Sweet Ride

by Moores, Maegan Lynn

  “I would, but I don’t think Ella would like that. Pretty good show you put on there, Ron Jeremy,” I tease, winking at him. I hear a grunt over my shoulder I turn to look at Jack who’s scowling at me.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Really? I guess I’ll have to be little more creative,” he says grinning.

  I turn from Jack and see Ella walk into the room with her head hanging down, clearly embarrassed about us walking in on them. I laugh and know I can’t let this slide. It’s too freaking funny.

  “Ella Wilde, the name sure fits the girl,” I tease.

  “Sure as fuck does,” Ryder agrees, smirking and pulling her to his side.

  “Seriously? You two can’t just leave it be?” she asks, red-faced.

  “Hey, I just gave Jack some awesome road head, and then he went down on me … I know what it’s like and I fucking love it. Love it.”

  Ella looks at me and laughs. Then she walks over and puts her hand on my cheek, and I can tell she’s getting serious on me now. “I’m so sorry for what happened last night,” she says, her fingers lightly stroking the bruise on my cheekbone.

  “It’s not your fault, trust me,” I tell her, not wanting her to take blame. I cried out another man’s name while I was with him, and that’s on me.

  “Payton, I never should’ve let you leave with him. I knew. I just fuckin’ knew that fucker was up to no good. I knew it, and I never should’ve let it go. I should’ve made you leave with us. You’re like a sister to Ella, and that makes you my family. No one, and I mean no one, touches my family without repercussions,” Ryder confesses.

  “No, Ryder, it was my choice to leave with him. I was the one who was doing something stupid all along. I never should’ve been with him in the beginning. I should’ve been with Jack, but I was too scared. Leave it to me to cause some drama.” I give a little laugh, and Jack wraps his arms around me and leans into my ear.

  “No, babe, this shit’s on me. I never should’ve got you going like that, knowing you were drunk and that fucker was going to get to go home with you. I just wanted to touch and hold you. I’m sorry for what happened, but I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry, it’ll never happen again,” Jack declares.

  Shit.

  “No Jack—” I get cut off.

  “It’s no one’s fault, but that slimy fugly’s. Stop placing blame on yourself and point it in the right direction,” Ella says. I start to laugh, knowing she’s right. Slimy fugly’s? My friend is seriously freaking funny.

  “I can’t believe I called Jack’s name when I was about to come,” I say, laughing even harder.

  “You better believe it,” he whispers.

  “Yeah, well don’t worry about it because that fucker’s dead, as in D-E-A-D,” Ryder growls.

  “Sorry, man. I know you feel it’s your duty to take care of him, but Payton’s my responsibility, and I’ll be taking care of it myself. He better hope he doesn’t drop the soap. I’m sure he’ll make a good bitch,” Jack says calmly with three sets of eyes staring at him.

  “Does this mean you two have finally stopped fuckin’ around?” Ryder asks.

  “Umm ” I start, but get cut off again.

  “Damn straight. No more fuckin’ around.”

  “Well it’s about time! I think this call’s for a girl’s night out,” Ella squeals with joy.

  “Yippee!” I squeal with her.

  “Fuck me,” Ryder groans.

  “What are you grumbling for? Last time we went out on a girl’s night I came home, and I’m pretty sure you enjoyed it,” Ella says, grinning.

  After Ella and I make plans for the following weekend, Jack asks me if I’d like to go out to dinner with him tonight. Aw, hell yeah. It’ll be my first real date, and I’m pretty excited about it.

  On the drive to my house, Jack gets a call on his work phone. Apparently, they know the best times to call. It seems they have a lead on a big case he’s working, and he’ll have to run into the office for the rest of the day. Well, there go our plans for dinner.

  Jack drops me off at my place before hightailing it into work. I’m still pretty exhausted from the night before, so I head to my bedroom, strip down to my bra and panties and climb into bed. I pretty much fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

  I wake up to a rumbling noise. What the hell’s that? That’s not my car again, is it? Who’s driving it this time? Then I realize it’s not my car, but my stomach’s growling.

