Jilted

by Tess Thompson

  “He’s grieving,” Sophie said. David had always been extremely sweet to her. She sensed he was sad and still reeling from what happened to him. “He lost his wife before he moved here.”

  “I’m sure he’s a fine person,” Sara said. “But the two of us were like oil and water. I’ll tell you, though, your Nico is such a doll.” She gestured toward Sophie.

  Your Nico.

  “He isn’t mine,” Sophie said. “I wish he were.” She and Nico were not like oil and water. They were like the perfect blend of cabernet and merlot. Someday they could have little cab franc babies to add even more joy to their blend. Do not go there. Stay present. Nico does not want you.

  They paused their conversation as the server brought the second round of drinks. Sophie thanked him and took a good look at the new cosmo. Was this a good idea? Probably not. But hadn’t she vowed to have fun? As she’d said earlier—she had no place to be tomorrow.

  Sara picked up her drink. “I just assumed you were together. He talked about you a noticeable amount when he was designing my yard.” She elongated the word noticeable.

  “Is that right?” Jamie raised one eyebrow. “Tell us more.”

  “You know how guys do when they’re in love? ‘Sophie this’ and ‘Sophie that,’” Sara said. “It was charming and endearing, just like him.”

  “Then what’s his problem?” Jamie asked. “I just don’t get it.”

  “He thinks I’m too young,” Sophie said. “And he’s scared.”

  “Because his ex-wife ran off with a girl?” Jamie asked. “What does that have to do with you?”

  Sara’s eyes glittered. “Being betrayed changes a person. I can understand why he’s cautious. He doesn’t want to get hurt.” She brought her glass to her mouth and sipped a good portion off the top.

  Sophie wondered if Sara had been betrayed by her husband before he died but was too polite to ask. Jamie, however, was not deterred by this social hindrance. As usual, she dived right in without any sense of boundaries. “What’s your story, Sara? How did your husband die?”

  “You haven’t heard?” Sara smiled, a little drunkenly in Sophie’s opinion. Not that she should judge, as the alcohol was definitely going to her head as well. “It was all over the papers in Denver.”

  “No, we have no idea,” Jamie said.

  “But you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Sophie said, with a pointed look in Jamie’s direction.

  “I don’t mind,” Sara said. “All you’d have to do is google my name to learn it all anyway.” She splayed her hands on the table. “My family is kind of well-known in Denver for our business enterprises.”

  “Wait, are you the Ness like the beer?” Jamie asked.

  “Yes, we are,” Sara said. “I mean, not anymore, of course. But my great-great-grandfather founded the company.”

  “That’s like the first beer I ever had,” Jamie said.

  “You and every other person in the country,” Sophie said.

  Sara nodded. “Right. At one time we owned a basketball team and a few other things, including a partial stake in some high-tech stuff. I don’t even know the half of it, truthfully. When my father died, I inherited everything because I have no siblings and my mother died when I was young.”

  “You’re like a real-life heiress,” Jamie said.

  “I suppose I am,” Sara said. “I was still in college when Dad died, and I was completely unprepared for any of this. But he’d left me in the care of his best friend—whom he trusted with his life—and it’s all been fine.”

  “It must be great to have your own money and not have to answer to anyone,” Jamie said. “I can’t lie. I’m not sure I can like you now.”

  “Financial freedom is great,” Sara said. “However, when you’re a billionaire, you can never be sure if people like you for you or for your money. I was a fat kid. I was still fat when I was at college, where I met Matt. That’s my husband. My dead husband.”

  “But he loved you for you, didn’t he?” Jamie asked. “Please say he did.”

