The Mighty Storm (The Storm, #1)

Denny comes back with his and Stuart’s drinks, taking Simone’s attention again. And I glad because I just can’t seem to muster up any conversation with anyone. My mind is far too busy working overtime, wondering where Jake is, what he’s up too and who with.

If he was with Denny I wouldn’t be worried. But he’s with Tom, and Tom’s … well, he’s exactly the same as Jake, when it comes to women. A complete slag.

And the fact that Denny is here without them, meaning he left them to whatever they were doing so he could come to the party, as he isn’t into the whole shagging thousands of women thing, isn’t looking good right now.

What if Jake is with some groupie who managed to scam her way backstage? Or even worse … with some gorgeous French model or actress who was a VIP at the show.

Jake’s blatantly angry with me because Will is here, so maybe he’s decided to forget all about me with the help of someone else.

I start to feel sick, so I pick my margarita up and get chugging on it, trying to kill all thoughts of Jake.





We’ve been here an hour, the drink is not soothing me and I’m getting ansty, because Jake and Tom are still no shows.

Simone and Denny are getting on a treat which is awesome. I’ve picked up my conversational skills with Will and Stuart some, but not by much, I’m more pretending to listen than actually listening.

My eyes are surreptitiously trained on the door, and person after person, I’m met with disappointment that it’s not Jake walking through those doors.

I don’t even know if he’ll even speak to me when he does arrive. Or maybe he won’t come because I’m here with Will.

No, it’s the aftershow party for the final leg of the European tour, a big deal and there are a lot of important people here. Jake’s a businessman as well as a musician, he’ll show.

I’m getting the urge to want to call him. I keep considering it over and over in my mind whether or not to go to the bathroom and call him.

I’m on my second margarita, and trying to pace myself for the night, as I feel it will more than likely be a long one. And counting the drinks I had at the show, I’m three glasses of wine and two margaritas in already.

Denny has gone to the bar, Simone accompanying under the pretence of helping him carry the drinks back. She just wanted to get him alone, and I can’t say I blame her.

Stuart and Will are talking cars now, so I open up my handbag on the table and check my phone for the tenth time to see if Jake has called or text me, but there’s nothing but a blank screen staring back at me.

I’m turning into a crazy person over him. Is he doing this to me on purpose? Knowing him, yes, quite probably.

But I have to know whether he’s coming tonight or not.

I decide to go to the bathroom to call him, and I’m just about to get up from my seat, when I hear the noise that always accompanies Jake, as he comes into the party with Tom. Dave and Ben are obviously with them, and there’s a group of people I don’t recognise also.

Rapturous applause breaks out, the masses encroaching on Jake. And in this moment I feel incredibly proud of him as all eyes in the room are focussed solely on him.

I’m so relieved to see him that I think the huge smile on my face might split my cheeks in half.

But my relief doesn’t last long, and I see as the crowd shifts, standing beside Jake, is a very beautiful girl, with long thick red hair, a huge cleavage and legs that go on forever, wearing a dress that shows them off to their max. She looks like model.

And Jake is holding her hand.

My gut empties hollow, the smile quickly falling from my face, as it starts to prickle.

And therein I instantly get my answer as to where, and who he’s been with for the last hour.

A thousand thoughts and emotions stream through me.

None of them good.

I feel sick and stupid, dizzy and my heart is physically hurting in my chest.

My legs are itching to take me up from this chair and running for the door and out of here, and far, far away.

But I don’t move. I just sit here, rooted with pain, as I watch Jake with this girl.

I see his eyes scan the room. They lock onto mine. I freeze for a long moment, while his eyes burn me.

I look away. It’s too hard to look at him for another moment longer, as thoughts whip through my mind as to what he’s been doing with her.

I wonder if that is what it’s like for him when I’m with Will.

Maybe that’s why he’s with her, to hurt me. Well, if it is, it’s working, and well.

I’m raw with jealousy. I didn’t know I had it in me to feel it to this level.

With my trembling hand, I finger the steam of my glass, picking it up I tip my head back, letting the margarita run down my throat.

As I move my eyes downwards, resting my glass back on the table, I’m met with Jake. He’s standing at our table, directly in front of me, his redhead in tow.

He’s not holding her hand anymore, I notice. Even still, it doesn’t make me feel any better.

I just feel angry with him, and jealous. So very jealous.

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