserve your help."

"Seth, what has gotten into you?" She asked as she seemed concerned.

I looked up at her with sad eyes. "Lissa kicked me out cause she knows I have feelings for you." I looked away as I was embarrassed.

"You, what? You can't, Seth. You are married. To a good woman at that. And we are just friends." She almost yelled out.

"I know that. I didn't mean to have feelings for you but I did and she saw it. She threw me out and now I kissed you. She will never forgive me. I am so stupid. I love her so much. I do. Why do I have to be so stupid?" I almost was crying at this point as I sat on the ground.

Charlize sat next to me. "Seth, you aren't stupid. Just a dumb man. There is a difference." She cracked. I did smile at this. "But you know nothing can happen between us. You are a great guy and a great friend. But you have a wonderful, beautiful woman. You are a lucky guy. A lot of guys would kill to have what you have. You need to remember why you fell in love with her. Then these feelings you have for me will seem like a long lost memory."

I smiled at her. "Thanks, Charlize."

She stood up and held a hand out to me. She said, "Come on. Let's get you inside and in bed. You will sober up and find a way to fight for your woman."

I took her hand and stood up. She held onto me and I said to her, "You are a great friend, Charlize. I hate that I have to end it."

"What?" She looked hurt.

"Yeah, that is why I asked you to dinner. Cause I wanted to talk to you about that. I cannot feel this way about you especially if I want my family back. Until I get my feelings in check, I need to stay away from you. I don't want to cause you are a wonderful friend. But I feel it is best. I'm sorry." I said to her.

She nodded. "No, I understand, Seth. I want you to get them in check too, cause if you kiss me again, I might have to punch you." She gave me a smile, showing me she had no hard feelings.

I laughed and nodded. "I would deserve it. Hell, I deserve one now." She punched me hard in my arm and it actually hurt. "Ow." I yelled out as I grabbed my arm as I looked at her in surprise.

She smiled. "There, that one is for that kiss. But if it happens again, Seth, next one will be across the jaw."

I laughed. "Noted."

She moved an arm around me and said, "Come on. Let's get you inside."

I nodded as we moved to the door. I only thought to myself how much I fucked up. But I knew I had to tell Lissa. I couldn't lie to her about this.

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Melissa's POV

I was still hurting. I cried throughout the day off and on. We came so close to making up and just like that, he messed it up. I was in bed after the kids got to bed. I couldn't sleep as I thought about Seth. My phone rang and I saw it was Seth. I didn't know if I should pick up but I wanted to. I picked up the phone and said, softly, "Hello."

"Lissa." He sounded upset. "I'm so sorry."

"Seth, now is not the time." I said to him.

"No, please, I need to talk to you. I love you." He said, he sounded drunk.

"Are you drunk?" I asked.

"Well, yeah." He admitted.

I sighed as I rolled my eyes. I then said, annoyed, "Call me when you are sober."

"No, I have to tell you something as I don't want to lie to you anymore." He quickly said.

"What?" I was more annoyed at this point.

"I made a huge mistake, love. A huge one. And I am so sorry." I heard his voice break as I knew he was crying.

I didn't like to hear him like this. "Please, Seth. I can't handle this." I begged.

He quickly said in tears, "No, please, listen. I fucked up royally and I hope you can forgive me."

"Seth, just stop." I was feeling sorrow as I heard him.

"I kissed Charlize." He quickly got out. I was in shock as I heard it. I didn't speak, he kept speaking. "I don't know why I did it. She pushed me away and once I realized what I did, I freaked out as I knew it was a mistake, a huge mistake. I was drunk when I did it. I wasn't thinking clearly. But once it happened, I knew what I did I couldn't take it back. Lissa, I'm so sorry." I didn't say nothing. Tears just flowed down my eyes. Then I heard him say, "Baby, please, say something."

I forced myself to keep my sobs under control. I said, angrily thought the phone, "Don't EVER come back here!"

Without another word, I hung up on him. I laid back down and cried to myself. I curled my legs up against me and hugged my knees. My heart hurt so bad as I knew he went to a point of no return. There was nothing he could do or say to make this better. My heart was in so much pain. I loved him but I couldn't forgive him for this. I just cried as my heart hurt. I didn't know what I did to deserve this. This is what I was afraid of and it happened. I just cried to myself as my heart was broken. The man I loved so much just shattered my heart. I didn't know pain like this could exist.