by Maree Green
Shock pierced my core. I’d never felt so deceived and used in all my life.
Amber shook her head. “Girlfriend, please tell me I did not just see what I think I saw.”
My mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out. How could this have happened? I didn’t understand. I had been with Wyatt for half of a year. We had a good sex life. Didn’t we?
Memories flashed inside my mind. All the times he’d chosen to just cuddle instead of engaging in sex. All the times he’d favored doggy or BJs over any other position. All the times he’d dropped me home at the end of the night and gone back to his own dorm.
My chest tightened. Oh my God. Had he been sleeping with Zac all that time? Was he gay? Or was he bi? Either way, he cheated on me. In my own freaking apartment.
As those thoughts sank in, I was hit with a deep sense of dread. I had no way to be sure, but I had no doubt that had to have been the night I was drugged.
“Oh my God, Amber,” I said, bile rising in my throat. The whole of my body was shaking. “I think I’m going to be sick. This can’t be happening. Did you know? Could you tell?”
I knew I was rambling, but I was seriously struggling to make sense of this. Amber squeezed my arm and shook her head. Her eyes were just as wide as mine. “I had no idea, hon. I’m in just as much shock as you are right now. I mean, you guys had sex, right?”
I nodded, dazed and stupefied. “Yeah, but he really wasn’t as interested in it as I was. Before we broke up, he started talking weird, telling me these fantasies he had of someone watching us—” My jaw dropped. “Oh my God, do you think that’s what that was? Like I was the one watching them?” I shook my head as I remembered him talking about another guy doing things to me. “Shit, I don’t know. I’m so confused right now. What the hell do I do with this, Amber?”
I watched her slump down on the counter beside me. “The first thing you need to do is to have a drink and let this shit sink in, then I think you should go confront Wyatt and ask him to fucking man up and be honest with you. You deserve that much at least, Jess. And maybe,” she said, sadness creeping into her eyes, “you should get yourself tested for STDs.”
Dropping my head back, I closed my eyes. I could not believe this was happening. Swallowing, I nodded. “They screened for STDs when they did the drug test. I’m good, thank God.” Pressing my fingers over my mouth, I shook my head, tears thickening my throat. “Was I just a decoy all this time, Ambs? Did I mean anything to him at all?”
Wrapping her arm around me, she hugged me tight. “Try not to think of it like that, hon. This is his issue, not yours. You did everything right. He was the one who fucked up. He’s the one with the shortfall.”
I laughed humorlessly. At least my gut had been right. I had felt like something had been missing from our relationship for so long. And now I knew what it was. I was missing a fucking cock.
Chapter 30
Eli
Sitting in the driver’s seat of my parked truck, I stared out at Jess’s apartment building and squeezed my hands on the steering wheel. Somewhere inside me, I knew I should just turn around and go home, but Noah’s words kept echoing inside my head, over and over again, and as much as I still felt the conviction of the promise I’d made to myself, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I was also her friend.
The only drama I had right now, was trying to decide what it was Jess would want me to do. The last time I’d seen her, she’d more or less told me to fuck off and leave her alone, so would she even want me to check in on her? Letting my head fall back against the headrest, I let out a deep sigh. Fuck it. I was going with my gut. It wasn’t always right when it came to Jess, but I knew it would likely eat at me for the rest of eternity if I didn’t act on it.
Grabbing my cell, I pulled the keys from the ignition and climbed from the truck. If she was still pissed at me, I’d leave, but until then, I was taking the chance. I just needed to make sure I kept my distance while I was in the same room as her.
Taking a deep breath, I walked up to her door and knocked. About three heartbeats later, it opened and Jess stared out at me. My body’s reaction to her never stopped surprising me. It didn’t matter how often I saw her. My pulse always quickened.
“Eli,” she said, blinking up at me.
“I know I’m not who you want to see right now,” I said, rushing to get it out before she closed the door in my face, “but Noah told me you reported the drugging, so I just wanted to check and make sure you were okay.”
