I drove the rest of the way anyways, and watched him play video games while I twitched restlessly.
It was slick out, so he offered to drive me home, and I agreed, wondering why I’d even come. Fucking Bryan wouldn’t even have solved the main problem—that I couldn’t stop thinking about my ex.
I zoned out as he drove me back, barely listening to his work stories as I replayed Jesse’s fight over and over again.
Gritting my teeth, I got out of the car, moving carefully on the slick sidewalk.
It was late, so I expected everyone to be asleep.
I felt Bryan’s hand on my lower back as he guided me up the steps.
“Be careful, it’s slippery.”
But he had barely spoken when the door of the tent was ripped open and Jesse stuck his head out.
My heart pounded as Jesse came storming down the steps. It wasn’t as cold as the night before, but his breath still made puffs in the air.
“I told you to stay away from her!” he roared.
I had never seen a damn ex so jealous and upset.
“Jesse, stop! What is wrong with you? It’s like you’ve gone fucking feral!”
I stepped quickly between the two men, putting a hand out and gripping Jesse’s shirt to keep him from lunging at Bryan.
“We are casual,” I seethed to Jesse. “Get a hold of yourself.”
“Casual for now,” Bryan put in.
He was wearing on my nerves.
I could feel every ridge of Jesse’s ab muscles under my fingers, his chest heaving in and out.
“Casual forever,” I said.
Bryan’s handsome face twisted with disgust as he looked at me.
“Don’t tell me you’re considering getting back with him,” he said condescendingly. “You’re so much better than that.”
“Fucking stuff it,” I retorted. “I’m better than you, too. Get out of here.”
When Bryan hesitated, because of course he didn’t want me going off mad and losing access, Jesse picked him up by thecollar and carried him over to the driver’s side of the car and threw him in.
“You’re making a—spectacle of yourself,” I said as he turned back to me.
I felt light-headed.
He strode back, moving quickly for such a big man, shadows from the streetlights streaking across his massive shoulders.
Then Jesse stopped in front of me.
“Don’t be mad. Please, don’t send me away,” he begged. “Anything but that. I just saw you with him and I—couldn’t stand it.”
He knelt with bowed head in front of me.
The huge broad width of his shoulders looked so strange slumped in dejection.
“The paparazzi might drive by and see,” I pointed out.
