“Yeah, because you’re coming with me.” I move closer and gently place my hand in hers.
She pulls it back and narrows her eyes at me. “I am not. You know I hate that place. Not to mention, you can come back here when you’re done, if you’re that worried about him being here,” she says, her voice starting to rise. I know we’re about to have our first major fight because I’m not about to let this go.
“Jessa, you’re being completely irrational,” I say, and everyone wisely starts to move out of the room. Sadie looks back one more time and I see the concerned expression on her face before Brady nudges her forward.
“Am I?” she counters, clearly ready for a fight. At this point, I’m teetering on whether or not to carry her out of here against her will. “You think I am the one being irrational?”
“Yes! Now, go get whatever you need and let’s get the hell out of here!” I finally lose it, unable to keep my anger in check any longer. Possessive…yes. Domineering…yes. Shitty…yes. But I’m not about to let my girlfriend stay here with her ex five steps away.
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” She crosses her arms and shifts her weight onto one hip, staring at me. Her hazel eyes now intently glare into mine. I swear she hasn’t even blinked yet.
“Jessa,” I grit through clenched teeth. Completely exasperated by this conversation and obviously not thinking straight, I make the mistake of saying, “Either come with me now or I’m not coming back here tonight.”
Before the answer leaves her mouth, I’m already hitting myself. “Fine, see you around. Call me when you grow the fuck up.” With that, she stomps out of the room.
“Fuck!” I slam my fist against the doorframe on my way out. How can she not see my point? She’s being naïve as fuck to think the dipshit isn’t going to attempt to get her in his bed. The fact that I just pushed her toward him pisses me off more, but I’m left with no other choice. I have to leave and meet with my group, otherwise I fail. If I fail, we have no future anyway.
I toss my bag into the bed of my truck, thanking God when it starts after sitting for a week. Peeling out of the driveway, I leave her. Slamming my fist into the steering wheel as I drive to the frat house, I shake my head, outraged at myself. I might have just handed my girlfriend over to her ex. Fuck!
Chapter 23
Jessa
The nerve of Grant. How dare he think I should go stay in that fucking frat house when he won’t even be there? Give me a break. It’s only a matter of five hours that he’ll be gone. What exactly does he think will happen? That I’ll just hop in bed with Rob for old times’ sake? Ugh, he pisses me off.
I toss my bag onto the chair in my room and see Rob through the open bathroom door, playing his guitar. I slam my bathroom door shut, not wanting to hear anymore shit from him. When he starts playing “Sorry” by Art of Dying, I want to strangle him. Is that his way of apologizing to me? No, I think to myself, he’s just being a smart ass. The longer he plays, the louder he becomes, so I throw my body on the bed and cover my ears with a pillow but it doesn’t help. Every time he sings the words ‘I’m Sorry’, I swear he’s right outside my door. Not being able to take it any longer, I throw the door open and, just as I assumed, Rob’s standing there, playing his guitar and singing for me.
I cross my arms, impatiently waiting for him to finish. After he sings the last sentence, he bites his lower lip and stares intently at me. In this moment, I don’t see the asshole who cheated on me. I see the guy who helped me forget my past for a few months. Grant might have been the one to help me heal, but Rob provided a distraction from the shame I felt. Rob just isn’t the guy you marry…he’s the one you date before you get married.
“Are you finished?” I ask him, attempting to accentuate my annoyance.
“Believe it or not, I am sorry. If what you say is true, that was a shitty thing for me to do.” He stands up and places his hand out for me to shake. I glance down at it skeptically before looking back up at him. “Come on, I’m trying to do the noble thing here.”
Reluctantly, I shake his hand, feeling the numerous calluses on his fingertips from all the playing he’s done the past few months. “But it’s so out of character for you,” I remark and he chuckles.
“Maybe I’m trying to turn over a new leaf.” He lets go of my hand and we stand there on either side of the doorway as though we’re strangers.
“Good luck with that,” I say sarcastically.
“Thanks, this is my first try. How am I doing?” He smirks at me and I’m hit with the memory of our first meeting.
“Song helped.”
“Jessa, I swear I don’t remember having that conversation. Most of the tour was a blur. I was pretty fucked up the whole time. It shouldn’t have been like that. I should have called you…”
I raise my hand to silence him. “It’s done, Rob. I think you know as well as I do that we weren’t meant for each other. You’re not ready to settle down, and I needed more than you were willing to offer.”
“And frat boy gives that to you?” he questions and even now, the dislike in his tone is clear.
“Grant?” I clarify. “Yes, he’s given me everything I need and more.” He nods his head up and down, almost as if absorbing what I’m saying.
“I still think he’s a douche and won’t stick around,” he says, then automatically puts his hands in the air in defense. “I’m just saying.”
“Well don’t, Rob. He makes me happy.”
“It sure didn’t sound like he’s making you happy. I heard the yelling,” he says with a smirk, as though he just made his point.
“Because of you,” I inform him.
“Sorry about that. Actually…I’m not.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Can I have a hug?” he asks, and I step up to him hesitantly. There’s nothing wrong with a hug, right?
As soon as my arms wrap around his neck, he pulls me close, whispering, “I am sorry, Jessa.” He sounds sincere, and I’m thinking about forgiving him when I feel him grab my ass. I abruptly push him away.
“What the fuck, Rob?” I yell.
“Oh come on, Jess, just one more time. I’ve missed that body on top of mine and that mouth around my cock. I promise, my lips are sealed. Richie Rich will never know.” He attempts to walk toward me again, but I firmly press him back and he stumbles against the door frame. What happened to that guy who was here a second ago?
“Jesus, Rob! What happened to turning over a new leaf?” I ask, starting to leave the room.
“I can’t change, baby, it’s just not in me.” His voice is void of his usual cocky attitude, sounding despondent instead.
I turn around to face him and see that his crazy blue eyes are filled with emotion. I wonder if I am seeing a side of Rob that most people miss.
With a quick blink of his eyes, it’s gone. “Well, you know where to find me when you need a good fuck,” he laughs and I shake my head, leaving the room.
Jogging down the steps, I debate where I should go. I know I need to apologize to Grant, and although I didn’t like his possessive behavior, I understand it. Especially after Rob just groped me. It wouldn’t do any good to go over to his house now, since he’s still at the study session for a couple more hours. I look out the window and see Trey leaning against the porch railing, smoking a cigarette. When did he start smoking?
With time to kill, I swing the door open and Trey stumbles backward in surprise. “Jessa!” he exclaims, sounding as though he was expecting someone else.
“Trey!” I mimic his tone and he chuckles. I swear this boy might be the happiest person I’ve ever met. “What’s with the smoky treat?” I point to the cigarette in his hand.
“Stress,” he sighs and I giggle.
“You and stress. That’s an unusual combination,” I joke. He gives me a hardy-har-har before extinguishing his cigarette and throwing his arm around me.