“Uh,” she mumbled, shifting from foot to foot. “I’m okay. I think. I mean, I was—”
I cocked my head to the side a little. Something about her was off. “What’s going on, Jess?”
Her gaze moved past me, shifting nervously. “Can you come in?”
Okay, she was seriously starting to freak me out. She stepped to the side and tried for a smile as I passed, but it didn’t work.
“Are you okay?” I asked as soon as the door was closed. “I’m getting some seriously weird vibes here, Jess.”
She drew in a slow, deep breath and nodded. Whatever it was she had on her mind, it wasn’t good. I watched her fiddle with her cell as she made her way to the couch, gesturing me to follow.
My mind raced, worry churning my gut. With each passing moment, the possible scenarios grew worse and worse. When she didn’t answer me, I decided I’d reached my limit. “What’s going on, Jess? You’re starting to stress me the fuck out.”
I watched her lick her lips, turning her cell over in her hands. “I’m sorry. I just . . . I have something I want to show you,” she said, gazing straight into my eyes.
“Okay. What is it?”
She bit her lip. “First, you need to promise me you won’t tell anyone what I show you,” she said.
Jesus, I was getting more confused by the minute here. What the hell could possibly be that bad? But I appeased her by nodding. “Sure, Jess. Whatever you need me to do.”
She blew out a breath of relief and turned to unlock her cell. “I was going through my phone yesterday—I wanted to delete some of the pictures I had of Wyatt—and I found this. I think it’s from the night I was drugged, because I can’t remember any of it.”
Unease instantly filled me. I wasn’t sure what it was on her cell, but the slightly nauseated look on her face made me wary. If it showed anyone doing anything to her without her knowledge, I didn’t actually know what I was going to do. I just knew it wouldn’t be good. Taking the offered phone from her, I prepared myself for the worst.
“Press play,” she said.
Steeling myself, I touched the screen and waited, my breath stuck somewhere inside my chest. I squinted at the dark recording, trying to get my bearings. I recognized Jess’s apartment, but I didn’t recognize the sounds that could be heard in the background. But then the recording was moving, swinging around, shaking, until I could see a part of her kitchen. I narrowed my eyes, waiting. The tension of not knowing what to expect was almost unbearable. I prayed like hell that it wasn’t something that was going to make me want to kill someone, because that would definitely be the end of my career.
But then there it was. In full grainy color. “Whoa!”
My gaze flashed up to meet Jess’s before falling back to the screen. My brain struggled to process what it was seeing, but then there it was again. It wasn’t a trick. This was fucking real. Zac was bent over, chest pressed to the fucking counter, while Wyatt went at him from behind. There was no mistaking it. Everything was definitely clear. And I meant everything.
“Okay,” I said, lowering the cell to my lap, relief lightening my entire body. “That was not what I was expecting.”
She shook her head with disbelief. “I think I’m still in shock. I don’t know what this means.”
“It means the dude’s either gay or bi, Jess,” I said, unable to help myself.
Her gaze narrowed with contempt, leading me to believe I’d said the wrong thing. “Yeah, I got that. Thanks.” She sat back and rubbed her hand over he
r mouth. “So, you don’t know anything about that side of Wyatt’s or Zac’s sexuality?”
I shook my head. “Hell no, but after seeing that, so many things make so much more sense.”
“Like what?” she asked, confused.
“I don’t know, like the argument I saw them having the other day,” I said, running a hand over my head. “But that makes the drugging thing even more weird, don’t you think? Why would Zac want to drug you if he prefers dick?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, Eli, you can’t say that!”
My brow creased. “Why not? I don’t care who either of them fuck, Jess. I’m not discriminating against their sexuality. I’m just stating the obvious. They both obviously like dick, so why would they want to drug you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t. Maybe it was someone else?”
“That’s what I’m worried about. Either there’s someone else out there who was trying to fuck with you, or Zac was trying to do something else completely.”