  Great. Just great. I’m fucking starved. My stomach makes another obscene noise—loud enough to wake the dead. Maybe I can go to Ella’s and get Ryder to cook me up some of his famous barbequed burgers. Fuck, I think I just made myself even hungrier.

  I walk into the kitchen to look for something, anything, edible and see Amber searching the cupboards. I guess she has the same sort of idea.

  “Jesus, Payton, it’s your turn to get groceries! There’s nothing to eat here. I already searched the fridge, but I think that Chinese food is from three weeks ago. One noodle looks like it’s moving. It made me throw up a little bit in my mouth,” Amber exclaims.

  “I thought I bought them last time,” I counter, as my stomach lets out another enormous growl.

  “Is there a monster living in your stomach? Maybe we should grab some takeout and hit the grocery store on the way back,” she suggests. Fuck. That sounds like a plan. It’d be even better if I can convince her to hit the new burger joint in town. It’s not as fast as takeout, but it’s definitely worth the wait.

  “How about we hit up Joe’s BBQ Grill? I’ve been craving a juicy burger for a while,” I mention.

  “Consider it done.”

  With that, Amber and I grab our purses and head out to get some grub into my obnoxiously loud belly. By the time we make it to the restaurant, my stomach sounds like a Category 4 hurricane. I’m ready to devour anything and everything in sight. The hostess greets us and shows us to a table. Fuck! I hate when all the booths are taken. The tables seem to give you no privacy. It feels like all eyes are on you, watching you eat. How attractive is that? Really, though! She hands us each a menu and tells us our waitress will be with us shortly.

  After looking over the menus, we both settle on the always safe, and what I happen to be craving at this very moment, barbequed burgers with the works and onion rings. While we wait for our drinks and food—nothing says class like daiquiris and burgers—I take a quick glance around the place. My eyes happen to settle on one very disturbing scene. I must’ve been in a food daze to miss this on the way in.

  “Cocksucking motherfucker!” I scream.

  Trust me. It’s worth the attention it causes. Low and behold, in one of the private booths sits my man and the skank from the other night. Not skank, whore. Fuck! What’s worse than the both of those combined? Soon she’ll be called dead.

  His “work” phone, is it? He got called into “work,” did he? Has to “work” all night, does he? Jack is going to have to clarify this shit because his definition of work and my definition of work seem to be two completely different fucking things.

  All of this is running through my head as I watch him reach forward and lightly brush her hand with his. I guess I haven’t caused a big enough scene yet. This scum is going to pay. I thought this was it. He played me at my weakest. Never again. Never fucking again. All men are the same God-forsaken pieces of shit.

  “YOU COCKSUCKING MOTHERFUCKER!” I yell again at the top of my lungs as I lunge toward the booth being occupied by Jack and the ho-bag. She looks sexy in her charcoal gray shift dress with capped sleeves and knee-level diagonal hem. As if her legs weren’t long enough already, she’s got on a pair of strappy Jimmy Choo stiletto sandals that make her legs go on forever. She’s definitely everything I’m not. This woman screams elegance and class, while I’m crude and trashy. I really shouldn’t be surprised, but I kind of am.

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Amber jump out of my way and try to say something, but I just shoot her a look that seems
to explain everything. Jack looks up and starts to smile. SMILE! That fucker’s here with another woman, and he has the audacity to try and make friendly? I don’t fucking think so.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I spit out at Jack.

  “Payton! What a surprise! I’d like to introd—”

  “Fuck you! Don’t you dare try to introduce me to this floozy,” I yell.

  “Payton, honest—”

  There’s no way he can explain his way out of this one.

  “Listen here, tramp,” I say, turning my attention to the whore. “No matter what he says, I’m not his cousin, his aunt, or even his sister. I’m the girl he fucked last night, and the girl that sucked his cock earlier today. I’m his woman … Fuck that. I WAS his woman!”

  “Listen, Payt—” Jack tries to interrupt. I turn to him only to see him smirking.

