Page 77 of Heartbreaker

“Hey handsome,” Jade croons.

I spin on my heel and looked at her. She was still beautiful, but she tried too hard. I ran my eyes over her taking in the thousand-pound shoes and the tight belted pencil dress that probably cost as much as a car and felt nothing. Not hate, not malice, and certainly not attraction. “Jade,” I say as I remove the manacled hand that was on my arm, “shall we get a seat?”

“Of course, unless you would like to go somewhere more private?”

Fuck no, I do not. I thought but did not say it.

“Let’s get a table.” I steer her towards the table while she babbles about shit I didn’t care about. We sit, and she smooths her skirt over her thighs with a flirtatious look her eyes.

“So, Jacky, I was surprised to get your call. Did you finally wise up about that little gold-digger?” She turns her nose up as she speaks about Ashley and I steel myself not to lose my shit.

“No, Jade. I wanted to talk about what happened all those years ago, when we were kids.” I watch her try and frown and she looks a little embarrassed, but it is hard to tell with her face full of Botox.

“That was years ago, Jacky., We don’t need to rehash old news, it was teenage silliness.”

“It may have been silly for you but not for. I loved you in my own teenage way and you broke my heart. You set the scene for my entire school and college experience.”

“Well, I had to, Jacky.” She grabs my arm in a death grip again, her eyes tearing up. It was so false I almost laughed.

“So, they made you?”

“Well, no. But you have to understand, I have a certain image to maintain, but it’s okay now, you fit in. We can be together now.”

I laugh as I shake my head. “No fucking way. I wouldn’t touch you with someone else’s dick let alone my own. I feel sorry for you, Jade. You have no real friends, and you will never know love like I have with Ashley. She is everything you are not. Sweet, kind, she is so fucking beautiful on the inside and out and if I am lucky enough to win her love I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she knows how much I love and cherish her.” I stand and shake her off me, her touch repulses me. I wasn’t lying I do feel sorry for her, her life is shallow and has no meaning.

“I feel sorry for you.” I drop some money on the table to cover our drinks and start to turn away, but her voice stops me.

“So why did you call me here? Just for revenge?” Her tone is cold, the real Jade is emerging.

“No, Jade. I wanted answers and I have a message from Eddie. He doesn’t want to be with you anymore. He’s moving all your clothes back to your parents.”

“How can you be so cruel?’ she asks with false tears in her eyes.

“I’m the Heartbreaker sweetheart and you made me.”

I do turn then and walk away. My heart stops when I see rainbow hair and a body made for sin rushing away from me. Oh God! What have I done? I chase after her one thought in my head. I need to fix this because my dull grey life without her is not worth living.