Chapter 12: Jessica
I watched as my heart was ripped out of my chest and stomped on. As I stood in the shadows of the hall, I saw Ajax smiling at my sister and leading her off to Bull’s office for privacy. When I’d come down the hall, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Melody, and then to witness her rubbing on Ajax and him doing nothing about it.
It was confirmation of what I had known all along. No one would ever want me long term. I wasn’t attractive like Melody. The man who’d sworn he loved me was walking off, under her spell. I couldn’t stay and watch this, or hear him tell me he no longer wanted me. That he wanted Melody. Hell, he’d probably fuck her in Bull’s office. He wouldn’t be the first guy to meet her and do it.
I turned and quietly ran down the hall. I barreled into his room to grab my purse. I needed to get out of here. Tears were about to break free. I scurried out the back door and to my car. When I pulled up to the gate, I fought hard to smile as Tate frowned at me.
“Where are you going, Jessica? You just got here.”
“I know. I forgot something at the apartment. I’ll be back. It won’t take long. The party hasn’t started yet. I need it to give to Ajax. It’s a surprise,” I lied. He believed every word and opened the gate for me. I fought not to race out of there.
As soon as I was out of eyesight, I floored it. I needed to get to my place, grab some clothes and get the hell out of here. This time, I’d be smart about it. I’d leave my car, ditch my phone, and withdraw what money I could. Not that he’d look for me, but I didn’t want any of them to ever find me. I couldn’t face any of them after this. They’d all know my shame. They had seen him leave with her.
When I got to my apartment, I was in and out in under ten minutes. I threw some stuff into a couple of bags and left the rest. On the table, I left the key to his room and my phone. I wanted to leave a note telling him how badly he hurt me, but I couldn’t. I was about to break.
I walked down and over a few streets before hitching a ride to the bus station. It wasn’t that late, and the last one to Nashville was about to leave. I bought a ticket with cash and got onboard. I sat in the back and let the tears run down my face.
Images of him walking off with her played throughout my mind, then I pictured the two of them on his bed. My stomach rolled. When we made it to Nashville, I didn’t stop even though I was tired. I went to the mall. I found a shop where I could buy some clothes that were nothing like what I usually wore.
Ducking into a public bathroom, I changed and then tucked all my hair up under a hat. I put on sunglasses even though I was inside. I knew how Outlaw had used cameras to find me the last time. I didn’t want them to be able to do that again. Something told me, Madisen would insist they find me. She was too much of a friend not to want to check on me. I couldn’t allow that. I needed to hide and lick my wounds. And try to figure out how to go on living when my world had been torn apart again.
Slipping out of the bathroom, I left the mall in a cab and returned to the bus station. I bought another ticket with cash. This one would eventually get me to Colorado. That should be far enough away. I’d always wanted to visit there. As the miles slipped by and the hours passed, I cried until I felt like I was bone dry. Several people asked if I was okay, and I told them I was fine, but I knew the truth. I’d never be fine again.
Ajax:
I couldn’t believe this bitch. She was pawing me and flirting up a storm. I felt dirty but I wanted her to hang herself.
“Tell me, where did you meet Jess? And how in the world did she get a handsome man like you?”
“She works at the bakery we own in town.”
“Really? She always did like to tinker around with that. You don’t let her bake, do you? Anyway, I was hoping to see her. Is she here?”
“No, she’s not here right now. I’m not expecting her for a while. She had some things to do.” Her face got all cunning. She pressed into me more and ran her hand up my thigh. I held still through sheer will power. I wanted to fling her hand off me and tell her to get the fuck away.
“Well, if she’s going to be gone for a while, why don’t we entertain each other. I know I can entertain you.” I acted like I was going to lower my head and kiss her, though it made me ill to even pretend. I felt bad doing it. Like I was betraying Jessica. However, I needed to know why Melody was here. There had to be a reason and not a good one.
“Tell me about you and Jessica. You’re both so different. How can you be sisters?”
“We’re not really sisters. We’re stepsisters. My mom married her dad when I was thirteen and she was ten.”
“So, she grew up with you as her role model.”
“Yeah, but no matter what she did, she could never match up to me. She was always so jealous of me, and she’d get upset when people would like me more than her.”
“Then why are you here? It doesn’t sound like you’re close.”
“I want us to let the past go and try to be sisters for real. I was hoping she’d let go of her past dislike for me, but having seen you, I know she won’t. She’s always been super clingy and jealous when a guy she was with liked me more.”
“Liked you more how?” I whispered.
She smiled and licked her lips. “They wanted to be with me and not her. I could make them so much happier than she could.” As she said this, she reached up and started to unbutton her top.
My gut clenched. She’d basically confirmed what I’d been thinking. This bitch had purposefully taken men away from Jessica. I didn’t know who or how many, but her behavior all but confirmed it. She was undressing, thinking I’d actually sleep with her. I let her get her top off then I stopped her.
“No, don’t.”
“Why, do you want to take the rest off?”