The morning goes by quickly. Ace goes to the store and fills the fridges and pantry with food and drink. I chat with Angel about my father, and we all sit down to salad subs for lunch. I still haven’t heard from Jagger by late afternoon, and I’m getting worried. What if something has happened to him? He was the one who told us all that it’s dangerous out there, what if he got into trouble?
I ask Ace about it, but he brushes me off, telling me he’s fine and not to worry.
When night falls, I hear a truck pull up. Moments later, Jagger literally staggers in the door, and flops down onto the couch. Jenny gives me a look, and I stand in the kitchen staring at him. Angel gives Jagger a long look, then glances at me before retreating to the back deck. I’m guessing he doesn’t want to deal with this one. I’m not particularly sure I do, either.
“Where have you been?” I ask when he lifts the remote and starts flicking through the channels. I can smell the strong scent of whisky from here.
“What are you, my fuckin’ mother?”
“Okay, you’re still pissed,” I mutter.
“Understatement.”
I step closer, because I have a lot to say, when I get a waft of perfume. It’s strong and obvious. Something inside me twists, a burst of jealousy I’ve never felt before in my life. My palms actually become sweaty and my internal reaction is going to be intense, if I don’t get a grip on it, that is.
“Where did you go?” I ask, my voice tight.
“Strippers.”
He says the word as if it’s nothing more than a trip to the store. Anger bursts inside of me, anger I’ve fought for so damned long to keep locked away. I can’t take it anymore, I can’t take him, I can’t take this situation, I can’t take my own mind. I reach down and pick up the remote before throwing it, full throttle, at his head. It hits him hard, and a loud angry bellow leaves his lips as he spins on me.
“You’re a god damned asshole,” I bellow, throwing my hands up. “What sort of game are you playing?”
“Me?” he laughs, bitterly. “You’re the one who can’t get her shit together. Do you think I’m the kind of man to sit around while you go through your mental fuckin’ crisis? I’m not. I’m so far from the man you want, it’s best if you just get over it.”
That hurts. God, that hurts so bad.
“That’s low, even for you,” I whisper, voice tight.
“Here’s the thing, I don’t fuckin’ care.”
He looks at me with those penetrating blue eyes, unwavering and fierce. Challenging me, daring me to fight him.
“I’m going out. I can’t deal with this,” I say, turning on my heel and going to the kitchen counter where my phone is.
“Bullshit you are,” he barks.
I laugh, turning back toward him. “You can’t fucking stop me.”
“Watch me.”
I reach the door, then lean down and scoop up his truck keys. Angel has reemerged followed by Ava, both of them with concerned expressions on their faces. I open the front door just as Jagger leaps to his feet. Luckily for me, he’s drunk. I run as fast as my legs will carry me out to the truck. I manage to get inside and lock it just in time before Jagger reaches me, his big body wild with rage.
“Get out of the fuckin’ truck,” he yells, slapping the window with his hand.
“Eat a dick,” I yell, trying to figure out this new, fancy key.
God dammit, why is it so hard to figure out?
“Open the damned door or I’ll bust it open,” he barks, pounding his fist on the glass as he moves around to the front of the truck, standing in the headlights, giving me a look that promises revenge if I so much as consider driving out of here.
“Move,” I yell, “or I’ll run you the fuck over.”
I finally get the key in the ignition, and the truck roars to life. Jagger bellows something at me, but I throw it into reverse and hit my foot down on the accelerator, the truck flying with speed right out of the driveway. I don’t look back as I pull onto the road and speed off, having absolutely no idea where I’m going, but knowing one thing for certain.
I can’t do this with him anymore.
I have to cut ties.
Permanently.
I DRIVE UNTIL MY MIND stops turning with the million thoughts threatening to take over. I finally reach a local bar and decide I’ll get out, have a few drinks and cool off. My phone is blowing up, but I’ve turned it off for the moment, and now I’m going to unwind. I see Jagger in my mind as I switch off the truck and walk inside. I see his angry face, the way he reacted when I drove away. So casually he walked into my house, and how quickly that changed when I called his bluff.