by J. J. Dorn
I just shook my head at them and began walking toward our car.
It had been almost an hour and a half since we left the bar. Audrey, Olivia and I sat in a corner booth at Hals all looking a bit forlorn. We finally gave up and had ordered food. We were now finished eating and the guys were still a no show.
“Maybe they had to take their friend to get checked out at the hospital? He did take a nasty hit to the face.” Audrey offered.
“Or maybe we just were stood up.” Liv bit back.
“Well whatever, I’m tired. Let’s just head home.” I said faking my tiredness. I knew Audrey and Livy were upset because they were enjoying our time with the hot guys, but I also knew they would get over it by tomorrow night. I however, felt a strange sense of loss. I couldn’t really describe why I felt that way but I did. It bothered me that I had these feelings; I had no right to such thoughts. After all we had just met and it wasn’t like I even really knew the guy. I just needed to go home and try to forget about ever meeting Jamieson Wellington.
CHAPTER ONE
“Let’s go, Jenna! I’m ready to get my drink on so hurry up.” Liv hollered at me through the bathroom door of our luxury suite at the Venetian. I was finished getting ready, but all I could do was stand in front of the mirror looking at myself in shock. I knew Audrey and Olivia understood why seeing Jamieson was blowing my mind but I don’t think they totally got it, and how could they? Not even they knew the entire history between us. How on earth did I get myself in this situation and how in the hell am I going to get out of it unscathed?
“Let’s do this.” I whispered to myself. After taking a deep, steadying breath, I opened the door to join my friends.
“You look hot, girl!” Audrey’s bright smile helped my nerves slightly. It had taken me over an hour to even pick out an outfit. I finally settled on my black lace dress. It was short, tight and backless. It showed off every one of my curves to the best of their abilities.
“Yes you do. Now let’s go show Jamieson Wellington what he will be missing for the rest of his life.”
I flashed a smile back at them and we proceeded to find the elevator. Livy had chosen a black and gold bandage dress that was one shouldered. It showcased her long Hawaiian legs perfectly. Audrey had chosen to wear an equally jaw-dropping dress. It was bright red, tight and strapless. It hugged her slim frame expertly.
As we piled into the elevator to head to the club, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelmingly sense of nervousness. I tried my best to choke down my anxiety but a tiny voice kept telling me nothing will be the same after tonight.
As the girls and I approached the line for the club, we saw it was stretched down the hallway and all the way to the bank of elevators we had just emerged from. I instantly felt a bit relieved hoping we couldn’t get in and that finally destiny would work in my favor.
“Ladies! Long time no see.” I knew that voice instantly. It was Derrick Bedlington, pretty boy extraordinaire. When I met Derrick I instantly disliked him. He had such obnoxious good looks and he knew it. He was cocky and perhaps rightfully so. Derrick was rich; his parents were real estate tycoons in Alabama owning everything from high-rises to farm land. Thus why his inner circle consisted of Jamieson Wellington, heir to America’s largest whiskey distillery and Julian Vega sole heir to the Dominican Republic’s largest cocoa farm.
“Hey Derrick,” I heard Audrey coo from beside me. Those two had been playing a ridiculous cat-and-mouse game for the past five years and I for one couldn’t wait until they hooked up and got it over with.
“Ladies, we have a table inside.” Derrick motioned for us to step aside of the line and past the bouncers and front door staff. “The table is courtesy of James…in honor of Jenna’s upcoming nuptials of course.”
The mere mention of his name made me vigorously search Derrick’s face for any private knowledge he may be hiding. Derrick however revealed absolutely nothing.
As we entered the long dark tunneled hallway, I heard Habits by Tove Lo thumping through the speakers and I choked back the bile I felt rising in my throat. I knew he would be there waiting for me, I knew he would be looking gorgeous like always, and I knew there was no way I would be able to resist him, not this time.
We turned a corner and followed Derrick past the private VIP tables. I should have known that Jamieson would have picked the most private table in the club. He wanted to talk and he wanted me secluded enough to accomplish that goal. He was sitting in the far corner of our private table. He stood as soon as he saw us approach. I met his gaze and it happened. I had hoped after all this time that the potency of our connection had lessened, but unfortunately I was wrong. If anything it was more, so much more.
The music around us faded away, all the people surrounding us disappeared and it was just us. His eyes scanned my body and I knew he was taking in my very tight lace dress. I could tell he appreciated it by the way the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly and I saw a flash of heat in his eyes. I continued to walk toward him slowly but deliberately as if he was pulling me closer to him. It had been a long time since I saw him last. I could see a touch of age around his eyes but he still looked as handsome as ever. Jamieson Wellington had always been the most handsome man in my eyes and tonight was no different. He had dressed in dark jeans and a dark blue and purple pinstriped button up shirt. I could tell the shirt was a luxury brand from the way the material shimmered ever so slightly in the dim club lights. His dirty blonde hair was perfectly styled showcasing his blue eyes that continued to bore holes into mine from across the table.
I knew Audrey and Olivia were behind me. I could hear them chatting with Derrick and greeting Julian. I was being rude ignoring everyone but I couldn’t break the connection with Jamieson, we were having our own silent discussion of sorts. I came to stand in front of him and I cast my eyes down toward the floor trying to shield myself from his intense scrutiny.
