Page 28 of Waiting to Lose
MADI AND ANG turned the corner toward the bathroom. Madi ducked inside to reapply her lipstick. A few minutes of kissing Jake Morgan and she completely fell apart. She could still feel his erection on her leg and it left her with a pressing need. She smiled as she tightened her muscles, thinking of what the night had in store for them. She knew she missed him, but seeing him in the flesh made her insides warm and tingly. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she thought of him in his costume. The pants fit him snuggly in all the right areas, and the red suspenders on his bare chest… Dear lord, the man was fine.
As she blotted her lipstick with a tissue, she remembered the moment when she saw Jake come out of the office with Allison Gregory. He looked distraught, possibly guilty, and her heart had dropped into her stomach. Madi frowned as she replayed his words in her mind. Obviously Kendra had gone to the party early and Nate had followed. She wondered what had gone through Jake’s mind when Nate told him she was supposedly kissing another man. Madi shook her head. Poor Jake. He must have felt so betrayed. Her heart ached for him and she decided Caleb had had him for far too long.
She opened the bathroom door and saw Ang speaking to Annie. Annie smiled in surprise as she hugged Madi. It was so good to see them both. In a weird way, it felt like she’d come home. Ang and Annie went off to get a drink, and Madi explained that she was going to find Jake.
She made her way through the crowd. There were creatures and clowns at every turn. One particularly frightening zombie costume caught her eye. She continued forward with her eyes trailing backward, taking in the details. She walked smack into a wolf.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Not a problem, Red Riding Hood,” he said.
There was something familiar about his voice. “Do I know you?” she asked.
He nodded his head. She stepped back and eyed him over, rubbing her hand over her chin as she’d seen Jake do so many times before.
“Judging by your height, I’d say you’re not Trey.”
He shook his head no.
She laughed. “Did we work together?”
His hand teetered back and forth.
“Kind of?” she asked.
He nodded again.
Madi stood with her hands on her hips. “Hmmm… I think I’m going to need to hear your voice again if I’m going to figure out who you are.
He crossed his hairy arms over his chest.
“Curtis?” Madi said with a grin.
“No,” he replied.
Madi concentrated hard. He leaned in toward her. “You’re not afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, are you?”
Madi’s mouth twisted as she tried to place his voice.
“You look as beautiful as ever. Did you see Allison Gregory is here?” She warily followed his pointing finger to where Allison was standing, talking to several men. He whispered in her ear, “Don’t trust him,” as his fingers trailed down her back.
Madi gasped and turned around quickly, but he was lost in the crowd. Madi felt sick to her stomach and uneasy. She hadn’t felt this way since… Madi hurried toward the office door. She had to speak to Jake.
Just as she reached for the door handle, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She jumped and turned defensively.
“Jumpy little thing, aren’t you?”
Allison Gregory was standing beside her, glaring into her eyes. Madi furrowed her brows. Who did this bitch think she was? First, she throws herself atherboyfriend, and now she had the nerve to try to talk to her? Madi’s eyes skimmed over her, contemplating whether or not she could take her. She wanted to drop-kick the bitch all the way back to the hospital the little nurse escaped from.
“I’m Allison Gregory,” she said as she held out her hand to Madi. Madi glanced down at her hand and crossed her arms, unimpressed.
“I know who you are,” she replied with a frown.
“Oh, have you seen my movies?” The arrogance that surrounded her seemed to have a life of its own.
“I’ve seen your movies. Mediocre at best. The reason I know who you are is because Jake told me you threw yourself at him. That’s pretty pathetic, don’t you think?”
Allison’s lips curled into a smile. “Listen, little girl. Jake is way more man than you could ever handle. All the rumors about us? They're true. Every one of them. Who do you think keeps his bed warm at night on the road?”
Madi’s hand clenched into a fist. Her hand lurched back, and just as she was about to deliver her blow, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
“We need to go. Now.”
Jake took her hand and led her away from Allison. As Jake pulled Madi through the crowd, she glanced back toward Allison and smiled, waving her middle finger.
Allison shook her head in disgust and crept back into the depths from which she came.
Madi smiled as Jake swiftly pulled her into a waiting car. She laughed, thinking he was in a hurry to get her home to bed. That was, until she saw the fear plastered on his face.
