Chapter 44
JESSI
“You okay back there?” Kade asks over his shoulder.
“Yep, great.”
He drives responsibly, not like Tanner did, yet I still grasp his waist tighter than I do when riding with Jack. I decide right then that I’m not going to think about Jack tonight. He doesn’t deserve it.
Kade and his friend are perfect gentlemen. They pay for our tickets and candy. Sonny and her date are all over each other. This is not their first meetup, clearly.
Kade and I giggle, leaving them to their devices, and find our seats. “So what do you think of the club?” he asks in between slurps of soda. “You’re new and have just started working there, right?”
I pop a few pieces of popcorn into my mouth. “I love the club. It’s like a family, one unlike any I’ve ever had. I love the job. It can be crazy sometimes. The parties are wild. I don’t normally stay around for those.”
Sonny chimes in as she and her date sit next to us. “Jessi loves her coworkers even more.” She pokes me, then goes back to making out with whatever his name is.
“Yeah, I really like it,” I say, blocking out all the mysterious backroom meetings in my head. “What do you do?”
“You ever been around other clubs before, or is this your first experience?” I don’t miss that he has answered my question with a question.
“It’s my first experience. I knew nothing about them before Jack. How are you involved with them?”
He tenses up and avoids my eyes. “I’m about to be patched in as a member, but I handle more . . . after-hours stuff.”
“Oh, I didn’t know they had after hours.”
He shrugs. “Not always, but enough that they need me.” As the movie starts, he leans over and asks, “Can I hold your hand?” I can’t believe a biker is asking to hold my hand. I thread my fingers through his in response. Wait. Does after hours include what he did earlier?
Kade doesn’t try to kiss me, even though Sonny and her date miss the entire movie for a make-out session.
The lights turn on as the credits roll. Kade takes my candy and drink and throws them away for me.
That’s when I spot David and Austin. My heart sinks, and my hands start shaking.
I know where this is going. And I can’t let it.
I speed down the theater hallway before the assholes notice me.
“What’s the rush?” Sonny says, her face pinched with annoyance.
“Yeah, Jessi, what’s the rush?” Austin’s familiar voice causes my skin to crawl. “Are you going to introduce your friends to your brother?”
Kade sticks out his hand. “Oh man, sorry. I’m Kade. Wait, you look familiar. Jessi is your sister?” Confusion fills his face.
“Yep. She’s working her way through the club, I see.” Austin cups his hand around his mouth and whispers, as though telling a secret. “Don’t get your hopes up. She likes them older. You won’t be getting laid tonight, buddy.”
“I’m not your fucking buddy.” Kade cracks his knuckles.
Austin slaps Kade on the shoulder, far harder than necessary, and jerks his thumb at me. “Chill, man. Just telling you, you wasted your money on this one.”
I try to get Kade, his friend, and Sonny to go, but they push back. Kade heatedly says, “Don’t talk to her like that. Jessi, is this fucker actually your brother?”
I stare at my feet, rapidly processing the best next move to avoid confrontation. My breathing becomes slightly labored, and my chest has the weight of an elephant on it.
“Yes, I’m her brother and will talk to her however I want. She’s opening her legs for Jack, so he lets her stay with him. I’m telling you, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Everyone stares at me.
“That’s not true and you know it, Austin,” I say. “Jack helped me get away from you, you piece of shit. I hate you.” Hot tears spill down my face, but I start to detach, the emotions becoming too much for me to handle.
If I could just take a deep breath . . .
But no matter how deep I breathe, I can’t satisfy my lungs’ need for oxygen. I wish Jack were here. Why am I feeling like this right now? I’ve seen Austin and David multiple times and felt nothing but disgust for them. Never panic—at least not since the night of the party.
I need out of here. Now.
Sonny grabs my arms and hugs me.
Austin puts his hand on Kade again. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. She’s a tease. Ask David here.”
I can barely speak the words, but I force them through my sobs, “He tried to rape me. How can you be friends with someone like that?” Before I know what’s happening, Kade swings a punch right at Austin’s face. My stepbrother folds to the floor, groaning.
David puts up his hands. “Don’t hit me, bro.”