  “I thought so. I mean, that’s the thing. Don’t we always think so? As a matter of fact, I believed so strongly he loved me that I lost fifty pounds. It was like he loved the weight all off me. Then we got married and I was happy even though I was still grieving my dad. We were living in Colorado. Skiing and hanging out with all the ‘it’ people. He thrived in that scene even though he’d been raised very middle-class. I couldn’t have cared less about who was who, but he jumped all in and was completely ensconced in that world.” She took another drink of her martini and kept her eyes lowered when she picked up her story. “Then I got pregnant. It was a complete surprise. I was thrilled, but he wasn’t. He liked things the way they were and all that. Long story short, he started having an affair with one of the women in our social circles. A married woman.” She paused as she looked up at them. “A woman married to an erratic man with drug and mental health issues. He killed them both at my home. My daughter was weeks old.”

  For once, Jamie seemed stunned into silence.

  “I’m so sorry,” Sophie said.

  “I had no idea he was having an affair until they were killed. Can you believe that?” Sara widened her eyes and made a face. “Like could I have been a bigger idiot?”

  “It’s not your fault he was a cheater,” Jamie said. “I hate cheaters. My dad’s currently living with the woman my age that he cheated on my mother with. Disgusting.”

  Neither of them had a chance to respond to that because just then a man appeared at their table. He looked familiar. It took Sophie a moment to realize he was the firefighter from the other day. The flirty one who’d given her his number. She couldn’t remember his name. Jake? No, James? That wasn’t it, either.

  “Hey, Sophie.”

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Jad Stokes,” he said. “We met the other day.”

  “Right. Hi, Jad. These are my friends.” She introduced him to Sara and Jamie.

  “Out for a ladies’ night?” he asked.

  “Sure. Something like that,” Sara said.

  “Can I buy you ladies another round?” Jad asked.

  Sophie was about to say no when Sara blurted out, “Heck yeah.”

  “Nothing for me,” Sophie said, indicating her almost-full glass. “I’m good for now.”

  “A light beer for me,” Jamie said. “A Ness Light.”

  Jamie and Sara laughed and high-fived like a couple of middle school boys.

  Jad ambled off to the bar after winking at Sophie. He was really into winking.

  “He’s a yummy drink of whiskey,” Sara said. “He likes you.”

  She told them about their conversation from the other day. “He gave me his card, but I couldn’t remember his name just now.”

  “He’s cute,” Jamie said. “Maybe some no-strings-attached sex is just what you need to get Nico out of your system.”

  “Could be.” Sophie played along. Jamie didn’t know she was a virgin. She suspected Jamie wouldn’t understand why she was saving herself for her one true love. Jad Stokes was not that. Not even close. Nico was the one for her. No, don’t do it. No more thoughts of Nico.

  “Maybe that’s what I need. Some meaningless sex,” Sara said. “With a stranger who I can kick out before breakfast.”

  “I don’t think that’s what you need,” Sophie said.

  “What do you think I need?” Sara asked, grinning. “Because right now it’s all chocolate and online shopping. Do you know how many pairs of shoes I’ve bought in the last six months?”

  Jad returned with the drinks for the ladies plus a beer for himself. “Do you mind if I join you?”

  “You bought a round, so that means you get to stay.” Sara made a motion as if she had a magic wand in her hand.

  Jad grabbed a chair and set it next to Sophie. After he sat, he pointed at her handbag. Leaning close, he spoke into her ear. “So, is there a cell phone in there?”

  She smiled. �
��Yes, there is.”

  “And yet my phone has not rung.”

  “You didn’t really expect me to call, did you?” she asked.

  “Ladies always call if I invite them.”

  “Surely not all.”

  “Ninety-eight percent,” he said.

  “I like being in the two percent,” Sophie said. “Being different is my one of my best qualities.”

  He winked. “And here I thought it was those gorgeous legs of yours.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie saw Nico and David Perry walking through the main doors of the brewery. Her breath caught, and her stomach churned. Why, why, why did he have to come here tonight? Didn’t he have the decency to stay away from her place of business?

  She caught Jamie’s eye and tried not to cry. “Nico’s here.”

  “Is that bad?” Jamie asked.

  “Very bad,” Sophie said.

  “The insufferable bore is out at night,” Sara said. “Amazing.”

  “That guy again,” Jad said. “Is he like your overprotective uncle or something?”

