Page 76 of Don't Lie to Me
And if, when all was said and done he still didn’t want me? Well, I had already made decisions about my future and what was best for me and Logan. Jack could be a part of it, or not, but Logan and I were going to be just fine regardless.
He shook his head and frowned, just a little bit. “I can’t. But I suggest you keep your eye on the news later this week.” He flashed me a wink and walked to the door. “Shit’s gonna get fun.”
I jerked my head back just as Logan came out of his room, backpack in hand, filled with clothes to stay at his dad’s for the night.
I pulled him into a hug and gave him a slobbery kiss on the cheek as he tried to wiggle his way out of my arms. “Not a chance, Logan. I’m never letting you go.”
He laughed with me, and then kissed me back. “I love you mommy.”
I set him down on his feet and kissed him again. “I love you, too. Have fun tonight.”
They both waved to me as they walked out the door, leaving me alone to try to figure out what Marcus said.
I was finally sick and tired of watching the news almost twenty-four hours a day. The only thing I saw were reports on hurricanes hitting the south, earthquakes in India killing thousands of people, the economic collapse causing the highest unemployment rates in history, and dictators killing hundreds of children and women in Uganda.
None of that shit sounded fun.
Listening to the depressing stories of things going on in the world, made me happy that the worst thing I was dealing with was the fact that Jack still hadn’t called.
Whatever was going on, he’d decided not to let me in. I hated it.
But I had cried the last tears I would over him. We were together for just a couple of short months and I refused any longer to sit at home, drinking wine alone after Logan’s bedtime, and staring at the news ticker waiting for whatever was supposed to happen; happen.
Whatever Marcus alluded to the week before didn’t happen, and it was time for me to move on.
Which is how I reluctantly found myself in a bar, connected to one of McMillan Holdings hotels, frowning into my long island ice tea with Dean while we watched Macy and Tate practically copulate on the dance floor. The only bright side was that The Nadas were back in town for one last summer show and I was finally getting a chance to see them for the first time in years.
“Have they always been like this?” Dean asked with a scrunched up looking face while we both stared at them. It was gross, and I’m sure neither one of us wanted to be staring at them making out on the dance floor, but there we stood. Rubbernecking like you just have to do when you pass a car accident on the highway. We just couldn’t look away.
“Yep,” I replied and took a large gulp of my drink. “It’s too bad you weren’t around when they first started dating. Most nights I felt like I should just join in their fun since Tate was always in our dorm room anyway.” I turned to him and winked. “Do you have any idea how small the dorm rooms are at DePaul?”
Dean’s eyes went wide. “Did you…join in?”
I laughed. It was the first genuine time I’d laughed in weeks and I wished in that second, that I could look at Dean and see the hotness right in front of me, instead of a pseudo-brother. I wiggled my eyebrows and smiled coyly, “I will never tell.”
Dean shook his head while laughing. “That’s just wrong, and hot, all at the same time. I’m not sure what to do with that information.”
“You can get me another drink.” I waved my empty glass in front of him and turned back to the dance floor and the folk rock band on the stage while Dean took his cue. You couldn’t watch The Nadas live and not have a smile on your face and your feet tapping out the beat. I loved them.
Several songs later, Macy and Tate were finally taking a break, waiting their turn in line at the bar, when Dean returned with my drink and awkwardly draped his arm across my shoulder. He pulled me closer into his neck and when I turned toward him, he looked down at me and lightly kissed my temple.
“Jack’s here. Want me to play the new boyfriend and make him jealous all over again like the night of our first date?” His mouth was pressed so close to my ear, I’m sure it looked like he was kissing me to the casual observer.
At least this explained his sudden affection toward me. I debated for a split second before I smiled up at him and kissed his cheek.
“You don’t have to do this. I need to get over him.”
“He doesn’t look like he wants to get over you anytime soon.” He nodded and slowly relaxed his hold on me and I followed his nod in the direction he indicated.
Jack stood several tables away. Dozens of people were crushed in between us and I heard the music playing on the stage to my far right. I think I even vaguely remembered that Dean was still next to me, holding me like we were together.
He leaned forward and whispered in my ear again, “Come on, tell me it won’t be fun to play with him just a little bit more. The man still clearly wants you.”
Dean was right. Even from the distance that separated us, I could see the tension in Jack’s shoulders. His eyes pierced into me so completely, it felt like he was standing right in front of me.
Dean’s hand tightened on my shoulder and he pulled me closer to him. And when he did, I watched Jack’s lips pull together and his eyes darken. He noticed the gesture, even from the distance and I almost wondered if steam was going to come out of his nose he looked so angry. Like a bull ready to charge the matador, and Dean was the red cape.
I smirked at him and then turned around and back into Dean’s embrace just as Macy and Tate joined our table.