We get out of there as quickly as possible before the cops get called. “I’m so sorry,” I cry. “David tried to rape me, and that’s why I live with Jack. He helped me the night it happened.”
Sonny hugs me and tells me everything is okay. We’re on the bikes flying down the road before I fully register everything that’s happened.
Kade drops me off. Sonny and Kade’s friend followed us. Sonny hops off the bike. “I can stay with you tonight if you want,” she says.
I wave her off. “No, go home, really. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”
I apologize to Kade for the one hundredth time, and for the one hundredth time he tells me I have nothing to be sorry for.
I hand him back the helmet. He clutches me to him, wrapping his arms around me.
“Can we go out again? Please tell me that won’t be our first and last date?
I can’t go out that way. I need a chance to redeem myself. ”
The corners of my mouth perk up. I’m surprised after everything that’s happened that he still deems me worthy of dating.
“Ah. I got a smile from you,” he says. “Now you have to agree.”
I nod and shrug. His hands linger on my hips before they drop to his sides. “I’ll text you.”
I wave goodbye then quickly head inside, hoping not to cross paths with David or my brother if they come back to the house. The TV’s on. An open pizza box sits on the coffee table, and about ten empty beer bottles are next to it. What in the hell happened in the last three hours?
Jack snores on the couch. I start to clean up, extremely irritated. I simply wanted to take a shower and go to bed. I’m still pissed about what he pulled at the club, and now he wants to throw a fit like a child, leaving me to clean up his mess.
Jack stirs and opens his eyes. “Did you have fun on your dattttte?”
“It was fine. Go to bed,” I say. I don’t need to have a drunken argument with Jack on top of my already shitty night.
He sits up, his eyes bloodshot and glazed over. “I want to know how it went. Are you going to see him again? Did you kiss him?”
I drop the pizza box back on the table and place my hands on my hips.
I don’t think I have ever felt so defeated.
“Jack, I’m not sure how any of that’s your business.
Especially after the shit you pulled outside the club.
I get it. I’m young. You want me to be with people my age.
You want to be with someone more experienced.
So, what’s the problem, Jack! This is everything you asked for. I don’t know how to make you happy.”
He stumbles over to me. “You, Jessi, you are my problem. I can’t get you out of my head. I can’t stop my feelings for you when I shouldn’t have them.”
I stamp my foot. “Who says you shouldn’t? You know what, I can’t do this. I can’t. I can’t continue to have whiplash. Kade is a good guy. He doesn’t give me hot and cold. I’m not playing this game. Go to bed. I’ll clean up.”
“You go to bed. I’ll clean up my mess.”
“Fine. Have at it.” I skip the shower and go straight to my room instead. I grab my phone and text my dad, hoping he isn’t wining and dining anyone.
Me
How is your trip going?
Dad
Hey! How is my girl? I added more money to your account but noticed you haven’t spent much.
It’s there for you to have a good time this summer.
It is going well. So far, no complications.
This was a good purchase. How about you?
If you and Austin need anything, text Shannon.
She will have a quicker response time. I am about to head out with a potential investor. I will text you later.
My throat tightens with emotion. So much for that. One text is all he can be bothered to send? I don’t waste my time responding.
As I set my phone down, it lights with another message. My vision swims over the name on the screen, and for a moment, it doesn’t compute. Kade. Kade. Not Dad? Well, at least someone likes me.
Kade
I’m sorry about what happened at the theater, but until then, I had fun kicking it with you.
Me
I did too. Thank you for the ride, the candy, and the movie. How is your hand? I feel like a shitty date. You defended my honor, and I didn’t even ice your hand for you. Forgive me?
Kade
The hand will be fine. He dropped easily. No forgiveness needed, as long as you let me take you out again.
Me
Thank you. I would love to go on another date with you. Anyone would drop easily, taking a hit from you.
Kade
I wish I could have done more. If I see him again, I will.
Me
No! Leave it. I don’t want you to get hurt or into trouble. Please just leave it.
Kade
It’s cute that you think I’ll get hurt. I promise I can hold my own. I won’t get caught. I never do. ;) I’m holding you to the second date. Goodnight, Jessi.
This is the second man to stand up to Austin and David for me. Yeah, Jack and Kade might be dangerous—but for now, I have never felt safer.