by Hazel Gower
*****
Stephan
I felt like shit. Beer, shots of tequila and whisky don’t go together. I may have drank a little harder each time one of the guys called me pussy whipped or a accused me of my balls being in a jar, but I outdrank all of them and was still standing when they passed out so I was proud of that.
Groaning, I cracked an eye open to see I was in the apartment lounge room. Opening my other eye I looked around to see bodies everywhere. I sat up only to freak when arms fell from my naked chest. “Fuck. Shit.”
Searching the room for Derick, I winced at all the naked women. I racked my brain to remember what happened and prayed I hadn’t fucked up. The woman who’d been hugging me sat up, her bare breasts out for all to see.
“You’re awake.” She stood only wearing a red G-string. “Let’s go have some fun.”
I backed away. Shit I needed to know what happened last night. I glanced at my watch and I felt my whole body turn cold. It was eleven thirty. I ignored the chick in front of me and went sifting through naked bodies. “Derick! Derick, wake your arse up now. I need everyone out like an hour ago. Derick.”
A loud moan in the bedroom direction had me following the noise. Derick had made it to a bed but he was far from alone. I needed help and was freaking out about what I woke to. I leaned over the naked woman and shook my brother. “Wake the fuck up now. We have, if we are lucky, an hour to get everyone out, showered, and ready for Mum, Jade, and Cassie.”
Derick groaned and pushed my hands off him. “You do it. You invited them back.”
Feeling sick to my stomach, I dug deep into my pockets, I needed answers and I needed them now. I hoped Brand and his team knew what happened.
“Hey, kid. How you feeling?”
“You tell me. Who was on me and Derick last night?”
Brand chuckled. “Unfortunately not me. I’m driving your mother, Cassie, and your girl to you now.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. How far are you away?”
“About half an hour.”
“Mother fucker. I need you to stall. I need to know who was on me and Derick last night.”
“I’ll try the first. And David, Royce, and Owen. Heard you had a good tim—” I hung up. I had no time for chitchat.
I went back out to the lounge room and yelled, “Up, everyone up. Get your shit and get out.”
There was no way I’d call Royce, he was all morals and would make me feel worse than I already felt. Owen was my best bet. I dialed and waited. I heard ringing and followed it to see a sleeping Owen against the window. Shaking the big guy, he shot up ready for action. “Sleeping on the job?”
“Kid. David took over. You insisted I join. Boy can you put your liquor away.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and rolled my eyes. I didn’t have time for this shit. “You’re back on duty now. I need everyone out. Brand told me mum, my girl, and Cassie are on the way.”
“Shit, kid, you’re in deep.”
I flinched. He didn’t mean I cheated on Jade, did he? I wouldn’t cheat on her would I? “Owen, did I…did I, you know, with someone?”
The wanker smirked and stretched. So much for employer and employee respect. “Did you what, Stephan?”
Crap. My heart sank and I looked around needing to focus on something else. “I’ll ask later. We don’t have time for this. We need them out now.”
“What’s up, Stephan?” I turned to see Brad in boxers scratching his head.
Panic was setting in. If Jade saw this, I knew any progress I made with her would vanish. “Hey, Brad. I need them all out. I told the girls to meet me at lunchtime. I just found out they’re half an hour away.”
“I’ll help.”
“Thanks.”
The woman who’d been against me when I awoke came bounding over from the kitchen. “You’re back. Did you find your brother?” She trailed her fingers down my bare chest. I grabbed her hands. “Are you ready to have some fun? Let’s go, bad boy.”
“No. I need you dressed and out of here.”
She pouted and I shook my head at the unattractive gesture. “I can come back later?”
Owen laughed and I shot him a glare. “Aren’t you my bodyguard?”
He shrugged. “You don’t look like you need me now.”
Growling in frustration, I flung the girl back. “No. I don’t want you to come back later. I want you gone now.”
