My boyfriend of many years, Trey.
And now Jack… with his arms around Anna, in our house, as she cries into his chest.
I bow my head as my breathing picks up. How could he? Not only does he invite another woman into our home the second I leave, buther?
Fear and anger knot inside of me. It’s the first goddamn night, and this is how he chooses to prove his loyalty to me.
I stop the impending tears by clenching my jaw and taking deep, measured breaths.
He doesn’t get my fucking tears tonight.
I pull back my shoulders and stand up tall, taking one more breath in an attempt to calm myself.
Though, there’s no use.
I’m like a bomb ready to detonate, ready to fucking explode.
16
Jackson
Fuck!
“Belle,” I scream up the stairs at her retreating form, seconds after she bursts through the front door like a wrecking ball.
I turn toward Anna. “You need to leave. Please don’t ever show up here uninvited again,” I say, escorting her out the front door and locking it before she even has a second to respond. Women’s tears are one of my weaknesses, so it kills me to throw her out of the house like I have zero compassion for someone I’ve known for over twenty years.
But when it’s between Belle and anyone else, Belle will always come first. Plus, I need to haul ass upstairs; she’s probably packing her shit as we speak.
God. Fucking. Damnit.
I take two steps at a time, and sure enough, she’s in the middle of the closet, throwing her belongings in a suitcase.
She’s not leaving me over this. I won’t let her.
“It’s not what you think. Nothing happened, B, I promise,” I cry in desperation. I can already see that she isn’t going to let me explain; her walls are up and securely locked.
“I would bloody hope not, you arsehole!” she shouts at the top of her lungs, aggressively trying to zip her bag shut.
I don’t understand. “If you know nothing happened, why are you leaving me?”
She whips around at lightning speed and jabs her finger into my chest. “I’m packing for Italy. I have a work trip. Not that it’s any of your fucking business. But let me explain something to you, Jackson Peters.” She makes sure to sneer my name as she pokes at my chest, stabbing me with her nail with every word. “If you ever disrespect me like that again, I will never speak to you again.”
“Belle, I promise she showed up here unannounced. I had no idea she was coming. It was poor timing.” I reach out to hold her only to have her hit my hand away.
“Don’t you dare touch me.” Her eyes conveying the fury within her. A look I’ve never seen before.
She picks up her bag to leave. “Wait, Lola said Italy was tomorrow. Where are you going?”
“Plans changed. I’m leaving on the eleven-thirty flight tonight.” She tries to move past me, but I step in front of her, stopping her from leaving.
We need to talk about this.
Struggling to get around me, her blue eyes blaze furiously. “Night one, Jack. Just think about that. Night fucking one, I walk in to seeherinourhouse. How many times will I come home to find one of your fuck buddies here? Maybe I should line up and wait my turn next time.”
Fuck.“Belle, I’m so sorry. Please let me explain, and maybe you’ll—”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I have no time and need to get the hell out of here.” She runs around me, down the stairs, and right out the front door.
