“Yeah?” Mavis answers, doing a half walk, half jog from the kitchen .
“Where’s Jenny ?”
“Jenny? Why, she left for her date about an hour ago .”
Everything in me freezes at the sound of that. “Her date?” I ask, my voice coming out sharper than normal. Jenny is out on a fucking date? On the very night that was supposed to be mine? What the hell is going on here ?
The night that was supposed to be yours? Fuck, man, you haven’t had the balls to tell her how you feel .
“Yeah,” Mavis says, sounding very unhappy. “She went out with that Anderson boy. Jake I think his name is. I tried to talk her out of it, tried to get her to relax at home after her travels, but she wouldn’t listen.” Mavis purses her lips. “I don’t like that boy. Something about his eyes. They look beady. Don’t they look beady to you?” she rambles .
I’m not really paying attention to her. My brain seems to have stopped working the minute she said that Jenny was out on a date .
A fucking date .
I do know what boy she’s talking about. Jake Anderson is a lazy, good for nothing kid who would rather get his dick wet than do a minute’s worth of hard work. What in the hell is Jenny doing out with him ?
Jenny might deserve better than me, but she sure as hell deserves better than Jake Anderson. An image of that asshole touching my girl flashes in my mind and rage fills me. If he lays a finger on her, I’ll kill him. My hands curl into fists on their own accord and I squeeze them tight, trying to control myself. I need to be logical here. The problem is, when Jenny is involved, I’m rarely logical .
“Where did they go?” I bark out the question to Mavis. I see the way her pupils go round. I’ve shocked her. Am I betraying myself? Does she know how I feel about Jenny? I’ve done my best to keep it hidden, but I’m done with that. And acting like a fucking caveman right now is ensuring that she knows exactly my intentions for Jenny. Before tonight is over, everyone will know that Jenny is mine—especially Jake-fucking-Anderson .
“Carson, maybe — ”
“Where did he take her, Mavis?” I growl. Every minute that Mavis delays is another minute that little lazy asshole could be trying to force himself on Jenny. There’s no way she’d let him touch her willingly. I might be confused about the way Jenny is reacting now that she’s back home, but I’m not wrong about this .
I can’t be .
“She said they were going to Murphy’s Grill for dinner and then maybe a movie …”
“How long ago did she leave ?”
“ Boss — ”
“How long, Mavis?” I bark, very close to the end of my rope .
“About thirty minutes ago or so…” she whispers worriedly, wringing her hands. “You need to calm down, Carson. I’ve never seen you like this .”
Calming down was sure as shit not going to happen .
Thirty minutes ago… While I was in the shower she’d left with that little prick. She didn’t tell me she was leaving. She didn’t talk to me about canceling our night. She left with him while I was in the damn shower !
She should still be at Murphy’s. I grab my keys and turn toward the door. I have one thing on my mind, one fucking intention. Getting my woman back .
“Lord have mercy,” I hear Mavis whisper in the background .
If the Lord is listening, she better pray He has mercy on Jake Anderson. Because when I get Jenny back, I’m going to spank her until her ass glows bright red. And Jake ?
I’m going to kill that son of a bitch…with my bare hands .
Chapter 6
Virginia
I stare at Jake from across the table, feeling out of place, slightly uncomfortable. I sent him a text just this morning, even though I knew I shouldn’t have, and to my surprise he wanted to see me tonight. I should’ve postponed it, should’ve at least told Carson what I was doing and where I was going. But I didn’t want to face him. I didn’t want to tell him that I was going on a date .
Because admitting that to him, actually saying those words out loud, makes me feel like there really is no hope for me and the man that I really want .
“You barely touched dinner. Are you sure you’re okay?” Jake leans back in the booth and smiles .
“I’m fine. Maybe just still tired from traveling .”
That is a lie. I smile in return but it's a little bit forced. It doesn’t feel right being here with Jake, even though he’s been nice this evening .