Brad grabbed her. “Linda, he turned you down all night, he’s not gonna change his mind.”
Linda pouted up at Brad. “I’ve played with him before.”
Ha, I played with women, not the other way round. I turned ignoring her and let Brad deal with her. I was glad I’d turned her down even in my drunken state.
“That answer your question, kid? You didn’t cheat on your girl. I can tell you that we stopped you calling Jade about a million times. I believe Scott confiscated your phone for a while when you were going to send her a picture of every woman you turned down.”
I winced and reminded myself to thank Scott, I owed him big time.
“Come on, let’s get everyone out.”
*****
Jade, Cassie, and my mum arrived just as we’d all finished showering. I came out to great them with a towel wrapped around my waist. “Hi. We’re all awake now and not feeling so groggy.”
My mum shook her head, she wasn’t fooled. Cassie was too busy staring at him. Jade surprised me by coming to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. “I hope you had fun. You’ve been cooped up with me for over a week looking after me. I’m glad you got out.” She pressed her lips to my chest and kissed it.
I stared down at her stunned. Had I finally gotten somewhere? Leaning down, I tilted her head up and kissed her. Jade didn’t fight, instead she moved her good arm up to hold me to her and kissed me back. My heart soared and I basked in the feeling she wanted me too.
Easing away, I looked around to see my mum and Cassie out on the balcony with Owen and Brad. My brother had only gotten rid of the women in his bed not long before the girls arrived. Scott and a couple of the other guys had done the same, most of them deciding to go home, too tired to go out today.
“So did you have a good time? I had a great girls’ night.”
Hugging her tight, I kissed her forehead. “I had a great night, but I missed you.”
“Ha, you’re such I liar.” She shook her head against him. “Let’s go outside. I want to see the view.”
Jade for once grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the balcony. I happily followed feeling better than I could ever remember. Jade was giving me chance.
*****
Jade
At the movies, Cassie and I were coming back from the bathroom when I saw Stephan being approached by a stunning, tall, blonde lady, she looked to be in her mid to late twenties. She threw herself at him and kissed him. I stopped, shocked at what I was seeing. I felt sick. My stomach clenched and I didn’t think I was breathing.
“Get the fuck off me. What the fuck, Linda?”
The woman I now knew was named Linda pouted up at Stephan but didn’t unwrap her legs from him. “Babe, I missed you. I’m so happy we ran into each other last night.” My heart crumpled and I couldn’t help my gasp.
The woman purred. “I thought you’d call.” She pouted again. “We had fun, babe. No one’s ever ridden me all night.”
I cringed. I couldn’t stand ‘babe’ and the whinny way the woman said it made me shudder.
“Linda, you knew the deal. I told you this morning to leave me alone. You are nothing to me.” Stephan’s voice was sharp as he detangled her legs from his waist.
Linda clung to him. “Babe, we made love all weekend. We are good together.” Linda rubbed herself all over Stephan like she was in heat.
I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I stared numbly at the scene before me. All eyes were on Stephan and Linda. I felt utterly humiliated. What the hell was this woman talking about when she said last night? I needed to get awa
y. I couldn’t watch this any longer. I choked on a sob, and told myself to suck it up.
Looking around, I saw pitying glances. Straightening my spine, I hardened the case around my heart and started backing away.
“You’ve got to be shitting me. Ha, Linda, we don’t have anything. We never made love. I fucked you. I have no feelings for you. I never will. You’re just another one of the many women I sank my dick into to pass the time. I was never going to call you again. I don’t need a clinging bitch like you causing problems like you just have.”
I couldn’t listen to any more. He was so cold. I felt the ice in his voice even as I retreated. Once I was away from the now gathered crowd, I ran. I didn’t look back. I left the cinema and bolted down the street. I had no idea where I was going. I just knew I had to get away from all the pitying glances and the ice coldness of Stephan as he spoke to one of his ex’s.
