“Come on, Pieces.” Heath interrupted, breaking me away from Jake’s encaptivating hold.
“Coming.” I croaked. Jake then turned and walked away, Heath and me following closely behind.
Chapter 8
Jake bolted out of the classroom, down the hall, passed the Administrator’s and went through the double doors. He scrambled to get his keys out of his briefcase as he made his way towards the parking lot. Heath and I paced slowly towards our car, watching in awe at Jake’s frantic scramble out of the parking lot. “Well, he seems to be in a hurry.” Heath raised his brows in his usual apprehensive expression. I gripped tightly on the strap of my bag and then turned to Heath. “Who cares? Probably has a date with his lovely girlfriend.” I grumbled. It had been a week since Heath and I had become official and I still felt emotionally distraught. I then walked to the passenger’s side of the car and stopped immediately in my tracks. “Holy shit!” My eyes wide, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the length of the car’s side.
“What’s wrong?” Heath turned to me, and opened the driver’s door on his side.
“You are going to flip.” I looked up at him, finally breaking my gaze.
“Reese, what are you talking about?” He looked confused. He then walked over to me, his eyes slowly capturing the disgustingly long and winding groove that was dug into the side of his red Camaro. “Someone keyed your fucking car.” I finally managed to say. He didn’t move a muscle. He froze. As if his mind was processing the information. The occasional bobbing of his Adam’s apple when he swallowed was the only actions that came from his frozen figure.
Heath rarely ever shut down, and when he did, it meant he was absolutely livid. I had only seen him shut down once when we had just became friends and it was something I never wish to see again.
He finally moved his eyes to me, then back at the scratch before getting into his car. I slumped into the passenger’s seat, looking over at him.
“We have to deal with Caroline.” Heath paused with his keys halfway in the car’s ignition, then turned to me looking very perturbed. “As if trying to get you and Cavanaugh into trouble last week wasn’t enough. Who knew she could be this treacherous?”
“Uh, hello. I did.”
“And you never said anything, why?”
“Because… I was in love with you and I didn’t know how to tell you. And I certainly didn’t want you to think I was just being jealous. But something about her didn’t sit right with me, at all.”
“Well, I understand. Same way I felt about Mr. Cavanaugh.”
“Except… you were jealous.” I teased. Heath shoved me playfully and we both started to laugh. “So… what is the plan?” I asked suddenly becoming serious.
“Don’t worry about it, Pieces. I’ll talk to Caroline’s dad.”
“Would that do any good?”
“Trust me, it will.” He replied.
I fastened my seatbelt as Heath took the top of the Camaro down, slipped on my shades and after pulling out of the parking lot and getting on to the main road, we were on our way home.
Jake pulled up in the parking lot of Joey’s club, Athens, walked through the door to the side of the lot, up the stairs and into a private room where Joey sat with his shirt sleeves rolled up – his jacket laying on the backrest of the red lounge seat – and lines of cocaine laying on the table in front of him.
Kai was seated far apart from Joey, his legs propped on another chair to the side of him as his face hid behind the book he was reading, his copper brown hair framing it.
He was built – not too bulky – but sexy; his arms were almost as sculpted as Jake’s. He looked up from his book when Jake walked in, his electrifying grey eyes brightening.
“Kai?” Jake’s eyebrows furrowed as he made his way to the seat that Kai’s feet were propped on. “You’re back early? Thought you were coming back on Sunday?”
“Yes I was. I didn’t bother.” Kai replied, his well-defined cheekbones disappearing into a wide smile. He then got up and embraced Jake in a brotherly hug. “I missed you, man. How’s Aunt Lettie?”
“She’s good. And you?”
“I’ve been pretty good! I’m going back to school after spring break.” His eyebrows danced playfully.
“Wow, really? That’s fantastic. And spring break’s only a week from now. Have you put things in place already?”
“Yep, of course.”
“How was Mexico?”
“Awesome, man. Shit’s legit. So… Kin’s really back, huh? Messing up your life and shit?”
“Unfortunately. I just had to push the girl I was madly in love with into the arms of her best friend.” Jake sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and sat in his seat, slightly leaning forward with his arms resting atop his knees.
