“Hey,” I greeted softly. He smiled. His hair was tied back, a black leather jacket was over a white t-shirt. His jeans were worn but fitted him perfectly.
“Darling.” He greeted me. He snagged my hand and pulled me forward. I hesitated and he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“She doesn't want you here,” Matt said from behind me. I closed my eyes briefly, this was not the correct way to do things. Who said I didn't want him here? Wasn’t that my decision to make? I gritted my teeth. I turned to Matt.
“I’m going to talk to Jay outside,” I pushed Jay back a little as I stepped out closing the door behind me. I walked a few steps down onto the drive. There was a beat-up pickup truck sitting on the drive, I headed to it.
It was on a drive with an Audi R8, a Jaguar and two Toyota 4Runners. Jay snorted as he looked at the cars. “How did you know which one was mine?” He chuckled. I grinned despite myself.
I walked round to the side of the pickup. I leaned against it and looked at him. His smile was as slow and lazy and delicious as it had been the first day I met him.
“We need to talk,” I announced.
His eyebrows rose but he nodded. His hands slipped into his back pockets and he rocked on his heels. “Shoot.”
So, I did. “Your brother has been part of an agreement to blackmail Colton and the others to fight for him,” I blurted.
Jay stopped rocking, the surprise on his face seemed genuine. “What the fuck?”
“Connor did something he shouldn't. To sort it out, Colton, Theo and Matt agreed to fight in these underground things you have going on. That are organised by your brother.” He didn’t need the details, he needed the basics.Ineeded to see his reaction.
“No. Aaron would never, ok he has some weird business deal with the guy who owns the warehouse, but he would never blackmail anyone.” Jay ran his hand over his head, it shook a few strands of his hair free. He didn’t notice. “I don’t know why they are saying this to you, I know they don’t really like me, but this is messed up.”
“It’s all true Jay.” My heart was softening, I reached over and took his hand. “Your brother has done it. I don’t know his reasons, maybe he had no choice?”Hang on, why am I making excuses for him?“But it’s been happening. It's over now though.”
He was looking at me, searching to see if I was lying. He whistled through his teeth. “This is fucked up. This why they have an issue with me?” He looked at me, “Me and you?”
I nodded.
“They don’t all think you are innocent in this and the spiked drink,” I confessed.
Anger washed over Jay. “Seriously? No way did I know that, do I look like I need a fucking drug to get a girl into bed?” He kicked his tyre in disgust and frustration. I jumped at the sudden movement. Matt was out the door, across the drive and in front of me in seconds.
Jay held his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt her. Jesus. I'm not a fucking animal,” he growled. I placed my hand on Matt’s arm to let him know to calm down. He glanced at me and I nodded.
“I can’t believe you think I am involved,” Jay said to Matt. Matt glanced at me and I shrugged,he rolled his eyes.
“You never know what to think in situations like this,” Matt answered diplomatically. Jay snorted.
“I thought we were ok?” He gestured between Matt and himself. Matt shrugged.
“Ok.” Jay nodded and laughed low. “All I did was come to see how my girlfriend was feeling. Fuck.” He shook his head.Girlfriend?I was his girlfriend? Well I didn’t get that memo. Did I?“Well I better go. Guess I’m not welcome.”
“Wait!” I said.
Matt turned to me with a surprised look. I ignored him.What are you doing? Shut up.Ok I'm arguing with Colton in my head again.
“Bit?” Matt brought me back to the present.
“Can you take me home?” I asked Jay. He looked as surprised as Matt.
“You want me to take you home?”
I nodded confirmation.“We need to talk better. I think we need to talk about this.” I glanced at Matt. “Privately.”
Jay nodded and half-smiled, “I agree.”
“Ok I need maybe ten minutes. Is that okay? I have people to say goodbye too,” I murmured.