I ran not caring where I went, just needing to get away. How could Stephan speak to someone he’d slept with like that? I caught the first bus that came to the bus stop. It stopped at the beach and I got off. Wandering around for a while, I needed to clear my head then I sat on the bench overlooking the water. Now that I thought about it, I was glad I had seen this side of Stephan. I had started to let my guard down. I’d started to care for him. But after seeing how he treated a woman he’d been with, I knew I could never turn into one of those women. I didn’t have much, but I did have my dignity and self-respect.
Looking at the evening sun seating over the water I sat happily watching it fade until it got too cold to sit out with the coastal breeze. I rubbed my bare arms and knew I had to get moving as my legs and arms were covered in goosebumps. Reaching into my skirt pocket and glancing at my phone, I saw I had a bunch of missed called and messages. The wanker had called and so had Derick and even Scott. I felt bad for Cassie. She had called every five minutes. I didn’t bother checking any of the other messages bar hers. Cassie was worried. She needed to talk to me. She wanted to know I was okay.
I messaged Cassie that I was fine and was on my way home. I walked to the bus stop and sat waiting for one that went to a train station. This was going to suck. I was going to be living in Stephan’s house. The idiot had made it impossible for me to avoid him.
As I sat waiting, I realized I couldn’t go home. Not only did I not have a home, I didn’t have any family to fall back on. I dug my phone out and cursed when I realized even my phone wasn’t really mine. I hadn’t really used it, well, besides messaging Cassie and the girls. I would use it now. I called Jess.
“Hello.”
“Jess. It’s me, Jade.”
“Oh my God, J. How are you? Where are you? What have you been up to?”
Guilt assaulted because I hadn’t spoken to my best friend in a couple of months. “Can I come over now and visit?”
“Sure. You know you’re welcome here any time. Is something wrong?”
“I’m about to get on a bus to the train station. I’ll call you when I’m close.”
*****
Stephan
I felt sick, we couldn’t find Jade. I turned on the tracker in her phone and saw her heading toward the place she used to live with her mum. I called Brand, he’d swapped with Royce.
“I have her. Do you want me to make myself known or just keep watching?”
“Just keep watching. I’m helping drop the others off at the apartment and then I’ll go get her.”
“Stephan, I think you should wait a while. Get your brother or someone else to pick her up.”
“What. No. I need to talk to her.”
“I know you think you do, but you didn’t see Jade’s face when she came upon you and the woman, or when you told the woman to get lost.”
“I can’t just leave her.”
“You’re not. I’m watching her and if you get Derick to pick her up, maybe he can talk to her.”
“Fucking hell. Fine. Don’t let her out of your sight, Brand. The neighborhood she’s in is one of the worst in Sydney.”
“I can handle it. You need to tell your parents something. I have a feeling she isn’t going to be happy with you for a while.”
“Yep. I’ll sort it out.” I hung up and ran fingers through my hair. My friends where sitting in the food court waiting for me. Taking a deep calming breath, I went to them.
“Did you find her?” Cassie asked.
“I know where she’s going. I’m ar… I’m really sorry about this, guys.”
“It’s my fault.” Scott sighed. “I think Linda might have heard me talk last night about what we were doing today.”
“Scott, what the hell were you doing with that skank?” Cassie screeched.
“I wasn’t with her, Cass. She was all over Stephan no matter how many times he turned her down or told her to go away. She followed Stephan around like a puppy waiting for any scrap he was willing to throw her way. He ignored her all night.”
“He better have,” Cassie glared at me. “You can’t play with Jade, Stephan. She’s in a fragile place with everything that’s happened. She’s lost her mum, not that she was anything special, and has now been beaten and lost her grandfather. Who I think may be worse than her mother. I have no idea how Jade is a sane and well-functioning person with everything she’s been through in her life. I bet my last dollar I don’t even know the half of it.”
I didn’t say anything because I didn’t need to bet, I knew everything Cassie was saying was one hundred percent true.
