“That sounds…different,” Mary said with a frown. After a short pause, Mary asked, “What the hell do you mean? I thought you and Jason were just friends.”
“We are! It’s just that…” Haley sighed heavily as she fiddled with the label on her beer. “He doesn’t date anymore. He doesn’t even show any interest in other women. When we’re out, he sends women away, telling them that he’s not interested.”
“Well, that’s sweet.”
“When guys approach me, he throws his arm around me and glares at them until they run away. Last night when we were out with Mitch at the movies, some guy in line stood too close to me and Jason got into a shouting match with him.”
“He’s just being protective.”
“He treats me like his girlfriend. He’s always touching me and cuddling with me. We sleep in the same bed every night. We try sleeping positions like they’re sexual positions!” Haley hissed quietly, hoping the loud music coming from the jukebox blocked out everything that she was saying.
“And you don’t like any of this?” Mary guessed.
“Like it? I love it! Except, I want more. God, I can’t stop thinking about him and having him so close, but not close enough is killing me. I’m pathetic,” Haley grumbled.
“Does he know?”
“No. If he did, he’d probably step back. He doesn’t want a girlfriend. He wants a friend or a little sister.”
“Doesn’t sound that way to me,” Mary said with a sympathetic smile.
“Trust me. There’s no chance in hell that Jason Bradford is going to change his ways for me.”
“Well, not if you don’t give him a chance.” Mary reached over and took her hand. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?’
Haley wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Fine,” Mary sighed as she stirred the tiny red straw in her ginger ale and looked around the bar. “There are a lot of really cute guys here tonight.”
Haley followed her friend’s gaze and nodded absently. There were a lot of cute guys here tonight. That brought up another interesting question. If she decided to date and took the guy home, would Jason get pissed? If she started dating someone, then she couldn’t sleep in the same bed with Jason anymore. It wouldn’t be fair and it would make everything weirder. The fact that she didn’t want to fall asleep in anyone else’s arms also wasn’t helping.
She inwardly groaned. Tonight was supposed to be about relaxing after a long day of review. She wasn’t here to moon over Jason Bradford. Tonight, she was here to have a few drinks, play a game of pool, and relax.
“Ah, Haley, maybe we should go somewhere else. How about we rent a movie, get some pizza, and head to my place?” Mary suggested, suddenly sounding nervous.
Haley frowned at her. “We’ve been waiting an hour for the pool table and we’re up next. Besides, I’m not done with my beer,” she said, only to frown when she saw the look on her friend’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Mary looked down at her drink and worried her lip for a moment, looking close to tears.
“Mary?” Haley said softly.
Mary shook her head and sobbed lightly but didn’t look up.
Loud laughter drew Haley’s attention to the door seconds before her eyes narrowed dangerously.
“That son of a bitch,” she snapped.
“Haley, please don’t make a big deal out of this. Let’s just go.”
Haley was already on her feet and heading towards the small group near the bar. She pushed her way through the group until she came face-to-face with Mary’s ex-fiancé and the voluptuous blonde snuggling up to him. She snorted. It wasn’t even the same one he’d left Mary for. He was pathetic. She really wished she had spoken up years ago about how much of a loser he was.
“What the hell do you want?” Ted practically sneered.
Haley shrugged. “Nothing much. Just wondering if you’re going to grow some balls and help Mary. You remember Mary, don’t you? The woman you dated for four years, cheated on constantly, asked to marry, and then knocked up, all before you dumped her for a stripper? Well, I was just wondering if you were planning on manning up anytime soon and helping Mary with the medical bills for this pregnancy. Just thinking it might be nice if she could afford to keep your kid in diapers and formula. I’m kind of funny like that.”
The woman under his arm looked startled as she pushed away from him with open disgust.
“You got a woman pregnant and left her? What an asshole!” she said before stalking off and giving him the finger. His buddies laughed while Ted glared down at her.