“Like what?” she said dryly. “Kill me?” Raising a shoulder, I let it drop suggestively. Her gaze intensified, telling me she thought I was insane. “Zac was not trying to kill me, Eli.”
“How do you know, Jess?” I said, standing and walking across the room. When I turned, I tried letting out a calming breath. “Look, I’m not saying he was. In fact, I kind of doubt it. I just want you to see that anything is a possibility. You need to look at things objectively, from many different angles. Unless you can do that, you’re never going to find the answers.”
Dazed, she shook her head. “This is crazy,” she whispered.
For once, I had to agree with her. And from this point onward, I was going to do everything I could to help her find the answers.
Chapter 31
Jess
Sliding my mug onto the counter, I grabbed the pot of coffee Emmy had left me and filled it to the top. It was only ten in the morning, but after deliberating for the last hour, going back and forth between napping and caffeinating, the smell of sweet coffee won out. Besides, I still had two more episodes of Pretty Little Liars to get through yet. I promised myself it would be the last of my Netflix and chill until I was a graduate, so I was hell-bent on making the most of it. Tomorrow was the beginning of the end.
Grabbing a packet of cookies off the counter, along with my mug, I shuffled back to the living room and deposited them onto the table. With a contented sigh, I settled back onto couch and pulled the blanket up over me again. Unfortunately, I was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.
Frowning, I carefully placed the remote back down, wondering who the hell it could be. Everyone I knew messaged me before they came. Except Eli.
Tossing the blanket off, I made my way to the door, checking to make sure I was at least half presentable before I opened the damned thing. But instead of finding Eli like I’d been hoping, it was someone I wasn’t prepared to see right now.
“Wyatt?” I said, blinking at his still figure, trying to work out why on Earth he would be here. But then I comprehended his mood. He was angry, and not just a little bit. He was borderline furious. It actually made me take a step backward.
“You know I’m going to sue you for this, don’t you?” he snarled, his face twisting with disdain.
I had no idea what he was talking about, but my heart raced regardless. “Huh? Sue me for what? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Wyatt.”
He stepped forward, forcing me to take another step back. “Defamation, Jess. That’s what. Spreading lies—damaging my career possibilities. Do you have any idea what your little gossip fun has done?”
He grabbed at my wrist, hatred burning in his eyes. Panic swelled inside me. “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about, Wyatt. I haven’t said anything to anyone,” I said, trying to stay calm.
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Jess!” he raged. “I know you and your little bitch friends. You were pissed about the threesome rumors and decided to spread your own so you didn’t look so much like a slut. But I’m here to tell you, you fucked with the wrong person, Jess. I knew you were stupid, but what the hell did you think would happen if you spread lies about someone studying the fucking law?”
He shoved me back again, releasing my wrist and stepping in after me. I didn’t know this Wyatt. This Wyatt was wild and unpredictable. He was the opposite of the cool, calm, and collected Wyatt who’d been planning our future less than a month ago. This Wyatt scared the crap out of me.
Moving backwards, I tried to put as much distance between us as possible, while searching for a way to get him to see it wasn’t me he should be pointing his finger at, but with every step I took, he took one too, following my movements.
“Wyatt, I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” I yelled, a tiny sliver of anger seeping into my veins. “Yes, I was pissed about the threesome thing, but I haven’t spoken to anyone about you at all.” Okay, so that wasn’t true, but I wasn’t telling him that right now.
I watched him jab his fingers into his hair. “Enough!” he yelled. “There’s no one else it could’ve been, Jess. So just stop lying to me! Besides, telling everyone I’m gay? What—? Just because you saw those magazines in my room? I told you they weren’t mine! Why did you do it? I was going to give you the world, Jess. You’re the one who broke up with me! I should be the bitter one,” he said, stabbing the points of his fingers into his chest.
Slowly, his words started making sense to me. Somehow, someone knew he was gay, and had outed him since yesterday. My head scrambled as Wyatt drew closer again. Now that I knew what was going on, I could clearly see he was out of his mind with panic and stress. But, other than Wyatt and Zac themselves, who could’ve possibly outed them? I knew Amber wouldn’t have.
