Chapter 22 #3
“That you are,” Alex answers, eyeing Justin. “What took you so long?”
“Taking a shower.” He winks at him, and I elbow his side just as Justin’s nostrils flare and his jaw clenches.
“ Was taking a shower. You were taking a shower. Alone.” I jab him again, and he lets out an oof. I shake my head and grab both bags from him. “I’m gonna drop these off in the kitchen.”
“I’ll help you,” Justin announces as he pulls both bags from my hands and marches toward the kitchen. Archie snickers and nudges me to follow. I threaten him with my best stink eye, but he only laughs, soon joined by Alex like they both share some super funny joke I’m not privy to.
I flip them off, causing even more laughter, and follow Justin to the kitchen.
He drops the bags on the floor, about to turn back when a woman’s hand lands on his forearm, squeezing it.
I stop in my tracks, feeling uncomfortable.
At the same time, I want to torture myself by seeing how this will unfold.
The woman is pretty. Taller than me by a few inches, the heels she’s wearing definitely add to her already impressive height.
Her hair is Victoria’s Secret-perfect beach waves, her outfit cost more than my trailer and car combined, and her makeup is flawless.
I regret not putting at least some mascara on this morning.
I knew it would be a hot day and didn’t want to have raccoon eyes after sweating.
And now I wish I had some war paint on because clearly, it’s a war zone, judging by the way she’s feeling up his muscles.
Like they’re familiar with each other in a biblical way.
I want to turn around and run, so I don’t witness the situation, knowing it will surely follow me into my nightmares, but Freya notices me and announces loud enough for all the bears around to hear, “Kayla! You’re here!
” She’s next to me in a second and envelopes me in a hug.
She became such a hugger recently—I don’t even recognize her!
I pull away and step back. She looks good, really , really good.
She radiates happiness and health, and the colossal stone sitting on my chest falls off.
I can breathe easily. Seeing her like that makes me happy. Makes me airy.
“Yeah, we just arrived.” I can’t escape now, might as well embrace the disaster.
I feel a hot glare and instinctively turn to Justin. He’s watching me while the leech attaches herself to his arm permanently.
“Hi, I’m Lou.” The woman waves at me with a wide smile. “And this is Justin.” She pats his hand, and my eyes zero in on the movement.
“She knows,” Justin says in a neutral but accusing voice.
“Oh.” Lou unlatches herself from Justin’s arm. “Did I step on someone’s toes here?” She laughs nervously, looking a little lost. I feel a little like a dick for assuming she’s just another wandering vagina.
I say “no,” just as Justin says “yes.”
“ O-o-oh ,” Freya singsongs.
I stare at him in bewilderment, and he holds my gaze without blinking, trying to communicate something I can’t quite comprehend .
“You didn’t step anywhere.” I try to smile at her but miserably fail as Justin shoots me another glare and adds, “You did. I’m not available.”
“Hm,” she hums at him. “I see… Good luck; you’ll need it,” she says to me and walks away, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Freya snickers and takes the veggies out of the bags.
“Well, that was enlightening,” she hums under her breath.
“Care to share with the class?” I ask her, annoyed. Did I step into a parallel universe? What the hell is happening?
“Ah, no. Oh!” She points her finger to the ceiling. “I forgot something. Be right back!” And she escapes the sinking ship.
I move my attention to Justin. This situation won’t resolve on its own. “Why did you say that to her?”
“What exactly?”
“That you’re unavailable.”
“That’s because I am.” He walks to the fridge and pulls a beer out. “Want one?” he asks me, but I just shake my head.
“I didn’t know you’re dating somebody.” I’m totally fishing here.
“I’m not.” He takes a sip and leans on the counter.
“Oh.”
“Why don’t you ask me the question you really want to ask?” He smirks.
I fume silently as he enjoys my struggle. He got me there. He knows I want to ask what he meant, but I can’t say it out loud.
“Okay, Justin. You win. Why did you tell her that?” I give up and ask the most important question with a new meaning .
“Because I’m interested in someone else right now.”
“Oh. And who is that?”
He chuckles, finishes his beer, drops the bottle into the trash, and leaves.
So much for answering the question. I’m fuming for the rest of the day.
Archie left me alone with his constant attempts to rile Justin up by touching and flirting with me.
Justin deflected all advances thrown his way from the ladies present and remained stoic and mysterious.
I won’t lie, it made me a little bit happier than I was before I arrived.
Okay, fine, a lot happier.
“Kayla!” Freya yells from outside.
“Comin’!” I call, getting up to go to see what she needs.
Oh, fuck me. She’s talking to Jake. My face must have changed, becoming sour, because her eyes widen as she motions with her hand to come join them.
Oh, with pleasure. After the jail incident, we haven’t had many interactions.
He left me alone and then went off to this rehab thing.
Hopefully, they’ll fix his desire to torture me along with all his other issues.
Plus, now that Justin knows the truth, I suspect he told Jake as well, and maybe, just maybe, my life will be a little easier.
“I didn’t think the trailer trash was invited.” And… no such luck.
Freya smacks his shoulder. “Jake! Watch your mouth!”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing here.” He smiles like we’re old friends, and from the outside, we probably look like buddies. It couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I guess some things are unfixable, and asshole mode is your default.” I smile sweetly back, hoping he’ll get a yeast infection. “I hope they don’t reinstate you. You definitely don’t deserve to be a cop.”
“Scared to face me again on the streets of our fine city?” His smile causes me to enter a sugar coma.
“Scared to face me in court?” I show him all my teeth in a shark smile, and his drops a notch.
“Alright, break time.” Freya shakes her head, tugs on my arm, and throws at Jake, “Go get yourself a drink, Jake.” And then to me, “Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I know what you were thinking because I was thinking the same thing: that Justin told him the truth. I guess he didn’t.” I shrug.
“I don’t know why, though.” She throws Jake a wondering look. “You’d think he’d crawl to you to ask for your forgiveness because his karma is so tainted. It’s in desperate need of some purging. But no.” Her shoulders slump. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Why didn’t Justin tell Jake?
I’m deep in thought when I feel a hot glare burning my skin. My eyes dart to Justin, and I find him watching me with a drink at his lips. He’s been watching me this whole evening. My every move, like a hawk preying on a little mouse on the ground before he strikes.
But Justin never does. Strike, that is. He just watches, circling around but never coming close. I don’t precisely know what I’ve been expecting, but I leave the grand opening of a life-changing place for Little Hope feeling a little disappointed.
Archie left his car at the Dancing Pony, and because I picked him up on the way here, I feel I must drive him back. I could tell throughout the day that he had clouds hanging over his head, even with a smile plastered on his face. On the way back, I think about taking him somewhere to cheer him up.