  “What do you find so funny about this whole situation, jackass? You just got caught red-handed. For some reason I’d think that would be rather depressing. But funny? You certainly are a piece of work, aren’t you? You had me fooled. Had me fooled good. I’m sure you have a great excuse for this. All men do. Once I find the energy to calm the fuck down, maybe I’ll let you explain it to me. So how about you call me in a million years because I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. Assholes!” I scream out.

  By now the whole place is watching us. I always seem to perform better in front of an audience.

  “Babe, you’re going to feel like a bitch once I do explain,” Jack manages to get out before I cut him off again.

  “We’ll see about that. I hope you guys get the shits,” I sputter while heading for the door.

  I look back at Amber to tell her we’re leaving, but she’s already grabbing our purses and heading for me. I bet none of the diners at the restaurant thought they’d be getting dinner and a show tonight!

  Looking at the restaurant entrance from my car, I half expect him to come running out after me, trying to explain. To my disappointment, though, that doesn’t happen. “Shit! That stupid fucking asshole! I can’t believe I was so Goddamned gullible and fell for his bullshit again,” I vent. I’ve got to give it to him, though, because he sure had me convinced that I was what he wanted. I guess all the years of pretending to be other people paid off. He’s a fucking pro. I can’t tell when he’s lying or telling the truth. I tell Amber about everything that went down with Jack and me.

  Amber just sits there in utter silence letting me release my anger and disappointment. My head’s pressed against the steering wheel as I try to control my breathing. Once I’ve calmed down a little she surprises me by saying, “You want to hang around for a minute. I’ll keep the hottie with the body busy, while you shank the bitch.” I burst out laughing at her even as a tightening occurs in my chest.

  I put the key in the ignition, and before I turn it over, glance back at the restaurant again, hoping Jack will come for me. He still doesn’t. Starting the car, I put it in drive, pull out of the parking lot, and head to the nearest grocery store. My mind’s racing as we shop, and I’m finding it hard to focus on anything. Amber picks out everything, while I just push the cart around the store. After picking up enough groceries to last a week, we make our way to the check out.

  A shrilling ring comes from my purse. I reach in and grab my cell. Looking at the display, I see an unknown number come up. Sighing loudly, because I know it’s going to be him. “Jack,” I answer, trying to keep my emotions in check as the tightness spreads across my chest again.

  “Payton,” he clips out, sounding more than a little pissed off. Really, he’s angry with me? Fuck him! He starts talking again, but I’m so unbelievably confused and mad right now I don’t give him the chance to finish before ending the call. It starts ringing again immediately, and knowing that it’s Jack, I silence the ringer.

  After ten minutes of waiting in line we finally get our groceries checked out. I look at the time and tell Amber we’ve got to haul ass because I totally forgot that I have a short shift tonight. I’m not late, but if we don’t get a move on I’m going to be. We hustle toward the car, and in seconds, have the bags stored in the trunk and are pulling out of the parking lot, heading home.

  Once we get home, Amber offers to put away everything while I get ready for work. I take a quick shower, style my hair, apply make-up, and throw on a tight black tank along with my favorite pair of black short shorts. I pick out my black peep toe heels to wear with my outfit. As I walk out the front door, I shout out, “See ya” to Amber, and shut it behind me.

  I’m working the main bar tonight and, like usual, it’s crazy busy. The music’s booming, people are buzzing, alcohol’s flowing, and I love every minute of it. A man approaches the bar, taking a seat on one of the empty bar stools. His wavy, dark brown hair’s worn a bit longer, falling down his forehead and across his eyes. He makes it so very obvious, as his gaze slowly wanders over my body and visually undresses me. I strut over toward him, rest my elbows on the edge of the bar, and lean forward. Speaking in my seductive purr I ask, “Hey gorgeous, what can I get you?”

  “Only thing I want tonight is you,” he says. I freeze for a second because a certain sandy-haired cop said almost the very same thing a few weeks ago. Stop thinking about him, Payton! I mentally scold myself.

  “Maybe that can be arranged, but it’ll have to wait until I get off tonight,” I answer. To my disappointment, I guess I’m reverting back to my old ways. His eyes twinkle with anticipation.

  “You don’t remember me, do you?” he asks, a sly grin spreading on his face. Oh shit! Do I already know this guy?

