Page 19 of The Other Half

“Left. It wasn’t the first time it’d happened, and everyone really loves Jake. We kind of drove her out of town.”

“It wasn’t the first time?”

“Nope. They’d been together since high school. She cheated on him senior year with some college dude and he forgave her. Then she went to college and dumped him, but she snagged him back every summer she came home. When she flunked out, of course Jake was there to take care of her, then she cheated on him again. It was a never-ending cycle.”

“Seriously? Who is this bitch?” Anger seethed through me on his behalf. I had been cheated on before and knew how awful it felt. I couldn’t imagine how hurtful it must have been having it happen again and again.

“Just some dumb girl he happened to fall in love with. I’ve never understood what was so special about her. She’s gorgeous, but that’s about all she has going for her. Even though you wouldn’t know it from tonight, Jake’s a sweet guy, and as loyal as they come. So, he forgave her when she popped up again last year, and this time slapped a ring on her finger. Then she went and banged his best friend.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. Messed up.”

“So, you ran her out of town?”

“Basically. We’d all had enough of her shit, so we made her life a living hell until she tucked tail and ran. Good riddance. Hopefully she stays gone. Lives in Chicago now from what I hear. Jake doesn’t need to go through that shit again. But this time, since it was with his best friend, it really messed him up.”

“I can’t even imagine. Poor guy.”

“Poor guy is right. We grew up together and they don’t come any better than Jake Alton. I grew up with Matt, too. He, Jake, and I were best friends since before we could walk, but after what he did to Jake, I’m not even going to bother tossing him a clean rag for his nose. Asshole.”

Matt took the hand of a man who pulled him up. Silence still settled over the once-lively bar and he started toward the door.

“I wouldn’t do that, Matt,” Jo said, shaking her head. “Jake’s still out there.” She looked out the window, and I followed suit, then saw Jake storming away.

Matt dabbed the blood on his split lip. “Sorry about that, Jo. I didn’t think that was going to happen.”

“You didn’t think what would happen? That Jake would kick the shit out of you the first time he saw you after you screwed Nikki? Wow. Shocker.” Jo rolled her eyes.

Eyes heavy with sorrow dropped to the floor, and he shuffled his feet. “It was an accident.”

“Coming here or banging your best friend’s girl? I don’t see how either of those could be accidents.”

Jo peeked out the window again. “He’s gone. Now get the hell out of here and don’t come back. You dug your grave, now get inside and stay there, dick.”

Even though I knew what he did and found it despicable, the sadness pulling the corners of his eyes down almost had me feeling sorry for him.

“Sorry, Jo,” he said on a sigh while he moved to the door.

“Whatever, Matt. Just don’t come back. This is Jake’s bar.”

Nodding his head, he ducked out the door. I saw him pause, likely checking to make sure the coast was clear. Who could blame him? When I’d seen Jake stand up, the size of those biceps was unmistakable even underneath his camouflage pullover. Standing well over six feet tall, he’d towered over Matt just before tackling him. Matt hadn’t stood a chance against Jake’s size, strength, and the rage that nearly blew apart the bar.

“Dick,” Jo added when the door closed behind him.

“So, you’re friends with Jake?” I asked, hoping I didn’t seem too interested.

“Yep. We’ve been buds since we were kids. He’s a great guy. One of the good ones. Figure that means he gets his heart stomped on.”

“Jo!” A guy with an bushy orange beard said when he came back into the bar. I recognized him as the guy who’d been talking to Jake before the fight.

“Is he okay, Aaron?” she asked when he arrived at the bar.

“Yeah, he’s fine. Physically at least.”

“Poor Jake.”

“I’m worried about him, Jo.”