“Hello, Jenna. It’s been far too long, don’t you think?”
His cold sexy voice gave me chills. I forced myself to look up at him again. “Yes it has, Jamieson.”
He motioned for me to sit and I did.
“Drink?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He leaned forward to grab an already-made drink from the table and handed it to me. “I hope you still drink whiskey sours. I took the liberty of making sure you have an endless supply tonight.”
I took the glass and began sipping it. “Thank you.”
Jamieson leaned forward and grabbed what I assumed was his drink, a whiskey on the rocks no doubt. It is the only thing I had ever seen him drink.
“Well I guess congratulations are in order.” he stated with a dark tone to his voice. “When is the wedding?”
“A few months.” I replied between sips of my drink.
“Are you happy?”
His words hit me and I almost spit my drink all over my lap. Well I can see he is not going to beat around the bush.
“Yes we are.” I answered quickly hoping to end this line of questioning.
Jamieson leaned forward and set his drink down on the edge of the table. He then turned toward me and I saw his eyes were burning with anger. “Do not lie to me, Jenna.” Excuse me?
I allowed his anger to wash over me, soaking it up as fuel for my come back. I took a long sip of my drink for added courage. “Why are you here, Jamieson? I know this isn’t a friendly coincidence, things with you never are.”
“I think you know why I’m here.” He tells me with a hint of a smile playing across his lips.
“What are you talking about?” I was getting tired of his games already.
“So you have forgotten…interesting.” He clearly smiled at me now.
“You know that whatever you’re talking about doesn’t matter now, right? I’m engaged, as in I’m getting married.” I was frustrated.
Anger flashed in his face. “You may be engaged Jenna but you most certainly aren’t married—not yet.”
“Whateve
r.” I knew I could push harder and try to get him to confess why he was crashing my Bachelorette party but I also knew I wasn’t prepared to find out, so I left it alone.
I continued to sip my whiskey sour and stewed about Jamieson’s arrogant and angry behavior. I tried my best to ignore him and concentrate on the conversations around the table. Olivia was occupied, chatting to Julian about her recent trip to Milan. After graduating from Alabama State with a degree in advertising, she landed her dream job working for a fashion magazine. Olivia now had the horribly daunting job of traveling around the world to the biggest fashion shows selling advertising spots. She clearly hated it.
Derrick and Audrey were also bantering back and forth. Derrick was rousing Audrey about working for “the man.” Audrey had gone to law school with me at Vanderbilt. She was now working for the prosecuting attorney’s office in Huntsville. Audrey is brilliant at her job; she has a passion for the law and it clearly showed as I listened to her correct Derrick.
I couldn’t be prouder of my two best friends and all their accomplishments, but it made me sad thinking of my upcoming move. Cain had accepted a job at his family’s firm in Mobile, so after the wedding we were going to be moving. Cain comes from a long line of attorneys. In fact when his mother and father married their families’ firms merged creating a super firm of sorts. They had offices all over Alabama and his father was grooming him to take over the firm as he had accepted a judgeship in Montgomery.
I was drawn out of my thoughts when I felt a familiar hand on my wrist. I knew while I was ignoring him he was analyzing me. I could feel him staring at me. I was trying my best to be immune to his gaze, but his touch I never have been immune to.
I look up at his face through the darkness of the club but I could see he wasn’t looking at me but my hand, my left hand to be exact.
“Is this it?” he demanded, in a dark cold tone.
“Yes.” I choked out. I knew he disapproved of my simple engagement ring, but I thought it was beautiful. Cain had picked it out and surprised me at a fourth of July party. I wasn’t shocked when he proposed. With Cain there were no surprises; things were just easy with him, predictable I guess.
“I thought his family had money.” Holy freaking rude much.
I scoffed at his comment and snatched my hand away from his. “I think it’s beautiful.”
“It’s not right,” he continued.
That was the final straw. I quickly stood to escape to the bathroom, it was all too much. I couldn’t handle being close to him, him touching me, analyzing me and now clearly judging me.
I tried to make my way past Olivia but my dreaded song came on. Olivia and Audrey have been my friends since middle school and for as long as I could remember, Sir Mix-A-Lots I like Big Butts had been our anthem. Shitballs, there goes my exit plan.
Audrey and Olivia screamed in unison and stood up grabbing my arms dragging me to the dance floor.
We got to the middle of the dance floor and Olivia spun around facing me. “Okay spill it. What in the hell is he doing here?”
“I don’t know. I asked him but he wouldn’t tell me. He just said I knew why he was here, but I have no idea.”
“Well clearly he is here to see you.” Audrey stated the obvious.
“Okay, well I guess there is only one way to find out.” Livy turned to storm back toward the table but I stopped her.
“Liv just leave it. He won’t tell you and I’d rather just ignore it for now.” I pleaded.
“Fine, but if he pisses me off I’m going to drag it out of him.”
“Let’s just pretend he isn’t here, drink his booze and do what we came here to do… party!” Audrey exclaimed.