  “Can’t say that I do,” I admit.

  “We were wasted the night we met. You came back to my apartment, we fucked, and the next morning when I was showering, you disappeared on me. Does that ring any bells?”

  Unfortunately for me, bells are ringing like crazy. What’s his name again? Larry, Lional, Lucas?

  “My name’s Liam,” he answers my unspoken question. Bingo, it’s Liam.

  “Sorry, Liam, no offense, but I don’t remember a lot of things from that night,” I tell him.

  “Too bad for you ‘cause I remember everything about that night. Actually, I’m so fuckin’ hard right now thinking about it, think you’d come to the bathroom and give me a blowjob? Relieve some of this pressure,” he says.

  I’m about to tell Liam that he can go to the bathroom and suck his own dick, but I don’t get the chance because I hear a chilling voice to the side of us say, “If you value your dick and want to use it again. I suggest you back the fuck off. She’s mine!” Liam doesn’t utter another word—just nods toward Jack, backs up from the bar, and turns to walk away without looking back at me. Clearly, Jack’s the alpha male and won the challenge. Fuck that! I’m not going to be so easy.

  “What do you want?” I hiss at him.

  “I want a chance to fucking explain myself!” he bellows.

  “It’s pretty fucking self-explanatory!” I shout back at him. I still have a job to do, so I turn my back on him and start walking toward the other end of the bar where I see a group of women waiting. I don’t make it very far when I feel a hand firmly grip my elbow and tug me from behind the bar.

  “What the fuck? In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve got a job to do, Jack.”

  “Don’t give a fuck. I’m not leaving until you hear me out.” The hand on my elbow grips harder and his other hand snakes around my waist. My traitorous body reacts to his rough touch as I feel my nipples tighten and the moisture pool between my thighs. Don’t go there, Payton. Remember his supermodel girlfriend. He leads me down the corridor that’s designated for employees only and houses a couple of small offices and staffrooms.

  When we get to the first closed door, his hand leaves my waist as he balls it up and pounds on the door. No one answers, and he turns the knob to find it’s unlocked. Once he has the door open, he ushers me through and finally let’s my arm go long enough to flick the lights
on, close the door, and lock it. Then he turns around and glares at me. Oh Fuck! He looks sexy as hell when he’s pissed! I’m so screwed! Stop it, Payton. Stay strong, and whatever you do, don’t let him convince you that he’s not the lying, cheating bastard that he actually is.

  He starts stalking toward me in predator mode.

  “Step back,” I warn him, but he keeps advancing on me, smiling. There’s that motherfucking smile again!

  “I’m not joking, Jack. Step the fuck back!”

  “Not until you let me explain.”

  “You can explain without coming near me. If you don’t stop, you’re not going to like what happens.” He doesn’t stop. Well, he can’t say I didn’t warn him.

  My fist instinctively coils and strikes out, but I forgot about his crazy, responsive ninja reflexes, and in seconds, he’s got my fist in his hand and twists my arm behind my back. His other arm wraps around my waist pulling my back toward his rock hard chest. His warm breath blows down my neck as he softly speaks against my ear, “Payton, what you saw isn’t what it actually looked like.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s exactly what it looked like.”

  “I’m not fucking her.”

  “I’ve seen you with her twice now, and I can tell by the way you look at her that she’s not someone you’re just fucking. She means something to you.”

  “Yes, she does,” he mutters. The pain spears through my heart, and the only thing that could hurt more would be if he literally reached in and ripped it out of my chest.

  “Well, we’re done here,” I say, bringing my heel down on his toes. He lets out a loud “Fuck!” as I struggle, trying to get out of his vise-like hold, but he doesn’t loosen his grip. Jack turns me and slams my body against the door, caging me in with his hands on either side of my head. My body tenses in a state of panic as his hard, muscled body presses me against the door, giving me no escape route.

  “We’re so far from fucking done!” he roars, his chest and hips pushing against mine. This does nothing to calm the panic spreading through my whole body.

  “Jack. We. Are. Done,” I repeat with a tremble in my voice. I try to push him away, but he doesn’t move an inch.