“Amanda—”
“Just get the hell out.”
I raised my hands in the air and backed away until I was out the door, refusing to argue with her further about this. As I jogged to my truck, feeling like an asshole and a martyr all at the same time, I reached for my cell phone and called Peyton again, wishing more than anything else that she was here, laughing with me over this disastrous night.
Message machine. Again.
“Peyton, it’s me. Again. Korbin. I know it’s late and I’m sorry, but I wanted to call and tell you how much I miss you still, and how much I want to see you.” I started the truck to warm up the cab and then sat there for a moment, letting the engine idle. I closed my eyes and rested my head back against the seat. “I was supposed to have a coffee date with Amanda tonight,” I told the machine. “I wanted her to know she had a friend, because we both know nobody likes her.” I chuckled, mostly to myself, and then continued. “Anyway, the night was a disaster and I just really wish you were here to make things better. I—I hope you’re doing well in Denver. We miss you here.Imiss you here. I’ll call again tomorrow. Goodnight, Peyton.”
Chapter22
Peyton
“Goodnight, Peyton.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear as Korbin’s voice cut off, pressing nine to save the message—just like I always did.
“Who on earth is calling you at this hour?” Rem asked, sipping at his martini.
“Korbin.”
“Still?”
“Yes, Rem, still.”
“Well, good for you for holding out.” He turned to order himself another drink, ordering me another as well, sidling up to me so we could hear each other better. The club was booming full force with music, dancing, and fun, but I’d had a growing headache since agreeing to meet Jake there to hang out for a couple of hours. Hearing Korbin’s voice strangely seemed to ease it a little bit, but now it was back and hammering away against the inside of my skull.
“Hey.” Jake’s hand gripped mine as he appeared next to us, leaning in to kiss me, brushing his lips against my own. Normally this would have turned me on, but not tonight. Tonight, my mind was elsewhere. Who was I kidding? My mind was always elsewhere. “What’s going on?” he asked, concern etching his features. “You’ve been quiet all night.”
“Must be the booze,” I joked halfheartedly, wrapping my hands around the drink I’d been sipping at for most of the night. The bartender delivered another round to Rem and me and I sipped at that, too.
“It is the booze,” Rem said, leaning over me to look at Jake. “She’s had quite a bit.”
“I don’t think I’ve had enough, actually,” I grumbled, getting to my feet and stumbling a bit. Jake caught me in his arms. He smelled so freaking good that I wanted to kiss him, to fuck him, but I knew that was the booze talking. Mostly I wanted to call Korbin, I wanted to talk to him and hear his voice and fall at his feet in a sobbing heap. He was my safe place. I hadn’t felt that since leaving.
“Do you want me to take you home?” Remington asked, and I shook my head, grabbing for my best friend’s hand to pull him out onto the dance floor.
“Dance with me!” I shouted.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Rem whooped, and we danced, fast and hard. The lights and music and bodies around me eventually just merged into one thing, a flurry of lights in my vision. Jake watched us from the bar, sipping his drink and smiling, but there was something behind his expression that was starting to make me uncomfortable. It almost seemed like—somethinghungry.
“Come on, let’s get you some water, sugar,” Rem said as the song ended and another one started. He led me back to the bar where Jake was and ordered me an ice water, which I chugged gratefully.
“How are you feeling?” Jake asked. “Another drink?”
I almost said yes, but Rem stepped up before I could speak, shaking his head. “I think you’ve had enough, Peyton.”
“Party pooper,” I mumbled. “I don’t want to go home.”
“You can head back to my place if you want,” Jake said. “I have to be here for a couple more hours to meet with some prospective clients, but I can join you when I’m finished here.”
“I think I should take her home,” Remington said, and I could sense the slight annoyance in his tone. He always got super protective when we were out, which wasn’t a bad thing, but it certainly was annoying.
“It’s okay.” I pushed the glass of water aside and wrapped my arms around myself, knowing that I couldn’t face being in Jake’s house right now. Since leaving Eagle River, I hadn’t even been able to be very intimate with him, and I hated myself for it. Korbin had made his intentions clear, and I’d left. So why was I now shying away from such a good opportunity at a happy relationship? I wasn’t ready. Jake wanted me to be ready, but I wasn’t ready. “I think I’m just going to go home.”
“Both of us should,” Remington said, putting his arm around me like a protective sibling. “But thanks for having us out, Jake. I love your club!”
“Thank you,” Jake said, flashing Rem his best million-dollar grin. “I quite enjoy it, too.” Behind that smile was something sinister, something that made the little hairs on my arm stand up, but it was gone before I could swear it was there. He turned his attention to me and leaned in to kiss me, cupping the back of my head with his hand, slipping his tongue between my lips. I kissed him back, but with much less passion than he’d given me.