“Ooo, she’s kinky like that?” Kai’s eyes lit up.
“Her best friend is a man, dumbass.” Jake looked up at him with a pokerfaced expression and reclined into the chair, placing his hands to the back of his head.
“Oh, fuck. That sucks.” Kai frowned and slumped back into his chair, his eyes still on Jake.
“Yes, Kai, it does. Now we need to get rid of Kin so I can try and salvage what little I have left of my dignity. I really didn’t wanna have to pull you back into this lifestyle with me, but I really have to get this done.”
“Na man, don’t sweat it. I always told you I didn’t like the bitch. Okay, so how about we chloroform that ass and run her off the road.”
“Quick… effective. I like it.” Joey intervened, his lips spreading from ear to ear as he packaged the lines of coke into tiny packets. Jake and Kai whipped their heads to him simultaneously.
“Joe, why do you still mess with that stuff?” Kai’s eyebrows furrowed referencing the cocaine as.
“I make good pocket change off this Malakai. I have had loyal customers for over ten years now, can’t disappoint them now can I?”
“Whatever you say Joseph.” Kai retorted and rolled his head over to Jake. “So, Jake?”
Jake looked at Kai thoughtfully, scratching his tussled hair and then stood up, fixed his cufflink and slipped his hands deep into his pockets. “We have to make this a complete accident, or else we will have a war on our hands.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Kai replied. “So, what does she look like?”
“Who?” Jake’s eyebrows furrowed. He ran his fingers through the stubble on his chin as he paced to and fro.
“Who else? You’re girl dummy.”
“Another Caribbean beauty.” Joey answered as he put away the packets of coke into a suitcase.
“Word?” Kai raised a questionable eyebrow at Jake.
“She’s nothing like Kin. She’s ambitious, gorgeous, funny, and most importantly sane. She’s not about this life – at all, that’s why I can’t tell her what’s really going on.” He ran his hand through his hair in exasperation at the thought. The stress of the situation clearly dawning on him, making him uneasy.
“How would you know if you never talked to her about it?”
“‘Cuz I just do okay, Malakai.” He paused for a moment. “So…here’s what we’re gonna do… I’m gonna take her on a trip for Spring Break – Jamaica or something. Get in her good graces and make her think I want to be with her, for real. She would tell her stupid family all that so they wouldn’t suspect a thing. Then we kill her. I mean Jamaica is great because we would could drive her off a cliff or something. It’s an island, got lots of open water.” He stared off into the distance for a moment. “I’m just so sick of her, I do everything possible in my power to avoid intimacy of any kind.”
“Ha, how does that go?” Kai smirked, a smirk that was strikingly similar to that of Jake’s.
“Inevitable failure. Anyway, I will use her family as an alibi while you do the work.”
“Music to my ears.” Kai grinned and picked up his book.
“Well boys, thanks for the help. I’ll book all our tickets.” Jake nodded in delight, h
is demeanour slightly relaxing.
Joey poured three glasses of Bourbon, giving one to each of them. They all clinked glasses and gulped down their drinks.
I was at home in the living room, sitting on the loveseat with my laptop, looking up ticket prices, when Heath sneaked up behind me and kissed the back of my neck. My skin prickled and I turned towards him. “Aye.” I smiled.
“Hey gorgeous.” Ah, the sound of that deep Aussie accent that made me swoon when he called me gorgeous or beautiful. “Heading back to Trinidad, eh?”
“I want us to go for spring break, so my cousin could finally meet my best friend, slash boyfriend.” I smiled and pecked him on the lips.
“Sounds committable.” He grinned.
“You talk to Caroline’s dad?” I asked as I purchased two Caribbean Airlines tickets back to Trinidad online.
“Yeah, I did. Spent almost a bloody half hour listening to him yabber. I nearly offed myself, mate, I swear.”
“What’d he say exactly?”
