Page 29 of Valley

“What’s your problem?” Val asked, her eyes wide with confusion and her face flushed with anger.

“I don’t have one, but like Jesus, I can work miracles,” he said, handing her his card with a smirk. “Come see me. I can take care of that color for you and some extensions would do wonders for you, make you look less…oh never mind.”

“Go to hell,” Val hissed, tossing his card back at him and picking up the tray of drinks before walking off.

“Cas, don’t be mean,” I chastised gently. “I have to work with her. It’s not her fault Jarrod made moves on her.”

“I call it like I see it, Madeline,” he defended himself with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You’re just too damn nice to see she’s really just a witch disguised as a scarecrow, and that’s why I’m here. Now give me a martini, neat.”

So that’s what Casimir did. He sat there all night, chatting with Margie, regular customers, and keeping me distracted from the fact that Jarrod was completely ignoring me and staying out of my line of sight. But as the night wore on, I started feeling physically sick, wondering if Jarrod would really meet Val at the end of the night.

Casimir had left an hour ago, and my shift was almost over, thank God. I cleaned the bar area and restocked everything. “When you’re ready, I’ll walk you out,” Sean said with a smile.

“Just let me get changed and I’ll meet you at the back door,” I replied, checking in with Margie and then heading into the dressing room to change. I didn’t see Val anywhere and hadn’t seen Jarrod either.

Were they together?

I pushed out the door and into the night air to wait on Sean, and that’s when I got my answer. The pair were on the other side of the dumpster, and I stood frozen, staring at them, too much in shock and filled with hurt to move.

MY HEART HAMMEREDin my chest as I dragged Valbehind the dumpsters. The weight of my warped emotions bore down on me, the bitter taste of jealousy and hurt filling my mouth. Madeline, surrounded by other men, consumed my thoughts while I stood helplessly by, unable to have her.

I wanted her to feel the same emotions, to see them on her face. The sick reasoning in my head was it would somehow make me feel better.

Val’s hands roamed over my jeans as she whispered dirty words in my ear, but all I could hear was the sound of my own conflicted thoughts. We waited in the shadows for Madeline tofinish her shift, and as she appeared, I leaned heavily against the cold bricks with Val in front of me.

“God, you’re so fucking hot,” Val purred, her hands fumbling with the button on my jeans. She put on a show that I couldn’t seem to match. “I meant what I said earlier, and I could devour you right now.”

“Eat away, sweetheart,” I replied, guiding her to her knees.

I fought the urge to glance over at Madeline as Val’s fingers moved over me. Val’s seductive words fell flat as she struggled with the button on my jeans. Was she oblivious to my lack of response? My cock was not rising to the occasion. Just as I felt my zipper lowered, the door opened again, and Sean’s voice shattered our little bubble. “Ready?” My hopes were crushed as Madeline mumbled a reply and walked away with him.

Show’s over.

“Never mind,” I told Val, quickly buttoning up my jeans and stepping around her. “I forgot I have something else to do.”

“What the fuck, Valley?” she snapped, glaring at me as she stood up.

As if on autopilot, I left Val without a second glance and followed behind Madeline and Sean. My frustration boiled over as Sean put his arm around her. Was he interested in Madeline? It certainly seemed that way. They stopped in front of her van, and I moved closer, trying to hear their conversation, but the distance was too great.

Sean pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back as she seemingly poured out all her emotions to him. My satisfaction at seeing her hurt was short-lived as she clung to Sean like she never wanted to let go. I watched in anger as his lips brushed against her hair. She probably didn’t even feel it, but I saw it clear as day.

My fist slammed into the car beside me, causing a loud bang to echo through the quiet parking lot. Startled, Sean and Madeline looked around, searching for the source of the noise.

I quickly moved in the opposite direction and returned to the club, knowing Sean would search the parking lot soon enough. I needed to have a talk with him about boundaries.

When I found Sean, I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. “Listen here, you fucking prick. Back the fuck away from Madeline.”

Sean’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. “Valley, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb with me,” I growled, tightening my grip on his collar. “I saw the way you were looking at her, and I won’t tolerate it.”

Sean’s eyes widened in understanding. “It was you in the parking lot,” he said, not looking one bit intimidated by the situation he found himself in. “She was upset. Should I have been a dick to her?”

“Just stay away from her,” I repeated.

“Is she yours? Because I’m pretty sure that was you I saw getting a blowjob from Val behind the dumpster,” he smirked, pissing me off. “Look, I like Madeline. She’s sweet and doesn’t deserve whatever this is you’re doing to her.”

“You’re just a prospect, and you do what you’re told,” I snarled, furious he admitted to wanting her.

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