Chapter 11
JESSI
By the time I head downstairs, it’s after eight o’clock.
Austin’s friends have started filling the downstairs, and the thumping bass is making the windows shake.
I guess “having some of the guys over” meant having a party.
I swear, I can’t even get one calm night whenever my dad and Shannon leave.
Hopefully, Shannon doesn’t stay in Cabo more than a few weeks like Dad said.
I won’t be able to handle nonstop parties for an extended length of time.
I skip the last step, landing quite loudly in the living room. “I’m going to the movies with Rachel,” I announce. “Please don’t get wild and make a mess. I don’t want to spend my Saturday cleaning.”
A hard, warm body presses against my back and a large hand grabs my ass.
I go to pivot around and smack the asshole, but I can’t.
His arms trap me in place, and his stomach is plastered against my back.
His hair tickles my face as his troll breath caresses my neck.
“I would love to see what getting wild with you looks like. Why don’t you skip the movie and show me a fun time? ”
“Go away, David,” I say.
David smacks my ass and lets me go.
I shake him off and speed away, but Austin pipes up before I make it to the front door. “David, stop wasting your time. Jessi doesn’t know how to have fun. When you gonna learn?”
I narrow my gaze at them as they roar with laughter.
My cheeks heat as I turn the doorknob and leave. Outside, I hold back the tears burning behind my eyes. I will not let David, Austin, or any of their friends know how much their words hurt me.
It’s been months since David humiliated me in front of everyone, but his determination to conquer me hasn’t vanished. It’s starting to become more like an obsession, and it’s making me nervous.
I kick rocks while replaying all the things I should have said back at them. Then I hear a throat clear. Shit. I don’t need to raise my eyes to know who I will find.
I try to plaster a genuine smile on my face as I wave. “Hi, Jack!” He’s sitting on his front porch, watching the sun set and apparently amusing himself by seeing me talk to myself.
Concern crosses his face. “Everything okay? Austin having another party? You know, my offer still stands to kick someone’s ass.”
My cheeks flame. “Everything is fine. Austin and his fuckboys, as you would call them, are behaving for now.” Jack nods, taking a pull of his beer. “How was your day?”
Jack holds my gaze before letting it go. “Oh, same old shit but a different day. Once you get old like me, not much changes from day to day.”
My eyebrows lift. “You? Old? You’re not old, Jack!”
He side-eyes me with a chuckle and another swig of his beer. “I’m thirty, which is a lot older than you. That makes me old.”
“You don’t look thirty. I can promise you that.”
Jack leans forward, his forearms resting on his knees, turning his head to give me an almost boyish grin.
“There you go with those compliments again. They are going to go to my head. You’re not staying for the party?
I thought you might have changed your mind about them.
” All playfulness fades and his jaw tenses.
“Maybe changed your mind about that boy.”
My heart leaps. He notices me. “Boy? You mean David? No way.” I glance back at my house. “Nah, I still can’t stand Austin and his friends. My friend Rachel and I are going to catch a movie and come back after.”
Jack scratches his five o’clock shadow.
My eyes catch his busted-up hands, and I shriek. “What happened?”
There is something on the tip of his tongue, but he decides to let it go. “Nothin’ you need to worry about. Have fun and be careful. I’m right next door if you need anything.”