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I pause, wondering how much I should divulge. I’m definitely not ready to ruin the friendship we’ve been building, but maybe I could say something…
Before I can even think of an answer, a girl appears out of nowhere and throws her arms around Jake’s neck, pressing her lips against his. I take a step back, just enough to tell that the leech attached to him is Haley, the girl he’s been fucking on and off over the last year. I thought they were off at the moment, but apparently not.
I only look at the hideous scene in front of me for a few seconds, just long enough to see that Jake is kissing her back, rather than pushing her away, and that’s my cue to leave.
The alcohol that was pleasantly warming my body just a moment before is now threatening to make a reappearance, burning my throat with disgust.
I turn around and walk out, placing my empty glass on the bar as I pass. As soon as the cool air hits me, I pull in a ragged breath. I didn’t realise how much I’d drank until I stumble, struggling to find my footing as I walk around the corner of the club.
When the world around me goes a little dizzy, I lean against the wall to catch my breath. The freezing cold air hitting my overly warm body is helping to sober me up a little, but I’m going to need a lot of water if I want to avoid an awful headache in the morning.
I scrunch my eyes shut, trying desperately not to relive the vomit-inducing scene I just fled from. I focus on my breathing, hoping to gain enough composure to make it home. Yet every time I close my eyes, I see the way he kissed her back and my stomach twists, making the nausea worse.
“What the fuck are you doing out here?” Jake shouts, his footsteps getting louder as he approaches me.
I keep my eyes closed and pull in a ragged breath, not bothering to reply. He stops right in front of me, so close that I can feel the warmth from his body before he places his hand on my shoulder. It’s an innocent gesture, but the feel of him touching me sends a shiver down my spine, so I shrug him off as I open my eyes.
“Just go back inside to Haley,” I spit, sounding more venomous than I intended.
Jake shakes his head, his big beautiful eyes staring at me like I’m confusing him, which only makes me more annoyed. “What’s the matter with you?”
His stupid question is what they call the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and I allow the green-eyed monster of jealousy to take hold. I push off from the wall so quickly that Jake stumbles back, and I use that momentum to my advantage.
I push his shoulders, letting him see the scowl on my face and the anger in my eyes. He takes a few confused steps backwards until his spine hits the wall opposite. I keep moving towards him with slow, purposeful strides, watching as his eyes widen.
He looks confused, but there’s something else in his expression that I can’t label. It looks suspiciously like lust, but I’m not sure if that’s just what I want to see.
I don’t stop advancing on him until there’s barely any space between us. I place one hand on the wall beside his head, caging him in. He’s breathing heavily, and I try to ignore his intoxicating scent that’s surrounding me.
“You’re not dumb, Pretty Boy, so stop acting like you are,” I snarl, keeping my eyes fixed on him.
His breath hitches, but his eyes never leave mine. I drag my gaze over him, using the last of my willpower to make sure I don’t close the gap between us like I desperately want to.
As my gaze reaches his lips, my anger sizzles. With my free hand, I reach up slowly, both of us intently watching mymovement. I place my thumb on his lower lip as his breathing speeds up, and I can’t help wondering if his heart is racing as much as mine.
I swipe my thumb across his lower lip, loving the feel of his softness beneath my flesh. As I pull away, I hold my thumb up for him to see, hoping he doesn’t notice the way my hand is trembling.
With my lips near his, I whisper, “You had some lipstick.”
His eyes widen almost comically, and I take a step back, hating how much I miss him being close. Once I’m no longer crowding him, Jacob seems to sag against the wall, breathing heavily. I don’t wait for him to respond.
Turning on my heel, I walk down the alleyway with much more grace than I should have been able to, given the amount I’ve been drinking. My heart is racing and my thumb is tingling, like I can still feel his soft lips against my skin.
I’m so fucked.
Jake walks into the staff room and finds me in the middle of my meltdown. I don’t know how long I’ve been pacing around the small room like a caged animal, pulling at my hair in frustration. My brain is racing quicker than I can keep up, and tears stream down my cheeks as I sob uncontrollably.
I’m more than panicking, and I can’t catch my breath. I’m aware when he walks into the room, but I don’t stop. I don't think I can really hear what he’s saying, as the noise in my head is too loud to even process it.
He stands in front of me, stopping my pacing, and when I try to turn to go in another direction, he quickly reaches up and grabs hold of my hands, gently prying my hair out of my fists.
After placing my hands by my side, he gently lays his palms against my cheeks, using his thumb to wipe away my tears. With a firm hold on me, he forces me to look at him, and it’s just enough to cut through the noise in my head.
“Breathe, Indie. You need to calm down, so breathe with me,” Jake says, emphasising his breathing for me to mimic.
I try to follow him, but the voices in my head get louder, and I scrunch my eyes closed as the fear twists away at my insides.
Jake takes hold of one of my hands and places it onto his chest, with his palm resting over the top. He continues to swipe his other thumb across my cheek in an incredibly sweet gesture.