*****
Jade
Jess met me at the train station. “Hey.” Her arms came around me and I sank into the familiar warmth. “What’s up? Is it your grandpa?”
I took a deep breath because I knew as soon as I told Jess everything I’d break down. I was hanging on by a thin thread and right now I needed someone I trusted. “I promise I’ll tell you everything when we get back to your house. Did your mum drive you or did you catch the bus?”
“Mum is waiting in the pickup zone. So we better hurry.”
I followed her to the beat up red Ford and got in the back seat. “Hi, Mrs. Stren.”
“Hello, Jade. It’s good to see you.”
I forced a smile and relaxed back into the tattered seats feeling safe.
Chapter Nine
Jade
I’d filled Jess in on everything and now she sat biting her nails. “I know you’re going to hate me for saying this, J, but Stephan sounds like the real deal. I mean, he hasn’t left your side since your bastard of a grandfather beat you. Well besides last night. His family has custody of you and if he had his way, you’d be living in his room.”
“I know, Cassie, but you should have heard how he spoke to this woman. He was—”
“J, you need to give him a break. I’ve heard everything you told me. If you ask me, I’m surprised he’s stuck around as long as he has.”
I glared at Jess, and she sighed.
“J, I know it’s hard to trust anyone when everyone you should have been able to trust in your life have been deadbeats, but I think you need to at least give Stephan a chance.”
“But I—”
Jess put her hand up. “I’m not saying you have to fall in love with him. Just give him a chance and get to know him.”
I hated it but was she right. I knew it deep down in the gut I needed to stop being so stupid and basically a brat to him. “Fine. I—”
“Jade, honey, there is a lovely young boy named Derick at the door saying he’s here to drive you home,” Jess’s mum yelled.
I was surprised Derick came and not Stephan. Easing off the bed, I grabbed Jess and dragged her to the front door. Derick stood at the small apartment door grinning down at Jess’s mum. I could tell he’d been charming her. Her mother’s cheeks were bright red and she had a huge smile on her face.
“Hi, Derick. I would ask how you found me, but I have a feeling I know.” I remembered the phone sales assistant telling me my new phone had a GPS tracking system.
“He t
urned the tracker on.” Derick confirmed what I was thinking.
“Is he in the car?” I knew I didn’t have to say who. Derick would know who I was talking about.
Derick’s gaze turned my way and he gave me a wicked smirk, his brown eyes lighting up with amusement. “My brother does have some brain cells, he knew sitting in a car for an hour and half ride home with you wouldn’t be very smart. He wants you extra calm.”
“I expected as much.” I hugged Jess and turned to Mrs. Stren. “Thanks so much for picking me up and having me here.”
Mrs. Stren hugged me. “You’re always welcome, Jade.” Lapping up the love, I was reluctant to ease away.
Closing my eyes, I squeezed Mrs. Stren, who’d been more of a mother to me than my own. “Thank you.” I pulled away and went over to Derick before I changed my mind and begged Mrs. Stren to take me in.
Derick’s arm slid around my waist and I was surprised by his affection. “Come on, sis. Let’s go. We have a decent size drive for this time of night.”
We walked down the hall and at the end near the stairs, I saw a man I was sure I’d seen about a couple of times. He was tall, about six-one, bulky, like he worked out a lot. He had rust-brown hair with silver streaks and green eyes that seemed to notice everything.
“I know Stephan told me to stay back but I have a bad feeling.”
“Who are you?” I stared at the man.
“I’m Brand.”
“Hi, Brand. Are you related to Derick?”
“Nope.”
What did he mean nope? Who was he then? They all walked down the stairs, Brand first. He gazed around everywhere like someone or something was about to pop out and kill them. I didn’t know Brand but I’d grown up around here. It may look a bad like a bad neighborhood but no one had been killed while I lived there.
“Brand, it’s fine. No one is going to jump out at us. I’ve lived in this neighborhood all my life.”