“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t with anyone.” Heat flows like molten lava throughout my entire body. Who turned on the fucking furnace in here? I unlace my arms and fan the top of my lavender top as I block out every second of my night with Jake.
Was he any good? That’s a fucking stupid question. He was phenomenal. Out of this world. He did things to me that I’ve only read about. And….
I swallow. You aren’t thinking about him. It was a stupid, careless mistake. I cross my legs, causing the hem of my skirt to shift with my movements.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about?”
“No.”
“Then maybe I’ll have to ask Jake for an evaluation of the night. He just walked in.”
“He did not.” I roll my eyes. I’m not falling for her bluff this time.
Her face falls as the color leeches from her face. “Forget I said anything.” She grabs my hand. “Let’s go.”
“What?” I frown at the quick shift in topics, look over my shoulder, and freeze. Fuck. He’s here with Amanda. Son of a bitch. He’s here withher.
This is where they’re meeting? At Rusty Nail Tavern?
Fuck, my stomach clenches. I don’t know which is worse. That he’s here with Amanda or that he thinks this is an appropriate place to bring a date.
Amanda kisses his cheek, and I can’t look away. His 5 o’clock shadowed cheek.
Fuck, he’s gorgeous. Even with a baseball cap pulled low, covering his eyes. He’s wearing a dark T-shirt and jeans. Amanda looks perfect. Blonde hair brushed until it practically glows with the wayward curl nowhere to be found. Her hourglass figure with perfect curves, tucked into a skintight red dress that couldn’t look more out of place than if a movie star walked through the front door.
Breathe. Fuck, I’ve forgotten how to breathe. I gasp, choking on the sudden influx of air into my lungs. My previous victory of knowing she walked around town with a hair out of place seems like a distant memory.
Amanda pats his chest and lowers her heels to the floor. He says something to her but doesn’t pull her into an embrace.She points to a nearby table with a half drank beer mug in the center of it.
How did I miss seeing her when I came inside? I drop my chin to my shoulder. Idiot. It’s not like you can hide in plain sight. Jake slumps into the chair across from her as she leans across the table and chats animatedly to him about something.
He straightens and responds to whatever she says. This time, his expression is less standoffish.
I sag into my seat and fling my head around before he sees me looking at them.
Ruby is right. It’s time to go. Tears sting my eyes as I swallow over the lump in my throat.
“I had no idea he’d be here.” Ruby grabs my hand.
“How could you?”
“I’m so sorry.” Her face is filled with a mixture of horror and remorse. “I know how much you care about him, and then to have…” Her eyes clear as her features harden. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but I never thought he was a dick.”
“It’s fine. It was a mistake.” There’s no point in pretending any more. I don’t have the energy left to keep up the subterfuge.
She glares daggers at him. “And then to come here with Amanda. Less than forty-eight hours after you left his bed. The fucking prick.”
“Let’s go. It didn’t mean anything. We fucked, and that was it. I’m a big girl. I can handle seeing him with someone else. I’ve done it for years.”
“But–”
“No buts. It’s fine.” I slide to the edge of the bench seat. “Let’s go. This place was already intolerable. Now, it’s gotten worse.”
“I can’t believe he’s such a fucking pig.” Ruby slips her purse over her shoulder. “I should toss a beer over his head.”
I love my best friend. She’s the fucking best.
“Thanks for the thought but he’s not worth it.” I embrace her and step back. “You’re the best friend in the world. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