“The poor old bloke doesn’t want to release me from his family. He insists we could work it out. He is a true fruit loop, boy I tell ya. Forget that, Pieces. I highly doubt Car…” He was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Pardon me, will ya.” He said and left for the door. Every time he became enraged, his accent grew thicker, it was a turn on to me. “I don’t bloody believe this?” He yelled out and then I heard what seemed to be Caroline. I jumped over the backrest of the loveseat and darted towards the front door and halted in my tracks upon seeing her. “What are you doing here?” I spat.
“Relax, Reese, I just came to drop off all this crap.” She retorted and threw a cardboard box filled with items Heath had given her to the floor. “Now we’re really done. You happy now?” She faux-smiled at Heath.
“What are you talking about?” He asked her.
“Well, my dad called. He wants to send me to stay with my mom in Florida now, and it’s your fault.”
“Well you deserve a lot worse than that, seeing that you keyed Heath’s car and nearly destroyed me and Jake’s lives.” I interjected.
“I should have destroyed you.” She snickered.
“And I should have kicked your scrawny ass.” I growled inching closer to her and Heath pressed his hand against me in attempt to barricade me from her.
“Bugger off, Caroline.” Heath spat and closed the door on her face. Heath faced me, our eyes meeting. He raised his eyebrows playfully at me, making me suppress a smile. “It took you so long to see the crazy in that chick – unbelievable.”
“Shut up, Pieces.” He laughed and someone knocked on the door again. He rolled his eyes and answered the door expecting to see Caroline. “Oh, Mimi? What are you doing here?”
“Hey Heath, Jessica and I are planning a massive soiree before we take off to Palm Springs for spring break. I was in the neighbourhood, so, here are you and Reese’s invite. It’s at my house in West End Park.” She handed him two invites and winked at him before trotting back to her car. Heath then turned to me and flashed the invites in my face. “Ultimate college party? I could dig it.” I smiled and he laughed.
“Are you sure, Pieces?”
“One last party before the real party. Hell yeah!”
“You bought our tickets?”
“Yes! I can’t wait for you to see Trinidad though, it’s the best. I can’t believe it’s been almost two years since I left. You would love it. Like serious thing, best place you could go for a fete.”
“You have me intrigued, Pieces. Especially when you talk about this Doubles and Roti thing.”
“I know right. It’s been too damn long since I’ve eaten that. I’m legit dying.” I flashed a broad smile and just then Heath’s phone rung. He answered it and uttered a few words before hanging up. His face serious. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“My dad wants to have a family dinner tonight.”
“Oh, and what’s wrong with that?”
“Well, it’s going to be about the whole Creative Director fiasco. Things are going to be finalised tonight, I guess. And seeing that it’s in San Francisco, I’d have to stay the night and miss school tomorrow. You mind being alone for the night?”
“Of course not, Heath. I’m a big girl.” I assured him.
“Alright then.” He pecked me on the lips. “I’ll go get ready.”
“Cool.” I pursed my lips together and plopped down on the sofa. I pulled out my phone and went into my WhatsApp messages, just staring at the last conversation I had with Jake on my birthday. That stupid tightening feeling in my chest returned and I felt that knot in my throat forming as the tears pooled in my eyes.
I finally have what I wanted since I came to Dillcaster, but my heart felt literally broken over Jake. I guess because it was so sudden and unexpected, I truly expected better from him. But now what hurts the most is the fact that I never got any closure. Did he ever really love me? Why all of a sudden would you go back to a girl that you hardly ever even mentioned? I was so distraught by it all and no matter how hard I tried to put it behind me and be happy with Heath, it just haunted me. ‘Time heals wounds’ was my mantra.
Heath came back down with his bag packed, his face apologetic. “Hey.” I faced him. “I’ll be fine.” I reassured him.
“You sure, why don’t you just come with me? I’ll talk to my dad.”
“Heath, go. How often do you see your family? I’ll be alright. Plus, you need to find out about your working arrangement.” He hesitated for a moment before relenting.
“Alright, I’ll see you on Saturday. Tell Cavanaugh and Sampson I’m in San Francisco if they ask.”
“Okay, babe.” I palmed his cheek and gave him a peck on the lips.
“I love you.” He whispered against my lips.
