Page 42 of Second Chance Ex
Rage consumes me on the inside, and it’s almost debilitating. My entire body feels like it’s simmering on a low yet consistent burn. I can’t even see straight. My fist clenches of its own accord with the need to knock the shit out of AdamfuckingHopper; I don’t know how I haven’t shattered the glass in my hand, I’m holding it so damn tight.
I toss back the last of my whiskey, slamming the empty glass on the table a little forcefully, it causes Ryan to glance across the table at me, one of his brows arched. With a terse nod I answer his unspoken question;I’m okay, despite how much I want to flip the goddamn table at the sight of that asshole’s hands all over my girl. When she leans in and kisses him? Fuck me. I see red.
Jessie places her hand on my arm, squeezing hard enough to force my eyes to hers as she leans in closer. “Calm the hell down,” she whispers, her lips barelymoving so as to not give away the fact that her chastising words don’t come close to matching her saccharine smile.
I swallow hard, offer another nod and go back to focusing on the food on my plate. But I’m not even hungry anymore. I was. I was famished. Thenol’ bag o’ dicksstrolled in like he was God’s gift to mankind; that cocky, fuckboy smirk playing on his lips when his gaze met mine, and my hunger went flying out the fucking window along with all semblance of what little cool I had left. I knew this weekend was going to be hard; I didn’t realize I’d want to rearrange his face within the first half-hour.
“I’d like to say a little something,” Madison suddenly says, dinging her glass with her knife.
She stands, and I fix my gaze on her instead of Adam’s hand that is currently resting on Prue’s bare shoulder, his fingers deftly stroking the exposed skin that’s there.Calm down, JT.
“I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for being here this weekend. I know some of you boys—” she pauses, offering pointed glances at Heath and Teddy “—weren’t overly jazzed about a joint bachelor-bachelorette party, but this is exactly what Ryan and I wanted. Our closest friends together to have afunweekend, to celebrate with little to no drama.” She looks at me then, one of her eyebrows arching higher as if I’m the fucking problem.
Me? I scoff, shaking my head.
A few people around the table let out a little cheer, and I furtively glance at Prue, surprised when I find her gaze on me. Her eyes quickly dart back up to Madison, but she was looking atme. And I don’t know, but Icount that as some kind of a win. Her man’s slimy hands are all over her, but her eyes are on me.Ha. Take that, Dick Bag.
“Thank you, Joey, for organizing this amazing house, and the chef, and everything.” Madison smiles down at me, and I wink at her. “Now, let’s have a good freakin’ weekend!” She holds up her glass in cheers and everyone joins in.
Again, my eyes wander to the opposite end of the table, but Prue isn’t looking at me like I’d secretly been hoping she was; she’s too busy talking to Dawn across from her. I look at Dick Bag, half expecting him to be gloating in my direction, but I’m caught off guard because he’s not looking at me either. He’s not even looking at Prue. And I’ll be God-damned because that motherfucker is actually looking at Jessie.Jessie. So, help me, God, I am about to go fucking rogue.
Ryan topsup my glass with whiskey, and I know I should stop, but I can’t. I need something to ease the pain. Whiskey is the rubbing alcohol of my heart because seriously, if I have to sit here a second longer and watch Adam’s hand rub up and down Prue’s thigh one more time, I’m about to lose my ever-loving shit. And don’t even get me started on the way he keeps leering at Jessie every chance he gets. Fucking creep. I’m at that stage in the intoxication process where I’m sober enough to know what I’m doing, but too drunk to consider getting out of my chair to put Adam on his skinny ass once and for all in case I fall on my own ass. But who knows, a few more drinksand I don’t know if I can be held accountable for my own actions.
After the awkward-ass dinner, Heather suggested a game night by the fire in the den and, of course, all the girls agreed. Me and the guys wanted to go down to the lower level, to the basketball court and the games room, but unfortunately, we were outnumbered. So, here we are, in the den, playing a game of Truth or Shot; answer the question or toss back a tequila. I still maintain it’s not a real game, but here we are.
“Jessie, truth or shot?” Milly, the unofficial Gamemaster, is picking up each question card, a bottle of Patrón held menacingly in her hand.
“Truth.” Jessie grins nervously.
Milly reads the card out loud. “When was the last time you masturbated?”
Jessie snorts, rolling her eyes before glancing at me. She offers a casual shrug, and answers easily, “This morning.”
I hide my smirk behind my glass, my eyes doing a quick sideways glance at Prue. And although she’s practically perched on Adam’s fucking lap, she doesn’t look overly thrilled. In fact, if looks could kill I’d hate to be in Jessie’s shoes right now. And I’m going to take that as another win.
“High-five for jerking off!” Heath reaches over and holds his hand up in Jessie’s direction.
With a giggle, Jessie high-fives him before settling in a little closer to me, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders because two can play at this game,Hopper.
Jessie pulls out a scrunched-up piece of paper from the glass bowl that contains all the names. She smooths it out to read what’s written on it, but then her eyes flitto me before panning across to Prue, and my heart sinks into the pit of my gut.
“Adam,” Jessie says reluctantly, handing the piece of crumpled paper to Milly.
An obvious hush falls over the group as all heads turn to Adam. He grins smugly, like the cocky bastard doesn’t have a single care in the fucking world. I hadn’t noticed until this very moment but the guy has possibly the world’s most punchable face.
“Adam, truth or shot?” Milly asks.
“Truth,” he answers without missing a beat.
Milly picks up the card and reads what’s on it, and I immediately notice the way her eyes widen, the way she looks like she’d rather kick an injured cat than ask whatever is printed on it. She casts me a nervous glance, then clears her throat, looking back to Adam.
“Adam, who in this room… have you slept with?” Milly’s face falls the second the question is out of her mouth, and her shoulders sag in resignation.
All eyes are on Adam, everyone watching him, waiting with bated breath. The only sound is the wind howling outside and the suddenly deafening strokes of the grandfather clock ticking rhythmically from the corner of the room.
I stare at him. Waiting for him to say it. Silently daring him with a warning look in my eyes.Say it. Give me one good reason to knock that stupid face of your head. Jessie grabs my arm, squeezing it, but I have tunnel vision right now. My body is vibrating, ready to throw down.
Adam bites back his grin. He looks at Prue but she won’t even meet his gaze, instead staring down at the glass of wine in her hands, her cheeks turning pink.Then, he meets my eyes once more before turning to Milly and holding his hand out for the shot which, of course, brings a few collective gasps, a few low murmurs to drown out the silence.
