“So, you can have fun with Medusa, but I can’t have fun with Tanner?” I press again.
He starts laughing. “Medusa?” He continues laughing so hard, I can’t help but chuckle.
“Yes, she looks and acts like Medusa.”
All the humor drops from his face. “She was a bitch to you, and for that I’m sorry.”
“Not that sorry, since you seemed quite happy to have her give you lap dances all night. So, why are you allowed to flirt, but I’m not?”
“Tanner is an asshole. He uses women then leaves them high and dry. You are too good for him. And I wasn’t flirting. Natasha doesn’t take a hint.” He sighs. “Please get on the bike, Jessi. Let’s go home.”
I sway in response, catching myself as the world spins. But Jack’s back is angled toward me, so he doesn’t notice how drunk I am. I jump on and grab hold of him before I do something I regret.
We pull into the garage not long later, and I hop off.
“You use girls and leave them too,” I say, immediately wishing I could stuff the words back into my mouth.
He stops and stares me down so hard I want to run away.
“What are you talking about?” he asks. “I guarantee whatever you think you know is wrong.” His chest rises and falls quickly.
“Sonny said that Natasha wants to be with you, but you don’t want to be with her, yet you still hook up with her. I would say that’s using someone.” I hiccup.
His face goes stony. “I do notuseNatasha. She uses me. I’ve made it very clear that I will not be who she wants me to be. She wants me because of who I am at the club, not because she’s interested in me as a person.”
“Then why do you hook up with her?”
He drops his head. “As pathetic as it sounds, it’s better to feel used than to feel nothing at all.” He walks inside and leaves me to close the garage door.
My heart cracks, fully aware of the type of loneliness that creates the need for connection. Eventually, you settle for anything you can get.
When I enter the kitchen, I hear the shower going upstairs. I head straight to my room, intending to flop on my bed and try to forget about tonight. But as soon as I sit down, my phone dings.
Unknown
This is Tanner. What are you doing tomorrow? Wanna go for a ride?
Me
Sure!
Tanner
That’s my girl!
Tanner doesn’t seem so bad. We’re hanging out, not getting married. I think Jack needs to chill. I’ll be fine. Totally fine.
CHAPTER 28
JESSI
The next morning, I sneak into the shower before Jack sees me. Regret and embarrassment plague me as I wash my hair and body. While I don’t appreciate the double standard Jack set before me last night, the truth is, I said things that I would never have said had I been sober. I don’t want another argument, but I know I can’t avoid Jack forever.
After rinsing off, I hurry to get ready. I choose a super casual outfit of jeans and a T-shirt—I don’t want to come off like I’m trying too hard. Then I grab my cross-body bag and head to the kitchen.
Jack is already downstairs, in those damn sweats that hang off his hips and highlight his abs. He has bed head, and he couldn’t be sexier if he tried.Damn.
“Good morning,” he says, offering me a steaming cup of coffee. It’s in the mug that showed up at the house a day after I “moved in”—the most perfect shade of purple, as if it were made for me.
