Page 56 of Jaked

Chapter 21

"What the hell isthat?" Jake asked.

I looked down. "What?"

"Thatthing."

"You mean this?" I grabbed a handful of black fabric and lifted it outward. "The dress?"

We were standing near the balcony doors of his penthouse. I'd just emerged from his guest room, dressed for the museum thing – whatever it was – and eager to get it over with. It was sad too, because I should have been excited. But today, I'd had way too much excitement already.

When I'd returned from shopping, Jake had been gone. I'd let myself in using his extra key card, only to find a note on the entryway table. "Be back soon."

At the time, I'd been relieved. After everything I'd learned, I hadn't been ready to face him. I still wasn't ready to face him. Bianca's words weighed on my mind. Did I believe her? I still wasn't sure. But what did it matter? Whether she was lying or not, I was still dressed like a schoolmarm.

Jake eyed the dress with undisguised loathing. "A dress?" he said. "That'swhat you're calling it?"

Even though I didn't love the dress either, Jake's reaction still stung. As he eyed me with obvious disgust, I felt my face grow warm. "What wouldyoucall it?" I said.

His jaw tightened. "Tell me something," he said. "Didyoupick that thing out?"

As I met his gaze, I felt my own temper rise. Yes, the dress was butt-ugly. But what if Ihadpicked it out? Just because he didn't like something, that didn't give him the right to be so nasty about it. I threw back my shoulders and said, "What if I did?"

His mouth opened. No words came out. He reached up to rub the back of his neck. "It's uh, really—" He glanced toward the door. "So youdidpick it out?"

Unlike me, he looked fabulous, in dark slacks and a dark dress shirt and sports jacket that matched perfectly with his dark hair and dark eyes – and yet somehow managed to accentuate his amazing body. 

The fact that he looked so good – while I looked awful – only made me more irritated.

"You know what?" I said. "You've been bossing me around since I got here, and I've just about had it." My voice rose. "Do you even realize what you cost me today?"

He leaned back against the wall. "Go ahead," he said, crossing his arms. "Tell me."

I rolled my eyes. "Do I need to spell it out?" I counted off on my fingers. "An apartment.Twojobs. And a roommate."

He made a sound of derision. "Your apartment sucked, your jobs paid dick, and your roommate sold you out for some guy she just met."

I stared at him. "Maddie? What do you mean?"

He smiled without humor. "How do you think I found you?"

"You tellme."

"Later," he said. "First, tell me why you're so ticked off."

"I already told you," I said.

"Uh-huh."

"And," I said, "you're being a total pig." I glanced down at my dress, ugly as it was. "The only reason I bought this thing was becauseyoumade me." I hard sound escaped my lips. "No. In fact,Ididn't even buy it.Youdid."

"Do they offer refunds?" he said.

Probably. My gaze narrowed. "No," I said.

"Then take it off," he said. "We'll burn it."

I glanced toward the fireplace, dark and quiet. Was he kidding? He didn't look like he was kidding. "Why are you being such a jerk?" I said.