3. Jake #2
I chuckle under my breath as she takes a step closer to the bar and farther from me.
A nicer guy would apologize, but I won’t.
She approached me like every other woman who wants to sleep with me because of how I look.
The shallow women in town who want to claim they bagged the biker boy for a night, to see if the piercings feel as good as their friends swear they do.
And yes, those are the words out of their mouths when propositioning me, but they have no real interest in me.
They’re scared of me, only saying what they think I want to hear, and I hate it.
I like that Amber says what’s on her mind, not scared of the persona I have.
Even if she tried, like everyone else, to get in my pants without knowing me.
The emptiness in my chest during dull conversations with other women isn’t so prevalent around her.
Her anger and cutting words slice through me, and the brutality of them lights me up instead of shutting me down.
This is what I’ve been missing. Maybe hate sex will at least make me feel something again.
“It wasn’t.” I order a whiskey as the bartender places one on the bar. We’re the only two waiting for drinks, so I reach over her shoulder and pick hers up. “Thanks.”
Her death glare is cute while she waits for the bartender to pour another for her, and I wiggle my fingers in a wave as I walk away.
Playing with her is fun, like a hit of adrenaline to my thrill-seeking heart.
Her snarky remarks to everything I say keep me on my toes, and I want to see what I can pull from her next.
I make my way over to River and Thoren, who are watching the photographer take photos of Lily with Shadow.
“Congratulations, man. A wife and a … family all in one day. Big stuff.”
Thoren turns wide-eyed, and Riv barks out a laugh, shaking his head. “She’s going to kill you for letting two people know right away.”
“Fuck, how did you even know? River overheard when she told me, so that’s not on me.”
“For starters, I saw the look in your eye. It’s like you forget that I know you.
But then you stared at her stomach the entire way down the aisle.
Real subtle, buddy.” He rocks back on his heels, looking wary but not sorry.
“Really, though, congratulations. You two will make the most incredible parents.”
He grins, and his eyes glaze over. They’ve been trying for a baby for a few months now. It’s not conventional to get knocked up first, but their story is unique and filled with some bumps. I’m thrilled for them; this is what they both wanted.
“Thank you.” He wraps me in a hug, gripping me tighter as he whispers, “But if you tell her you know, I will kick you out of your house so fast.”
I chuckle and slap him on the back before Lily comes over and steals Thoren for more photos.
River and I walk in together and take our seats at the long table.
Finally able to lose part of the suit, I discard the jacket and bowtie on my chair.
Lucky for me, Amber and I are seated next to each other, so I’ll have entertainment through the meal.
I smirk around my glass as she sips from her whiskey, trying to ignore me.
Her eyes swirl with the same amber color, fitting beautifully with her name.
I wonder if that’s where the name came from or if it’s a happy coincidence.
“You going to get trashed again tonight? Try to sleep with everyone with a dick. Maybe find someone new to cry to.”
She glares at me, not a glint or spark of life in her eyes. “I don’t want to fight tonight, Jake. I’m too tired.”
That resonates with me. A lot. She doesn’t just look tired, she looks exhausted.
Beautiful with her hair and makeup all done up, but it doesn’t hide the dark bags under her eyes.
I know what it’s like to work yourself into the ground and feel absolutely nothing inside.
Arguing with her is some of the most fun I’ve had in months, so I have no plans of stopping simply because she asked.
Is it also the reason I put in an offer on the workspace right next to her shop? Maybe. This blank version of her, though, isn’t doing anything for me. She needs to feel something again, and I’m happy to ignite that spark.
“Too tired to try to get in my pants again? The rumors are true. I’m a great fuck. I never get off before my partner, and I’ll be gentle with such a delicate flower like you.” I lean closer to her, grazing her cheek with my thumb.
She white-knuckles her drink, and the anger coursing through her has a storm flickering behind her eyes. I’m half expecting her to throw her drink in my face, but she surprises me by plastering on a smile and congratulating the happy couple who are taking their seats next to us.
I watch her throughout the dinner and toasts, through the dancing and joy.
She holds herself together so perfectly, smiling when she should, laughing when others do, but it all screams fake.
It’s so clear now that it’s not the same fake persona women usually put on around me, but one I know well.
It’s one I wore most of my childhood while hiding the hurt others so carelessly threw my way.
My fingers itch to unravel her real smile and find out what changed between December and now.