Page 23 of Before I Deserved You
When he begins to play an amazing rendition of ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ as requested by the birthday boy, everyone joins in, belting out the chorus at the top of their lungs. I tilt my face up to the starry sky and close my eyes. There’s a warm feeling burning in my chest, and I don’t know whether it comes from the crackling flames, the alcohol buzzing through my system, or the soulful voice of the boy beside me. All I know is that the last remnants of regret over having been dishonest with my parents slowly fall away.
I’m having the time of my life and still have an entire night in Jake’s arms to look forward to. I’m so happy and content that not even Jessica’s pinched face could ruin my mood.
Fifteen
Jake
I’m halfway back to the clearing, where the party is winding down when a shadow slinks out of the tree line and latches onto me without warning. Jessica releases a series of high-pitched giggles, a clear indication she’s had a few too many, and rubs herself against me like a cat in heat.
“I’m so glad I found you,” she purrs, running a pointy fingernail down my front. “I’ve been waiting all night to catch you alone. Teresa’s a tad territorial, isn’t she? I mean, good Lord, that girl watches you like a hawk.”
Prying her arms from around my neck, I firmly set her back a step and give her a tight smile. I don’t appreciate being cornered. It puts me in a position I don’t want to be in and disrespects Tessa. Besides, her statement borders on creepy. Has she been watching me all night, just waiting for me to take a leak so she could ambush me?
“Don’t you worry, your pretty little head,” I say, trying to muster up the patience needed to deal with her antics. I don’t want to be rude, but this is beginning to move past a bit of harmless flirting. “I know this is a hard concept for some people to grasp, but I actually enjoy my girlfriend’s company. We’ve been friends for years, and that hasn’t changed just because we’re a couple now.”
Jessica scoffs. “I just can’t imagine there being any passion between you. I mean, you pretty much grew up together. I guess I always thought of you more like siblings than lovers.”
I have a good chuckle at that before I meet her eyes and make sure she hears me loud and clear when I say, “Let me assure you, I don’t think of Tessa as a sister when I fuck her.” Jessica’s mouth slackens, not expecting me to be quite so blunt, but her surprise is soon replaced by a slow, calculating smile.
“Quite the mouth you’ve got on you. I thought I’d have to be the one to corrupt you since you’re younger than me, but it seems I underestimated you. I usually tend to go for older guys, but there’s just something about you,” she breathes, pressing her palms flat to my chest as she steps into me once more. “I’ve wanted you for so long, Jake. All I need is a chance to show you how good we could be together. I’ve been told I give a stellar blow job. Care for a little demonstration?” She lifts up on her toes and suctions her lips to my earlobe in an effort to drive her point home. I have no doubt she thinks her brazen approach is a surefire way to get me on board, but it does nothing for me.
The potent smell of alcohol on her breath reminds me of my father, which is a major turnoff in itself. Pair that with the air of desperation that clings to her like old gum to the bottom of a shoe, and my balls are practically begging to retreat into my groin. I jerk my head sideways to free my violated flesh and wrap my fingers around her shoulders, ready to step out of her unwanted embrace. Unfortunately, Tessa chooses that exact moment to check up on me.
“What the hell is going on?” Her sharp question cuts through the air like a whip. I briefly squeeze my eyes shut and shoot Jess a warning glare before I turn around to face my furious girlfriend. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Jessica steps in front of me, the picture of innocence, while subtly brushing the back of her hand over my crotch hard enough to draw a startled grunt out of me.
“He’s right, Teresa. No need to be dramatic. We’re just having a chat. Everyone’s a little tipsy and having fun. You know how it is. I may have pushed my luck a bit.”
“You’re pushing your luck, alright, you two-faced skank. I suggest you go find someone else to rub up on before I forget I’m a pacifist.” Jessica gasps with outrage. “Did you just call me a skank?”
“If the shoe fits.”
The two of them stand nose to nose, glaring at each other in cold fury. Am I about to have an honest-to-God catfight on my hands? Part of me wants to stand back and see how this plays out. I’m ninety-nine percent sure my girl can take her. But I have big plans for Tessa later, and they don’t involve a bloody nose and bruised knuckles. Time to stop this ridiculous display before one of them loses a fistful of hair.
“I think it’s time for you to go,” I tell Jessica in a tone that lets her know I’m done playing. It’s obvious she’s enjoying getting a rise out of my girl, and I’m getting tired of being an unwilling guest star in her little melodrama.
The way Jessica baits her, shamelessly hitting on me right in front of her, hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’ve tried to stay out of it so far, trusting that Tessa can handle herself, but the longer I let this go on, the more evident it is that she has insecurities. Insecurities I’m feeding into by not speaking up on her behalf. Suddenly, I’m ashamed I haven’t shut this down sooner. I love Tessa. Jessica, I don’t give two shits about. The latter stares at me for a prolonged moment, like she’s waiting for me to come to my senses and change my mind about dismissing her. Once it becomes clear I won’t, she huffs in annoyance and stomps off, leaving me alone with my fuming girl.
Tessa crosses her arms in front of her chest and arches an expectant eyebrow.
“I swear, I didn’t do anything,” I say, willing her to believe me.
“Sure, you didn’t.”
“I was on my way back to you when she came out of nowhere. She practically threw herself at me. I was about to push her off when you got here.”
Tessa produces a sound caught somewhere between a snort and a chuckle.
“Is that so? And would you have pushed her away before or after she was done sucking your brain through your ear canal? I don’t know, Jake. From where I was standing, it kind of looked like you didn’t mind her rubbing her boobs all over your chest. I knew you were into her,” she finishes with a look of utter betrayal.
Inhaling deeply, I will myself to remain calm. As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m the first to admit I got around a bit before committing to Tessa, but I was single then. Since the moment Tessa and I started dating, I haven’t so much as looked at another girl. I want her and only her, but she seems to have a really hard time believing it. Truth be told, I found her jealousy kind of endearing at first. I thought it was cute when she got all possessive. Now, her lack of trust is beginning to irritate me. We’ve been friends long enough for her to know I’d never do anything to hurt her.
“Listen.” I cup her shoulders and dip my face to meet her eyes.
“Are you hard right now?”
“Fucking what?!?”