My mind stilled as one name came immediately to the forefront. Shit. Eli.
Wyatt shook his head, his nostrils flaring. “I just want to know why, Jess. Why did you do it?”
The front door banged open wider, and a shadow appeared in the gap. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Wyatt. It wasn’t Jess who outed you.”
Wyatt spun at the sound of Eli’s voice, his face livid. I held my breath as we all stood watching each other, worry churning in my stomach. If Eli told Wyatt it was him who’d done it, I wasn’t sure what that meant. I didn’t know if Wyatt could sue him or damage his potential career or not. Was it still considered defamation if we had proof he really was bi or gay?
“What the fuck do you know, Murphy!” Wyatt snarled. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Eli sauntered inside, coming closer to where I was standing, wide-eyed and very confused. “Unfortunately for you,” he said, “it has a little bit to do with me. You see, I was the one who came here the morning after you and Zac were here, doing whatever you were doing, while Jess was passed out on the couch. I was the one who took her to be tested for GHB—which she tested positive for, by the way—while you were off pumping iron and sipping green smoothies with Zac. And I was the one she confided in when she found a video on her cell phone of you and Zac going at it in her kitchen.”
All the blood drained from Wyatt’s face as Eli spoke. I could see his mind scrambling, desperately trying to find purchase to dig his way out of the hole he’d suddenly found himself in.
Eli came to a stop beside me, his entire being so calm and controlled, I was strangely enthralled. He raised his chin as he stared down at Wyatt, his expression so matter-of-fact it brought a flash of fear in Wyatt’s eyes. “But, before you jump to conclusions, it wasn’t me who outed you either. That,” he said, giving Wyatt a sad, little smile, “was Zac. What’s the old saying? Oh, yeah. Hell hath no fury like a lover scorned, or something like that.”
Wyatt shook his head. “No, you’re wrong.”
“Sorry, man,” Eli said, although he didn’t look very sorry at all. “It seems Zac didn’t take too kindly to you breaking up with him. But I wouldn’t worry about planning revenge, seeing as th
e cops are in the process of arresting him as we speak.”
Eli gazed at me as he said the last part, his eyes dark and intense, letting me know we had lots to talk about.
Wyatt, on the other hand, looked ready to pass out. “Arrested? What the hell for?”
I watched Eli’s jaw tighten as he turned back to Wyatt. “Did you miss the part about Jess testing positive for GHB?” he said with disdain. “Yeah, that was your boyfriend. The cops have video evidence of him buying the stuff and slipping it into her drink.” As Wyatt’s face drained of all emotion, Eli stepped toward him. “But I wouldn’t go too far if I were you. As it stands, you’re being investigated for your part in it too.”
Wyatt’s eyes bulged. “My part? I had nothing to do with Jess being drugged! I had no idea he even did it.”
Eli’s entire essence turned dangerous. “So, it’s normal for Jess to be unsteady on her feet, slur her words, and pass out after consuming two alcoholic beverages? Where was your duty of care, Wyatt? You knew this was out of character, yet you still engaged in sexual activity, in her apartment, less than ten feet away from her drugged body, and then left her on her own! You might not have known she was drugged, but any person with common sense would’ve known something wasn’t right. The minute you decided to leave her on the couch while you fucked around and then left, you acted with gross negligence in your duty of care.”
Wyatt’s gaze landed on me, anxious and begging. He shook his head, the movement slow and disorientated. “I didn’t know. I swear,” he said, speaking directly to me. “I thought you were just drunk.”
I raised my chin. “If that’s the case, then you have nothing to worry about,” I said quietly. “Now, I think you should leave, Wyatt.”
As I watched Wyatt slowly nod and turn to leave, I braced myself, and for once it wasn’t to get my girly bits under control before I faced Eli. My brain was still trying to process everything he’d just told Wyatt, and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to handle it right now.