  Sophie shot him her best scathing look. “No, he’s my good friend who I happen to be madly in love with.”

  Jad shrank back slightly, then grinned. “He’s the one you’re in love with? That’s why you’re able to resist me. I get it now.”

  Nico and David hadn’t yet seen them, she felt certain. They were in the bar area now, winding their way through the crowd toward the counter.

  “Jad, you’re really kind of awful.” Jamie giggled cheerfully as she tapped the tabletop with her short nails. “We’re not the type of women taken in by your type.”

  “At least not again,” Sara said. “Been there, done that.”

  Jad appeared baffled, then affronted before his usual smugness settled over his features. “What does that mean exactly? What kind of type do you think I am?”

  Sara gave him a long, appraising examination before she answered. “You think a lot of yourself, which makes others do the same even though behind all the muscles and handsome features there’s just a vacuous hole.”

  “Wow, Sara, that’s rough,” Jamie said. “You’re kind of my hero right now.”

  “That’s what happens when you’re a bitter old lady like me,” Sara said. “You just don’t care any longer.”

  Jad grinned and raised his hands in a gesture of defeat. “Fine, we’ve established I’m not taking any of you home tonight. How about we lighten up on the ol’ Jadster. We can be friends. I promise, I’m not as bad as I seem. Harmless, really.”

  “A good-looking man is never harmless,” Sara said. “The minute you think they are is the minute you screw yourself.”

  “Same could be said of women. But we’ll put a pin in that one.” He turned to Sophie. “What’s the deal with your uncle? Why doesn’t he want you? I mean, how could he not? Plus, he seems like the type who wants to settle down and have babies. What gives?”

  “Please stop calling him my uncle.” Sophie sighed and looked over at Jamie for help.

  “He thinks she’s too young for him,” Jamie said.

  “Even though he’s totally into her,” Sara said.

  “And a year ago his fiancée fell in love with a girl and called off the wedding,” Jamie said. “He’s all messed up in the head because of it.”

  “Harsh blow,” Jad said. “But still, he must be out of his mind to walk away from you.”

  “Thank you.” It surprised her that his words bolstered her damaged ego. Jad might be full of himself, but there was a sweetness under all that bravado. Someday he would grow up to be a man ready for a relationship.

  “Tell you what.” Jad ran his hands down his torso. “How about we use all of my parts to make him a little jealous.”

  “Great idea.” Jamie clapped her hands together. “Get his competitive juices flowing.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Sophie said. “I don’t like to play games.”

  “No offense, but that’s probably half the problem,” Jad said. “Men love the chase.”

  Sophie smiled despite the embarrassment that made her cheeks flame. “Honestly, just leave this alone. He won’t respond well to me trying to make him jealous.”

  “They’re coming this way,” Jamie said under her breath. “Look natural.”

  “I am natural,” Sophie said.

  Nico and David came to their table, each holding a beer. They were both dressed in khakis and button-down shirts. The client dinner must have gone long. As much as she’d love to ignore him completely, she couldn’t stop herself from staring at him. “Hey, ladies.” Nico’s gaze flickered around the table and stopped on Jad.

  Jad stood and held out his hand to Nico. “Hey, man. Jad Stokes. We met the other day.”

  “Sure, how’s it going?” Nico asked as they shook hands. “This is my friend David.”

  David nodded a greeting. “Hey.”

  “Good to meet you.” Jad moved a few inches closer to Sophie, then draped his arm around the back of her chair. “You guys want to join us?”

  Nico’s eyes shuttered to slits. Sophie couldn’t decide if the nerve of Jad Stokes was funny or frightening. Maybe it took someone with this kind of rashness to be a firefighter?

  “Pull up a seat,” Jamie said. There were several unoccupied chairs at other tables.

  “We can stand.” Nico positioned himself between Sara’s and Jad’s chairs.

  David came around to stand between Jamie and Sophie.

  “Hello, David,” Sara said in a bored tone, as if his mere presence was tedious.

