Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Cat
After the salad course arrived, I’d finished my first glass of wine and started to relax, enjoying the company of Gabe’s family and feeling like there was a mini truce between me and Hunter even though the palpable electricity between us never disappeared.
When Gabe stared past me and the table went quiet, I turned.
Jason stood in the doorway, accompanied by the restaurant owner.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion. This young man—”
Gabe rose and said, “Jason, how are you, man? How’d you find us? Cat, you didn’t tell me you were inviting Jason.”
With that impeccable welcome, Jason said a charming hello to everyone as if he were on stage, and I supposed he was. He pulled up a chair up between me and Hunter.
Jason leaned in and whispered, “Your dad called and told him to come. Sorry for the surprise, but it was kind of last minute.” He squeezed my hand and gave me that killer smile of his.
“I’m glad you’re here. I need an ally, but don’t tell my father that. He’s an insufferable interferer.” I simmered, unsure if I was upset with my father or upset that Hunter would mock me later. Either way, Jason would be a good buffer, physically and mentally, between me and Hunter.
But the tension increased as the main course was served and Jason drank more wine than I’d ever seen.
He’d never been much of a drinker. He got territorial, nuzzling me and kissing me, surprising me with his skill at hitting all the right spots.
Hunter glared, not bothering to hide his animosity.
Gabe was amused and started asking pointed questions about our relationship since he knew it was fake, knew Jason was gay.
Though he was doing an Oscarworthy performance playing a straight guy right now.
Jason answered all of Gabe’s questions, but his answers unnerved me.
He told everyone how we met in college, how he crashed the sorority pajama party, and the only way he could get away with staying was to tell us all he was gay. This version, his version of the story, had me confused.
Then he laughed like nothing could be more absurd. My gut clenched.
I started to feel sick and moved away, but Jason held me in place, gave me a sly smile that only made me less sure. Then he told everyone about how he had loved me from afar for years until finally he got his chance to date me a couple of months ago.
“We’ve been together ever since. I couldn’t be happier.
Cat is special.” He turned to me then, my face and everything in me on fire, just as much from the scalding stare Hunter aimed at me as from the burning knowledge in me that something was going terribly wrong.
Jason leaned in and gave me a tender, devastating kiss, one that no amount of acting could produce.
The kind of kiss I was pretty sure no gay man could ever give a girl.
Everything in me churned like a Maytag possessed.
I broke off the kiss and met Hunter’s eyes, saw the instant when he realized my confusion, saw the anger break out on his face.
I pushed away from Jason, tried to gloss it over.
I drank some wine and then stood too abruptly, but I didn’t care.
I had to leave. I excused myself to the ladies’ room.
I was thankful it was a restroom for our private dining room only.
Gabe’s sister rushed in after me. I splashed water on my face with shaky hands.
“What’s wrong, Cat? You look so upset.”
I didn’t know what to say to her, but I was saved from needing to respond when we heard shouting and the sound of a chair crashing. I ran back out of the ladies’ room.
Hunter was about to punch Jason but Gabe got to him and held him off. Barely.
“You sick bastard. You lied to her, took advantage all those years.”
“Get away from me. You’re the sick bastard,” Jason looked frightened, but he hadn’t run.
Because sometimes random thoughts go through my head during times of crisis, I thought it was a good thing we had a private room. I got between Hunter and Jason. Jason looked at me for help, as if he was the innocent party.
“Cat, tell him—”
“I think you’d better go, Jason.” I almost choked on the words, but I stood my ground.
When Jason reached out a hand to touch me, I felt Hunter move behind me, heard him make a sound like a warning growl.
Jason retracted his hand, gave a parting smile to the room as if he was playing a role now, and left.
I turned around to find Hunter staring at me. He shook his head.
“You look like shit. Sit down.” He called a waiter over and asked for brandy for me. That sent a wave of relief through the room and everyone resumed eating their desserts and drinking their coffee. When the waiter brought the brandy, Hunter held it to my lips as if I might refuse. I drank it.
I had no idea what to say to anyone. They were talking quietly among themselves, slipping surreptitious glances at me as if I might go up in a puff of smoke. Or maybe that was me thinking I might float away because I’d never felt so untethered in my life. Not since my parents’ divorce.
It was that distinctive feeling you got when you discovered everything you thought was true, had counted on about people you loved, was suddenly not true. Never had been real. That’s how I felt now, for the second time in my life.
Gabe leaned in and said, “You okay, Cat? What’s with that dude?”
I shook my head.
Hunter said, “She’s had a shock.” He didn’t elaborate. Gabe didn’t question further.
There was no way I could eat dessert but the brandy made me feel better after my second sip.
“I’m calling you a cab,” Hunter said.
“Good idea.” I said to the table at large, “I’m sorry it’s time for me to leave now. It was nice meeting everyone.” No one looked surprised. They all gave me warm, sympathetic smiles. I stood and Hunter stood with me. He got my coat and walked me outside.
“If I ever see that bastard around you again I swear I’ll break some bones.”
“I don’t know, Hunter. We’ve been friends a long time. I think I owe him a chance to explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain. He’s not your friend. He’s been lying to you for years, pretending he’s gay to be close to you. It’s the sickest thing I ever heard of.”
“Why didn’t he just ask me out?” I knew Hunter didn’t have the answer, but the question was rolling around in my head and I had to let it out.
“Because he was afraid you’d say no. Being your gay friend was pathetic but safe. He’s got problems, Cat. You don’t need to be part of that. I don’t care if he was your friend. That man you thought was your friend doesn’t exist. Never did.”
I tried not to cry and the taxi pulled up just in time to save me from any more of Hunter behaving like the knight in shining armor that he was, the tender lover, wiping away my tears.