Page 25 of Waiting to Lose
“She was what?” Jake asked angrily.
“She was lip locked with some guy dressed as a football player.”
Jake’s shoulders slumped as he sunk down, resting on the edge of the desk, trying to balance himself. His heart felt heavy and his blood ran cold.
“Jake? Are you there?”
“Where is she now?” he asked with obvious distress.
“I’m watching her. She has her back to me and her tongue in his mouth.”
The pain hit him like a gunshot in the gut. He lost the ability to breathe or think. His heart burst into a million pieces. Madi was cheating on him? Was this why she didn’t want him to come visit? All that talk about promises and telling the truth. Was it all a lie? Jake’s head snapped back as he rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand and tried to process what he’d heard.
“Jake?”
Jake turned and paced the room. He could hear Nate’s voice on the phone but he was unable to speak. He could feel the pain shooting through his chest. He loved her. Had he pushed her away? Had he lost her?
“Jake… are you there? What do you want me to do?”
Jake took a deep breath and placed the phone back to his ear. “Just stay with her. Make sure she gets home safely.”
He ended the call and walked over to the window. He glanced down at his phone and pulled up his last few texts from Madi. As he reread her words, he started to wonder if he really knew her at all. He wanted to throw something. He wanted to break something. The thought of another man kissing her mouth was more than he could bear. He stormed off toward the door as it suddenly inched open. A long leg covered in white nylon slid around the edge. Within a moment, Allison Gregory was standing before him. She closed the door behind her and pressed her back up against it, blocking his exit.
“There you are. Is everything okay? You look upset.”
Jake’s eyes darted over her. She was wearing a short white skirt that barely covered her ass. Her legs went on forever and her breasts poked out from the tiny, tight white shirt barely covering her. She adjusted the nurse’s hat on her head as she smiled, watching him look her over.
“See anything you like?” she asked as she strutted toward him. “I say we just put these rumors to rest and finally make them a reality.”
Jake quickly turned his head away and closed his eyes. It would be easy to retaliate and just use Allison to get back at Madi for breaking his heart. But no matter what Madi had done, he still loved her. He needed to go see her. He needed to know what she was thinking and if there was still anything left worth fighting for.
“Allison, you’re a very beautiful woman, but I’m seeing someone.”
Allison looked around the room. “I don’t see her here now. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” As she sashayed her way closer to him, she began to unbutton the few clasps on her next-to-nothing shirt.
Jake put his hand up to stop her. “Allie, don’t do this. It’s not going to happen.” Jake shook his head in disgust. “I need to get out of here.”
He rushed past her, opening the door and descending into the crowd. He suddenly felt small and insignificant. He couldn’t see the door from where he was standing, but he instantly wanted to find it. He needed to get the hell out of this party. Caleb stood in front of him with his mouth gaped open as Allison slipped out behind him, buttoning her shirt. Jake glared at Caleb and followed his line of sight back to Allison with a pained expression. He didn’t care what he thought. He needed out. His head dipped down to the floor. He lifted his eyes as he turned back toward the door and stopped dead in his tracks.
Standing next to Ang was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. His breath caught in his throat. The first thing he noticed were red stockings on long, luscious legs, leading up to familiar red garter belts and tiny red shorts. The sight of her thighs sent a heated pulse through his body. As he slowly scanned her, he noticed her thin blouse made of red, yellow and orange sheer waves, covering her chest. It was low cut with a slight amount of visible cleavage—just enough to make him want more. The blouse met her wrists and flared out to bare arms and back up to meet at her shoulders. She looked like walking fire. Her face was covered with a mask of the same color that flared out to the side. Her long brown hair flowed in waves around her head, stretching down almost to the middle of her back. Jake stood motionless as his eyes made their way to her face. Her lips… They were red and familiar. He felt his heart make a small leap out of his chest as all the pieces fell into place. It washer.
Her eyes bore into him before pouncing to Caleb, then to Allison Gregory as she buttoned her blouse. She turned on her heel and bolted toward the door.
Jake pushed past the crowd and reached for her arm. The first thing he noticed as he approached her was the way she smelled. He immediately felt his heart mend and fire ignite his blood. She turned back toward him, pushing his hand off her. He immediately pulled her into a kiss. She attempted to push away at first, but the second his lips met hers, she melted into his mouth as if his lips made her forget her anger. Her hand reached up and wrapped around his neck. His mouth molded into hers and she returned his kiss with equal passion and equal fire. After several seconds, she pulled back and looked him in the eyes, stunned. Her eyes turned dark and cross
“Do you even know who you’re kissing?” she asked with anger in her tone.
Jake shook his head. He was just as mad. “I know the girl I’m kissing right now is obviously not the girl who Nate just told me had her tongue down the throat of some guy at a fraternity party.”
Madi’s mouth gaped open. Jake took her by the hand and pulled her back to the office from which he’d come. She followed him willingly. When they were safe inside with the door closed, Madi removed her mask.
“Surprise!” She tossed it across the room and plucked the loose strands of hair out of her face.
Jake smirked as his head tilted to the side, watching her, then following the lines of her body, taking her in. He leaned on the door and folded his arms, slowly staring at her from her feet to her mouth.
“Stop checking me out! I’m hoping you have a really good explanation for what I just saw.”
A smile dangled on the corner of his lips before he let loose and laughed. His hands ran through his hair as he smiled and inched toward her.
