Don’t kiss her. Please don’t kiss her.
Then with clear defiance on his face, he grabs hold of the back of her head, and plants his mouth on hers.
I almost vomit into my drink.
How could he do this? He was having sex with me less than ten minutes ago and now he’s out here kissing another woman.
I know I’m no angel in this, but I would never have come back out here, after been with him in there, and stuck my tongue down Will’s throat.
Hot tears burn the backs of my eyes. I have the urge to run.
But where to? And it’s not like I can just run off anyway. Will would wonder what the hell was wrong with me.
I’m trapped here, doomed to watch, while Jake kisses another woman, minutes after having sex with me.
Deep breaths, Tru. It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.
Closing my eyes, shutting them out, I pick my margarita up and drain the glass.
But I have to look again. It’s torture, but I can’t help myself.
I open my eyes to see Jake’s no longer kissing her; he’s talking to Tom, who also has a groupie hanging off him. But Zzhuilette is still in Jake’s lap. Her hands are on him.
I hate her, and I hate him.
No I don’t, I love him. But I want to hate him. In this moment it’s all I want. It would make all of this so much easier if I did.
Because this is Jake. This is what he does. It’s what he’s famous for.
He never gave a shit about being with me. I’m just a challenge to him. Something to conquer. He would have got bored with me the instant he took me off Will, and would have tossed me aside like all the rest of them.
Jake can have his pick of women. There’s not one single reason why he would have wanted me as his forever.
And I’m seeing the evidence clear, now, before me.
“Another drink, darling?” Will’s already on his feet, gesturing to my empty glass.
He’s so attentive. I don’t deserve him.
I do love him.
But I love Jake. More. I think. I don’t know.
Crap.
“Shots!” I blurt out.
Will gives me a puzzled look.
“Ooh, I’m down for shots,” Stuart chips in, grinning, tapping his fingers on the table.
I think I’ve just found my drinking soul mate for the evening, seeing as though Simone has abandoned me for the gorgeous, sweet Denny.
Why can’t Jake be more like Denny?
“A round of tequila shots please, baby … oh, and a beer chaser and another margarita – Stuart?” I look at him with a question.
He looks back at me impressed.
Well if I have to spend the night watching Jake maul a leggy redhead not long after having sex with me, then I’m going to do it drunk.
Stuart looks up at Will, and says, “I’ll have what the lovely Tru is having, oh and make sure to put it on Jake’s tab.”
He winks at me.
“Okay. Good. I’ll be back in a minute,” Will mutters still looking slightly perplexed.
I know he thinks I’ve lost it. He probably thinks I’m spending too much time around musicians. He’s right I am. But not in the way he thinks. My problem is I’ve been spending way too much time with one musician in particular – in the very blackest sense of the word.
But right now, I don’t care. It’s either get drunk, or go ass-over-backwards crazy.
I opt for drunk.
And I’m kind of loving Stuart right now for supporting me in my alcohol binge, and for spending Jake’s money in the process of helping me do it.
I watch Will go over to the bar. Anything to keep my wandering eyes off Jake and Zzhuilette.
I see Simone is still perched at the bar, her and Denny deep in conversation, totally engrossed with each other.
I’m glad for her. Denny is a cool guy.
“You hanging in there, gorgeous?” Stuart asks me, bringing my attention around to him. “Or do you want me to go kick his ass.”
“Who?” I’m confused.
“Jake.” He raises his eyebrows at me.
“Oh.” I lean my head into my hand, and glance over at him. “Am I that transparent?”
“No. But he is.” He tilts his head back in Jake’s direction.
“Please don’t say anything to anyone … Will.”
He gives me an, ‘as if I would’ look.
“Thank you,” I utter quietly.
“Tru, I don’t like to stick my nose in other people’s business … but look, gorgeous, Jake’s not only my boss, he’s my friend, and I’ve known him a long time – I live with the guy. And basically, the idiot is crazy about you. I have never seen him, with anyone, the way he is with you.”
I look at him surprised by his words.
“Except for when he’s sticking his tongue down the throat of a leggy redhead,” I add, trying to muster up a smile.
It doesn’t work.
“Don’t let that bother you, honey. That’s just Jake trying to prove a point to you and himself. Trying to prove you don’t matter to him as much as he knows you do. It’s not going so well, as you can see. He doesn’t do hurt well, so he’s trying to hurt you to make himself feel better. He’s all about the pain that one.”