Mmm hmm…she likes to watch.
When the song eventually ended, the crowd went wild. They apparently loved the idea behind it. Did he really have to put my name in there? A part of me was mortified, but I had to admit, there was another part of me that was…relieved. His writing the song was a little reminder of the way things used to be.
When I finally garnered the courage to look over at him, he flashed a mischievous smile before moving right into the next song. I’m sure he could tell by the look on my face that he’d successfully managed to embarrass me.
Well played.
***
Back at the house that night, Justin retreated to his room without as much as one word to me. It felt a little strange knowing that we were alone for the first time without Jade. The feeling was short-lived though.
At eleven the next morning, I was still in bed when I heard the front door open. I could hear the muffled sounds of Jade and Justin’s voices as she joined him in their bedroom. She must have left the city really early in the morning to come back here.
As much as I really liked Jade, something was unsettling about her return. There was always an underlying jealousy that I couldn’t help feeling. When the bed started creaking, nausea set in.
Damn.
She was home all of three minutes before pouncing on him. I couldn’t say I blamed her one bit, but I really didn’t want to hear it. I covered my head with my pillow, shut my eyes and reminded myself that they would both be gone in a few weeks.
Three weeks.
Around noon, I threw on a terry cloth sundress before joining Justin and Jade downstairs. The sun pouring into the kitchen was blinding.
Justin smirked and lifted the carafe. “Coffee?”
I flashed an exaggerated smile. “You know what? Yes. I would love some.”
Determined to continue my fa?ade about loving Justin’s coffee, I refused to back down. Sadly, my body was becoming accustomed to the unusually high level of caffeine. The one morning I’d skipped it, the regular coffee hadn’t done the trick. I was becoming addicted to Justin’s coffee fusion, and that really sucked.
“So, how was Sandy’s last night? Did my baby rock the house?”
“He was amazing. Everyone loved him.”
Justin’s eyes met mine for a brief moment. I wanted him to know that I sincerely meant that.
He brushed it off. “It was fine. It’ll give me something to do to pass the time here.”
“What did you play?”
“I tried out a new song.”
I swallowed.
“The one you played for me the other night?” she asked.
“No. A different one.”
It dawned on me that Justin probably chose to perform She Likes To Watch last night in particular only because Jade wasn’t there. It still baffled me that he was keeping the whole incident to himself when he could have just told her and embarrassed the shit out of me.
He smiled at me. “Want a refill, Amelia?”
I smiled bigger. “Don’t mind if I do. This stuff is really growing on me. Quite a surprise.”
“Well, I know you love surprises.”
I rolled my eyes at him. Thankfully, Jade had no way of knowing what he was referring to.
His serving me coffee continued to be a running joke. He thought I was drinking the mud to spite him. The joke was on him. He didn’t realize I was becoming addicted to it and actually truly wanted it. The morning coffee exchange was the only real opportunity for normal communication with him anyway, so I took what I could get.
Jade raked her fingers through Justin’s messy morning hair. “I noticed Olivia commented on your Instagram post last night.”
Looking upset, he moved Jade’s hand off of him. “Jade…don’t.”
I had to ask. “Who’s Olivia?”
“Justin’s ex. She works in the music industry and is really annoying. She comments on all his stuff, even though she knows he has a girlfriend. So disrespectful.”
“I can’t help that she comments on my shit,” he growled.
I was sure there were many former girlfriends.
Olivia.
Huh.
Was I seriously jealous of someone else now, too, when I had no right to be jealous at all? That was pretty pathetic. My jealousy when it came to him was certainly nothing new.
My inability to handle these feelings was a big factor in my moving away and ultimately changed the course of our lives.
***
Ten Years Earlier
“I don’t like it when they start playing these games.”
Justin whispered in my ear, “We don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to, Patch.” His hot breath caused a shiver to run down my spine.
“It’s okay,” I said.
“You sure?”