It’s been damn near a week since I crossed paths with Jessi. She still makes dinner, which I eat, because she is a damn good cook, but I don’t know how long I can stay away from her. Not being around her drives me mad. I hate this place we’re in, strangers more than roommates. I was trying to do the right thing by pushing her away. But I didn’t say that we couldn’t talk. I never meant for that to happen.
Two sets of feet run up the stairs. I freeze.Did Jessi bring a guy home?
Jessi’s voice rings out, followed by another. It’s Sonny, I realize with relief. We haven’t discussed Jessi bringing men home, so I don’t know what I would’ve done had she invited someone serious over. My blood boils thinking about it.
I take a breath. Since we have a buffer, it might be a good time to break the ice.
I pad upstairs and knock on her door. It’s open, but I still opt for the polite approach. Two sets of eyes peel my way at the first tap. “Hey, Jessi. Hey, Sonny,” I say. “What are you guys up to?”
Jessi drops her gaze, her brows narrowed.Fanfuckingtasic.“I was going to order some pizza,” I continue. “Do you guys want some?”
Jessi fidgets with the bed covers. I know her well enough to know that she fidgets when she’s nervous. What isn’t she telling me?
“We’re actually getting ready super-fast,” Sonny gushes. “We’re going on a double date. Thank you anyway. That’s sweet of you to ask.”
Jessi cringes and coughs. She still won’t look at me.
I stiffen and grind out, “Oh yeah? That will be fun. Who’s the lucky guy? Er, guys? Anyone from the club?”
“You know Kade?” Sonny talks as fast as a cheetah, and I struggle to keep up. “He’s obsessed with Jessi. He and his friend are riding their bikes over and picking us up for a movie.”
“Well, doesn’t that sound like the perfect date?” I cut my eyes over to Jessi.Look at me, dammit.She doesn’t. Why would she when everything is my fault?
“I know, right?” Sonny says.
Jessi huffs out a laugh. The next thing I know, she’s staring at me. Anger hides behind her tight smile. She knows I’m not happy. If Sonny wasn’t in the room, I would forbid Jessi from going. Kade is a maniac.
I storm out of her room before I can make it evident to Sonny that I have a major problem with this. I order pizza and try not to listen to them talk about the god damn double date. My body can’t sit still, so I grab a beer and slam the refrigerator shut. Kade respects women, but no guy is good enough for Jessi. If I was worried about dragging her into the dark side and obliterating her innocence, Kade is ten times worse. He takes any job. He’ll go in guns blazing without a second thought. He does our most gruesome jobs, because he enjoys doling out punishment to those who deserve it. I don’t know his full story, but I’ll be shocked if he lives to my age. Jessi doesn’t need to be trapped in that. She’s mine. No, I blew that chance. What the hell was I thinking?
A couple of bikes rumble into the drive and high-heeled feet clip-clop down the stairs. Sonny yells, “Bye, Jack!” Jessi follows her but stays silent.
I watch them go, my mood darkening. I highly underestimated how bad this would blow up in my face. Jessi is far more than pissed—she’s hurt, and that’s ten times worse. The entire time I’ve been trying to protect her, I’ve been hurting her and pushing her toward danger.
I peer out the front window, trying to bite back my annoyance as Kade helps Jessi with a helmet.
That’s my job.
She waves his hand away and struggles to strap it herself.
The bikes roar to life. As Kade maneuvers down the driveway, Jessi glances back, our eyes locking. Her expression makes my heart sink. Then she slaps the visor down, breaking eye contact and turning away.
Fuck.I guess I’m back to being alone with my pizza and beer.
CHAPTER 44
JESSI
“You okay back there?” Kade asks over his shoulder.
“Yep, great.”
He drives responsibly, not like Tanner did, yet I still grasp his waist tighter than I do when riding with Jack. I decide right then that I’m not going to think about Jack tonight. He doesn’t deserve it.
Kade and his friend are perfect gentlemen. They pay for our tickets and candy. Sonny and her date are all over each other. This is not their first meetup, clearly.
Kade and I giggle, leaving them to their devices, and find our seats. “So what do you think of the club?” he asks in between slurps of soda. “You’re new and have just started working there, right?”
I pop a few pieces of popcorn into my mouth. “I love the club. It’s like a family, one unlike any I’ve ever had. I love the job. It can be crazy sometimes. The parties are wild. I don’t normally stay around for those.”