  His jaw seemed to tense at the sound of her voice. “Hi, Sara.” David set his beer on the table, then directed his gaze toward her. “How are things?”

  “Just peachy,” Sara said. “You?”

  “Same.” He suddenly seemed interested in the contents of his beer glass.

  “Let’s have another round.” Sara raised her hand and lurched precariously close to one side of her chair. The legs of the left side raised off the floor a few inches. Jamie’s hand darted out to steady her.

  “You guys been here awhile?” Nico asked with a pointed look in Sara’s direction. “And how are you getting home?”

  “I’ll make sure they get home safe,” Jad said. “Rescuing cats from trees and beautiful women from too many martinis are kind of my things.”

  A nervous giggle escaped before Sophie could stifle it.

  Nico’s expression darkened. “David and I will take them home. We don’t actually know you.”

  “Not a problem. Take Sara and Jamie home. I’ll be sure to get Sophie to a safe place.”

  Nico gripped the edge of the table. The veins on his forearms bulged as though he’d just lifted a heavy weight. For a moment, she thought he was going to flip the table. Instead, he turned to Jamie, then Sara, and gave them a tight smile. “What brings you two out tonight?”

  19

  Nico

  * * *

  Nico had never killed a spider. Not once in his thirty-four years. He scooped them into a cup and took them outside where they could live out the rest of their lives in peace. Martin Luther King and Gandhi were his heroes. However, at this precise moment and for the second time in twenty-four hours, he wanted nothing more than to punch another man in his arrogant face. Was Sophie here with him? Had she agreed to a date, or had they just run into each other?

  She’d laughed at his joke about rescuing cats and women. What the actual hell was going on here? Did she like this obvious player? She might not know he was a player. She didn’t know about these kinds of men. What if she offered herself to him?

  His stomach turned at the thought of this idiot touching her. His Sophie. A voice in his head berated him.

  She’s not yours. You’ve done nothing but force her into this very situation.

  From the platform at the other end of the bar, the singer from the live band announced the beginning of the first set. No sooner had the first guitar chord played than Jad had whisked Sop
hie off her feet and practically dragged her to the dance floor. He tried not to watch them, but it was impossible. Did the bastard have to hold her that close? She didn’t even know him. He could be a predator.

  He felt David watching him from the other side of the table. When he looked over, his friend gave him a sympathetic smile. Was it that obvious that he was about to lose his mind?

  Sara put her hand on his arm, drawing his attention to her. She was more than a little loose. He suspected that wasn’t her first dirty martini. “It’s just a dance, you know.”

  “What? Sure. I mean, it’s none of my business who she dances with,” Nico said.

  Jamie threw her head back in laughter. “Dude, you’re absolutely pathetic.”

  David ducked his chin and massaged his temple as if he wanted to disappear. Nico had talked him into coming out for a drink, hoping they’d find Sophie. He was sure to be regretting it by now.

  “What Jamie’s trying to say,” Sara said, slurring her words slightly, “is that everyone in this town knows you’re in love with Sophie, and we’re all wondering why you’re so determined to be miserable.”

  Jamie leaned back in her chair and tilted her head as if she were studying an alien creature. “We do wonder that, yes.”

  “Were you a fat kid?” Sara asked Nico.

  “No. Kind of skinny,” Nico said. “Why do you ask me that?”

  Sara’s shoulders sagged as she peered at him with glazed eyes. “Because I was, and even though I’m not fat now, I still feel like that little girl. I thought that might be part of your self-esteem problem.”

  He stared at her for a moment. She was right. “There are other ways to feel like crap about yourself. Many, many ways.”

  “Totally,” David said.

  Sophie and Jad arrived back at the table. She was all flushed and obviously a little drunk. That was it. He had to get her out of here. Take her home and get her to bed. His bed.

  Sara made a sad little squeak. “Wow, I’ve had way too much to drink. I think I should go home now. Are we sharing an Uber? Or do you want to stay longer, Jamie?”