Page 61 of Heartbreaker

Chapter 22

Jackson

I don’t know what happened last night but the scene with Jade played on my mind all night. I crept out of bed this morning before she even woke, after feigning sleep to avoid her hurt expression.

She had slept cuddled into me and I had held her, taking comfort in her soft skin and the scent of her hair, tickling my nose. Leaving had felt wrong but I just couldn’t face her. She hadn’t done a fucking thing wrong, but I had felt anger last night and some of it was aimed at her and I had no idea why.

Walking on my home treadmill I turn up the tunes to drown out my thoughts. Sweat was pouring off my skin as my breathing laboured after forty-five minutes on an incline and still my thoughts interrupted me.

Switching off the machine I grab a towel and wiped my face guzzling water as I walk towards the shower. I pass my bedroom and hear my phone ping, stopping I consider checking it. No, I would wait until after I had showered.

Stripping my clothes, I leave them in a heap on the floor and step into the shower. The warm water beats down on my skin, soothing the ache in my muscles and washing the weariness of no sleep away.

I was being a prick, Tinkerbell had been perfect last night. I wouldn’t have been so good had the situation been reversed. In fact, I’d probably be locked up right now if some dick had kissed my woman like Jade kissed me.

What a fucking bitch she was, what had I ever seen in her? She had the ugliest personality I had ever known.

Not like my Tink, she was beautiful inside and out, that was one of the reasons I loved her. No. What? Wait! I don’t love her. No, I care about her, yeah that’s it. Love is a fool’s game and I ain’t ever getting fucked over by that ridiculous emotion again.

Rinsing my body, I step from the shower and wrap a towel around my waist. I go to my room and pick up my phone. Sure, enough it’s a text from Tinkerbell.

Tinkerbell: Hey Jackson, hope everything is okay. I had a great time last night. I missed you this morning. Anyway, text me later and we can decide on dinner tonight. I’m thinking Pizza?

I drop the phone on the bed and go to the wardrobe, grabbing a navy suit I dress quickly, ignoring the text. Ashley is getting a bit demanding When did we fall into a routine of seeing each other every night? We had no plans tonight. Maybe we should pull back a bit.

I grab my phone and text back.

Jackson: I won’t be able to see you tonight. Work is busy, I’ll try and catch up with you later in the week. Take care. Jackson x

I watched as dots instantly appear and bounce on my screen and then disappear. Throwing the phone into my inside jacket pocket, I decide to check later. I’m not depended on her every word or feeling. Maybe I’ll go out with the lads tonight. I’ve neglected them lately. Yeah that’s what I’d do.

*~*~*

Strolling into the office, I stop as I hear shouting coming from my office. What the fuck? I push open the door and come face to face with Lindy. She is trying to pull my personal laptop away from Alex.

“What the hell is going on in here?” I ask my anger barely contained. I walk up to them and take my laptop from them both.

“I came in and this asswipe was on your laptop,” Lindy replies indignantly. She looks fierce, like a mother bear and I try not to smile.

“This old bag is senile. I never touched the goddamn thing. I came in and she was on it,” Alex answered snidely.

I feel my hackles begin to rise. Nobody insults Lindy and if it is one thing I know she is not senile. She is one of the savviest, switched on people I know.

How dare he insult her and lie, and I know he is lying. If Lindy wanted something from my laptop she would just ask, and I would tell her. No. Alex is lying, and he is up to something.

Before I can say that though all hell breaks loose.

“Why you jumped up little shit.” Lindy launches herself at him, fists flying and before I can jump in she has caught him goodun in the nose. His nose instantly explodes, blood spraying everywhere.

“You fucking old bitch!” he screams and launches himself at Lindy.

“Oh no you don’t,” I growl and grab him in an arm and collar hold. “Time for you to leave,” I say and start escorting him towards the doors. He is screaming obscenities at me, with threats to sue and how he will finish me, and I will regret this yadda yadda.

I throw him through the door. “Whatever fella,” I shout as I shut the door and lock it, leaving him standing in the street, bloody and furious.

I walk back towards Lindy and throw an arm around her shoulders. “You okay old girl?” I ask and laugh as she digs me in the ribs.

“I’m fine, it’s that little shit that you should be worried about.”

“Yeah, well he is safe and gone now,” I tell her as I go to my desk and sit.

“Good riddance!” she states, and a smile creases her face. “Coffee Jackson?”

I look around me. “Did the world end?” I ask, and she gives me the finger as she leaves.

“Love you too, Lindy, and yes please coffee would be great.”

I sit back and feel a sense that a weight has been lifted. It was right to let him go, he was wrong somehow and I don’t know how.

My feeling lasts until I get a text from Ashley and my stomach drops at the hurt I feel coming through the electrical waves of the technology.

Tinkerbell: Okay, fine, no problem. Talk whenever. Xoxo

She used two of the words that scare men—Okay and Fine. I’m so fucked, because for the first time ever I care, and I don’t want to.