“I love you, too.”
Jake, Kai and Joey were still inside Joey’s private room at Club Athens. Jake took another straight shot. His eyes were bloodshot red and his speech was slurred. “Kaiiii, Joeyyyy, I g-g-gotta goooo. Now!” He slammed his glass on the glass table in front them, almost toppling over. “Take it easy, Jake.” Joey puffed on his cigarette.
“I’m good, Joe.” He got up from the floor, straightening himself. “I’m out guyssss.” Jake staggered towards the door, down the stairs and into the empty dance floor. A few employees were scattered about cleaning up and preparing the club before opening.
Jake continued stumbling towards his car. When he got in, his phone rang and he looked at the screen – it was Kin. “Fuck this bitch!” He screamed and tossed his phone to the side. It landed face up and my contact popped up. He focused his eyes at my name and number. “Reese.” He breathed.
After I took a bath and freshened up, I sat at the breakfast bar with my laptop and books to do up some work for school. Spring break was coming up and I had to finish my assignment for Mr. Sampson’s class. I could never do work without listening to music, so I put on the playlist on my computer.
Ping! My phone chimed, it was an event notification for Jessica and Mimi’s party on Facebook. “Can’t wait.” I murmured, laid my phone down and continued with my assignment. I decided to order a pizza. As I selected Holloway by Wildcat! Wildcat! on my playlist, I heard a knock on the door. “That was fast. Too fast.” I thought to myself.
When I opened the door, Jake was standing there, leaning against the doorframe reeking of alcohol. I paused, that lump forming in my throat. I was unable to move or breathe. “Reese.” He slurred. “Jake, what are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask as the shock settled. He reached for my face and I turned my head.
“I missed you.” He staggered into the living room and I closed the door and followed him to the sofa. “Where’s your boyfriend.” He asked, his hooded eyes looking up at me.
“In San Francisco. Where’s Kin?” I asked solemnly.
“I don’t give a fuck about her, Reese. I never had.” He breathed and reached for me. I stiffened at his hold. My breathing heaved as I desperately fought back th
e tears, my heart palpitating and a million thoughts running through my head.
“Jake…” And before I could say any more, his lips were on mine. He consumed me as he held on to me tightly. I was reluctant at first, but finally I began kissing him back, hard. I couldn’t control myself, our hands were all over each other. He reached for the hem of my vest and pulled it over my head as I began unbuttoning his shirt. We could hardly pull ourselves away from each other as we climbed the stairs and stumbled to my bedroom.
He threw me on my bed, our bodies nude, and came over me. I wrapped my legs around his waist as his mouth invaded my neck. Throwing my head back and arching my spine, I pressed my body into his, anticipating whatever came next. I wanted him, even after all he did, I still wanted him! Wait! Am I dreaming? What is happening here? I found myself thinking as he placed his splayed fingers into mine, locking them together. His mouth traveling further. I winced at the feel of his unforgettable touch, the yearning so strong.
My mind was trying to stop what was happening, but my body and my heart relented. I was once again under the hold of Mr. Cavanaugh, the handsome, immaculately dressed and well composed man that I once befriended. The one that shattered my heart to millions of little pieces, that Heath, thankfully, tried helplessly to mend. But here I am again, vulnerable to his touch. Oh my god! Heath! I’m cheating on Heath! How wrong I knew this was, but I couldn’t dare myself to stop. Stop! Reese! Stop! My new mantra just falling on deaf ears and a throbbing clitoris. I couldn’t tear myself away from how good this or he felt.
Jake continued devouring me, my body bare and forsaken. I grinded myself against his erection, relishing in the stimulating feeling. Oh my gosh! His hand travelled down my stomach and toward my sweet spot. Yes! I rejoiced in my mind as he began rubbing his hand on me. The feeling increased, the faster his hand went, and I couldn’t stop myself from grinding even harder against him. I was losing my mind. He then slipped his finger inside and it made my head spin. “Yes, you’re so wet.” He groaned and kissed me hard as he fingered me.
In The Spur of Heath (The Spur Series Book 1) Page 17