“Ladies follow me. I think we need shots.” Livy added.
Audrey and I followed behind Liv to the bar where she ordered our favorite shots, Washington red apples.
I slammed down three and made a silent pledge to myself to have fun no matter what. Just don’t black out in the process, you have never been great at holding your liquor.
CHAPTER TWO
June 6, 2009…
Olivia, Audrey and I stood in line at Gossips a local gay bar in Huntsville. It was a Friday night and like most bars in town they all had their prime nights. Fridays were definitely Gossips. Regardless of the type of bar it was everyone packed in to dance to the latest dance music and pop remixes. Tonight was no different, it being the first night of summer break the line was down the block and then some.
“We better pray Barry is working the door tonight or that Jenna’s skirt is short enough to showcase that booty.” Livy kidded me.
“Looks like your prayers have been answered,” Audrey said striding her way to the front of the line in her sky high stilettos.
As we got closer I could see what my uber tall friends could already see, our friend Barry was in fact working the door. We had become friends with the bouncer over the years since we had turned twenty-one. Barry worked at Gossips as well as our favorite bar Havens. He was a huge burly guy with a bald head and lots of tattoos. If I had met him on the street in the middle of the night I would probably have run in the other direction screaming, but we had gotten to know him pretty well. He was a sweet guy and for whatever reason, he loved us.
“Ladies!” Barry greeted us with a big smile ushering us past the huge line and into the club.
“Thanks Barry.” We each said as we passed him, giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Three paid!” he yelled to the cashier inside the club letting him know there would be no cover charge for us.
As we entered the club a remix of Jamie Foxx & T-Pain’s Blame It pours out of the speakers.
“Drinks?” Audrey asked from beside me.
“Sure.” I agreed.
“First rounds on me!” Liv shouted over the music.
We cut a path to the bar to order our drinks. I stood behind Liv as she flirted with the bartender. But something pulled my attention back toward the entrance.
The air got thick with electricity and the music turned to a low rumble in the back ground. There was only one other time in my life I had felt this way and that was the night I met Jamieson Wellington. As that realization dawned on me, I began to search the crowd and to my total amazement I spotted him just entering the bar with his friends.
I sucked in a sharp breath seeing him. I had only met him once but the intense attraction I felt for him was undeniable. Many nights I had laid awake thinking of him and the weird thing between us. I had convinced myself it was all in my head but seeing him again made it seem real.
I continued to watch him from across the bar make his way toward me. He clearly hadn’t noticed us or maybe he didn’t remember us at all. Perhaps I was just another face in the crowd to him. I watched as he passed in front of me with his friends heading to the far end of the bar where a beautiful female bartender worked. As he got closer to me I scrutinized everything about him. I had hoped that maybe over the months I had just built him up in my head, that maybe I remembered him differently. Unfortunately for me, that was not the case. Jamieson Wellington was still classically handsome with his dirty blonde hair and dark navy blue eyes. He still had the body of a Greek God and the obvious ability to draw in all of the female attention around him.
I continued to appreciate his stunning good looks when his eyes caught mine. Immediately I casted my eyes downward and I felt a deep blush covering my cheeks. I waited a few painful seconds and then stole a glance back at him hoping he was far enough away from me now that he couldn’t see me watching him. When I looked back at him he had stopped dead in his tracks and was staring at me wide-eyed. I again freaked out and looked down turning to face my friends.
“Excuse me. It’s Jenna, right?” Shit, shit, shit. I’m busted!
I turned around to be met with the sharp and steely gaze of Jamieson Wellington, my stomach turned completely inside out.
“Yes,” I said trying to seem unaffected.
“Hi, do you remem
ber me? We met a few months ago at Havens.” I felt his eyes roaming over my body and I couldn’t deny I liked it.
“Of course we remember you asshats. You guys stood us up.” Livy declared while handing me my drink.
I heard the guy behind Jamieson chuckle, I was pretty sure his name was Julian.
“Yes about that, listen we are sorry. I went home so I could change my shirt and by the time we got to Hals, you had left.” Jamieson was explaining everything to the group but he only looked at me. We had yet to break our eye contact since he approached me, it felt almost hypnotic.
“See, I told you they didn’t stand us up.” Audrey said smugly.
“Can we buy you drinks to make up for our unexplained absence?” Jamieson offered.
“Sure,” I answered barely above a whisper.
“Whiskey sour, right?” he asked.
“You remembered?” Crap that wasn’t supposed to come out.
“You’re hard to forget, Jenna Middleton,” his voice was a deep tone, very sexy with an equally heart-stopping grin.
I knew it was crazy, but I couldn’t help but wonder if he too felt this connection between us and if so, what did it mean.
The bright lights of the bar came on signaling it was now time to go, leaving me with a feeling of instant disappointment. We had been talking for hours. It was odd having such an intimate conversation in the middle of a packed bar, but Jamieson had a way of making me feel like I was the only person in the room. Our friends were also getting to know each other and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
“Your house, JW?” I heard Derrick ask from behind me.
“Ladies would you like to continue this back at my place?” Jamieson asked.
I looked at Audrey and Olivia for any hesitation.