Page 62 of Tease
Beau’s phone vibrates while it's face down on the table. He picks it up quickly and starts to excuse himself. “Hey, I gotta take this. I’ll be right back.” His phone is already at his ear as he runs toward where the bathrooms are.
“And then there were two.” Jared’s tone is playful as he bumps his whiskey glass against my beer. “You look really good, Kailey. I’m glad this place has been so good for you.”
My eyes lock onto emerald green ones, mesmerizing me. “Yeah, I feel different here.”
He nods his head, knowing exactly what I mean. Jared sucks in a breath. “I’m sorry. If this is weird. You having to see me and hang out with me.”
I smile, unleashing my dimples behind my beer. “It’s fine.”Alcohol, is that you?!“I mean, itwasasurprise,” I nudge his foot with mine underneath the table, “but a good one. You look really good too, Jared. You look…happy.” When that word leaves my mouth, it tastes bitter.
I never realized that I didn’t actually want him happy without me, until now.
CHAPTER 48
Jared
I’ve had a smile cemented to my face ever since the guys and I had an impromptu dinner with Kailey and Brittney. I know she still feels something for me. Her telling me at the bar that Mathew was her boyfriend sure changed quickly. She’ll know soon enough that the reason I look “happy” is because I’m near her again. But I need to stay on track, not force anything, and try my best to keep from looking like a deranged stalker.
I’m punching the bag when I hear my name called from somewhere near the front of the gym. Holding my bag still, I look around. “Yeah, back here.” I don’t recognize the guy walking up to me. Tall and big enough he could be a linebacker, wearing a dark grey suit, he’s probably someone my manager sent to talk to me. He keeps trying to get me advertisement and sponsorship deals, saying a billboard would be the “real deal.”
The guy abruptly stops in front of me. “Are you Jared Sinner?”
“Yeah, that’s me. What can I do for ya?” Drips of sweat are tracing paths down my bare back.
He pushes me in the center of my chest, then comes face to face with me. “Stay the fuck away from KC. She’s not yours. This is a friendly warning, you little prick.”
“Hey, what the fuck, John?” Beau rushes up, and his hand goes to John’s chest.
“Beau,” his stare is piercing, “King wanted me to have a little talk with the new guy.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Seems like you haven’t explained to him how things are aroundhere.”
What a dipshit.“I don’t need anything explained to me.Sheisn’t anyone’s property.”
Beau’s hands go to his hips. Closing his eyes, he shakes his head atbig boyJohn. “He’s with me.”
“I don’t answer to you, Beau.” John tries to pat my shoulder but I shift my body away. The fucker laughs it off. “Like I was just explaining to Jared here, this is a friendly warning.”
Beau’s face has shifted from the happy-go-lucky kind of guy to something fierce. “No,youdon’t understand,John. I just told you, Jared’s with me. Which means, he’s fuckingprotected.” Beau’s index finger juts out against the big guy’s forehead. “Now do you understand what the fuck I’m saying?” Beau walks up into John’s personal space, and they hold a staring contest for a minute before John grunts and slowly turns around and walks away.
Before he walks out of the gym, his feet stop and his body shifts. His dark eyes lock onto mine, and an evil grin appears, then he’s gone.
“What the fuck was that about?” I look to Beau for answers.
“Oh, no. Itriedto warn you. That’s whatthatwas.” Beau waves me off, annoyed, already grabbing his phone and texting on it. “You justhadto come back for KC, right? Just something about her you couldn’t get over?!” He’s actually pissed right now.
“I’ve gotta make a call. Don’t leave here without me. We’ll head home together tonight.” Beau’s phone is already at his ear as he walks to the locker room.
I can’t let some big fucker scare me off, not when I’m so close to getting Kailey back. Now that I know she still has feelings for me, nothing can stop me. The gym is in full swing; random fighters are sparring while others are laid down on benches, lifting. Brittney catches my eye; she must be waiting for Skyler. This might be my only chance to plead my case to her. If her best friend isn’t rooting for us, it’ll be a problem, one I don’t want to deal with.
Casually, I take my time walking up to her, looking around to see where Skyler is. He isn’t near her, so it’s the perfect time to do this. She’s looking at her phone when I stop right beside her. “Brittney.”
Her whole body jumps, and she catches the cell phone before it hits the floor. “Shit, Jared, you scared me.” Her eyes pivot around me. “What’s up?”
“Yeah, sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that. I just saw you standing here and wanted to borrow a few minutes of your time.” I start walking over to where a loveseat sits in the lobby area.
“Okay…” Her response is laced with caution, and her eyes continue to dart around the gym.
We both sit down, taking residence on each side, far enough apart. “I still love her, Brittney.” Her head starts to shake and her mouth opens, but I put my hand up for her to let me finish. “I always have, okay? All of these years, she’s been the woman in my heart. I don’t hate her for what she did. I should; she broke my fucking heart.” I pause, taking a deep breath before continuing, “But over time, I realized it’s what she needed… And, well, I want to try and win her back.”
“Wait, what?” Brittney gasps, her brows knitted.
