His Beautiful Addiction

Claire had been avoiding looking at Hazel. Even without saying it, she knew she was hurt by what Larissa had said. She had wanted to leave immediately but she decided to stay back and apologize for what Larissa said. Even though she had feelings for Leo, the last thing she would do was to come in between them. She was given a chance but she didn't take it, she wouldn't be so black-bellied as to destroy their relationship because of her newly discovered feelings.

Claire engaged in the discussion until everyone dispersed, and then she smiled at Hazel;

''Hazel, I'm so sorry for what that lady said earlier, I and Leo were a little close in the industry, I think that was the reason she said those things, there's really nothing between us. ''

Hazel smiled, but Claire couldn't discern if she was faking it or not.

'' don't worry, ha-ha, rumors fly around in the industry, so I don't take everything I hear seriously. ''

''yea, Leo, I'll be going home now, see you at work. '' She waved at them;

''Alright, call me when you get home. '' He said and she nodded; ''Okay.''

Claire heaved a sigh as she walked out of the hall and to her car. Even though Hazel said she didn't take what Larissa said to heart, she knew she was going to be quite attentive to them now, and she was bound to realize something as long as they were still this close.

Pain tugged at her heart as she looked out the window; she would have to give them space. If she was in Hazel's position she wouldn't even want the man she was dating to have a female best friend, she wondered how it must be for her to pretend that she was fine with it. No woman was fine with it, so she had to do the needful. It would be bearable if she created the space herself than Leo doing it, she wasn't sure she would bear it if he did it first.

…

Hazel was quiet through the ride home, her eyes gazed outside. Leo had not said a word about what happened at the party and she didn't want to be the first to bring it up, but that didn't mean she was not bothered.

She would have overlooked it if it was just about what the lady said, but no, she had been seeing some other signs.

Since they started going out, Leo had not initiated any intimacy. The highest they had done was to kiss and they barely lasted because he would always end it as though there was something on his mind. She didn't want to think about it too much but what made her concerned was the fact that he would mistakenly call her Claire sometimes.

When he realized himself he would apologize and say that he was a little too used to calling her name and it was already a habit. She didn't want to think much of all these until today when that woman mentioned him liking Claire a little too much.

They were best friends but wasn't it too much? They couldn't stay a single day without him mentioning Claire at least once, she had asked him if he had anything with her in the past and he had denied, so what was all these, or was she overthinking?

 Leo peeked at Hazel a number of times as he drove her home, even though she was not saying anything; he knew she was mad about what happened at the party. She was right to be mad, any woman would, but telling her that he once had feelings for Claire would just be pouring salt on the injury. It wasn't going to help in any way; rather it was just going to make her suspicious of everything.

He drove into her street and stopped on the roadside, turning off the engine.

''Hazel, '' he called but she did not reply to him;

''I'm sorry for what you heard back there, I and Claire were close at that time so a lot of people misunderstood our relationship, there's really nothing going on… ''

''Don't say that Leo! Don't lie to me! If you had anything with her in the past, say it and let's get it over with. I don't want to always think about every action you do, or am I just a stand-in? What's actually wrong? ''

''Hazel, you're not a stand-in, no… ''

''Oh really; then tell me, why don't you do anything intimate with me? The only thing you've done was kiss me, and halfhearted kisses at that, as though you can't wait to be done with it. Leo, I love you but I'm tired, I can't do this anymore, I just can't… ''

Her words hung in her throat when she felt softness on her lips, and as though a bucket of cold water was emptied on her, her whole body stilled. Leo tilted his head to the side and deepened the kiss. He leaned closer and pulled her forward, kissing her intensely.

Hazel's hands which were on her laps raised to him and tugged on his hair, pulling at it as they kissed each other wildly; after what seemed like hours, Leo finally let go of her lips and they panted.

His eyes opened and they fell on her flushed face. He stared at her for a minute before he brushed the hair away from her face;

''I'm sorry for making you sad; ''

Hazel's eyes fluttered open and they locked in his; she was mad right now, but one kiss from him, and she was melting like a puddle.

''Don't make me worry again, okay? '' she peeked at him with puppy eyes and Leo shook his head.

''I won't. '' She smiled and kissed him finally on the lips before opening the door;

''Call me when you get home. ''

''Yeah, goodnight ''

''sweet dreams; ''

Leo watched her walk into her house and shut the door, then his head fell against the steering;

He was fucked up…