AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the theater, Trig is planted on the barstool he favors. I’ve noticed he’s okay with engaging the customers, and cordial to the dancers, but ignores them on stage. I have a higher regard for him than some of the other people who come here. Okay, the men. Trig isn’t stepping out on his wife, who is someone I know, and perhaps that’s why it makes a difference. Although, I’ve had to mentally assess why I’m okay with the women who come to Sweet Caroline’s to watch the shows, yet a man’s intentions still feel shady.
Hello, hypocrite. Haven’t I watched out of curiosity? I mean, it was morbid curiosity to start. But still, people in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones.
“Hi, Paisley. How are you doing?” Trig asks when we’re nearly beside him.
“I’m good,” I say over the music. “Thankful that you’re taking this brute’s attention so that I can go home and get some rest. The late nights are later than I’m used to, especially when I have to be up in the morning for my own shop.” I mock-yawn, turning to glance up at Jake with a sugary smile.
His jaw ticks and he moves me almost into his body while Trig and I exchange pleasantries.
“I’m sure it’s different. Kimber and I planned our schedules around this place. Now getting up with the twins at two in the morning seems like cruel and usual punishment.”
“How are they? How is Kimber? I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Everyone’s great. Aidy says you’re at Baked Beans every now and again,” he remarks of his adult stepdaughter.
She and her boyfriend, Morgan—I was so excited to connect that dot!—live with them, and Aidy is a barista at the pastry shop.
“Aidy mentioned spotting someone else there.” Trig mocks Jake.
“It’s time for you to go.” Jake grits out, manhandling me toward the entrance.
Kelsey waves the rag she’s using to polish the bar. “Are you leaving, Paisley? Thanks for the extra hand behind the bar earlier.”
“Me? I was more of a hindrance than a help! But it was really fun learning to mix drinks.” I’d arrived at Sweet Caroline’s during a lull and when I asked Kelsey how the gun thingy that shoots soda worked, she gave me a tutorial before Jake whisked me away.
Like he is now.
“Have a great night, Miss Cooper.” The bouncer who interrupted us holds the exit open.
“You too!” I call over my shoulder, wiggling my fingers.
Jake scowls, escorting me out of the club under a possessive and watchful eye.
Seriously, what am I doing wrong by being nice to people?
At my car, Jake opens the driver’s side. He holds me by the elbow, stopping me from tucking into the seat. “You forgot something.” Jake ducks his head.
I turn mine so that he misses. Jake’s typical goodnight kiss in the lamplight lands on the corner of my mouth, though my lips react as if they want the heat from his against them.
He grunts, lifting a light brow and his shiny teeth make Jake resemble a vampire rather than a Norse God. “Not amused,corazón.”
“Sorry, for a second I forgot I was around for your amusement,” I lie. The truth is smack dab in my face. This man doesn’t like me. He uses me.
Jake grabs my chin, but instead of kissing me, he grumbles, “Drive safe.” Which makes me codfish since no one is around to hear that kind of sentiment.
In the rearview, Jake stays in the Sweet Caroline’s lot until my car takes the left turn at the stoplight down the street.
I’m exhausted when I arrive at home, but flip-flop in bed, unable to empty my mind of the muddled thoughts zipping through it.
I should confess to Gavin and accept that the best-case scenario is he would have taken me back. Except that’s among my worst fears. The best-case scenario now is that Gavin uses my perceived selfishness to turn me into a bigger fool. I can only pray that his reaction would fall somewhere in between.
I should concede that what’s best for everyone else is best for me, too. But my heart breaks along with a damn of tears, unable to convince myself that’s true. A tiny fissure takes root, widening my ribs and stealing my breath when I realize that telling Gavin also means facing an uglier truth. One I’d rather not accept.
If Jake has no power over me, I lose these nights with people around to talk to. I lose him.
This complete asshole has threaded his way into my life in a matter of weeks. Unlike the demands of being the perfect couple, Jake and I fake our inadequacies without effort. Perhaps it’s because the space we occupy when we are together isn’t much larger than my kitchen and, other than Jake’s employees and Trig a few times, no one actually invades our space. My demands of Jake drive him to negotiate. He never settles unless I fight back. And when I fight back, he does things like pushing me up against my car and kissing me goodnight the way that I refused to kiss him tonight.
I’m so fucked.
