Western Waves (Compass 3)

When we pulled up to the property, Jeff was still talking nonstop, some gibberish, some words I could pinpoint, and some comments that hurt my feelings a little.

I dragged him into the house, with him leaning against me. As I opened the front door, I stood in front of Damian, who stared at the situation before him. He looked stunned but didn’t say a word.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “He couldn’t find his apartment keys, and well, he’ll have to stay here tonight.”

Damian nodded in understanding.

Jeff looked up and smirked. “You must be my girl’s new roommate.”

“I am,” Damian dryly replied.

“Just don’t sleep with her,” Jeff shot out. He stumbled over to Damian and patted him on the back. “Unless that gets us a few extra millions.” He laughed, though the comment wasn’t comical at all.

Damian looked at me with a baffled stare before he took a few steps back from Jeff, who lost his footing. My boyfriend fumbled to the ground, laughing as if he was experiencing one of the funniest moments of his life, and I stood there horrified.

“You’d be shocked at how fast I’d whore her out if it meant a few million. And she’d go with it, too, right, baby?”

“Stop it, Jeff,” I scolded, feeling my cheeks heat.

“Stop it, Jeff,” he mocked before looking up at Damian. “Does she parent you all the time, too? I swear, this woman stays up my ass so much, you’d think I’d be interested in being fucked by dildos.”

“Jeff!” I hissed, mortified. My stare locked with Damian and his bluest of blue eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

He didn’t reply. He simply turned away and went back to his office, closing the door behind him.

“I cannot believe you right now, Jeff!” I exclaimed as he dragged himself to a standing position. He was out of his mind that evening, and I wasn’t certain I’d ever be able to live down the embarrassment he placed on me in front of Damian.

“Hush, woman. It was a joke,” he mumbled as he hiccupped. “So, are you going to suck my dick, or should I just go to sleep?” he asked, rubbing his hand against his crotch area. There was nothing that turned me off more than an intoxicated Jeff. It was the reason I never allowed alcohol into our house. He never really knew his limit, and when he drank, he became a person I didn’t very much like.

I put him into one of the spare rooms, and he flopped onto the bed and was out cold within mere seconds. Good. I couldn’t handle much more of his antics.

I went to the living room and began cleaning up all of my snacks and such from the movie night that ended too soon.

“I can get that stuff,” a voice said, making me turn to find Damian standing behind me. His hands were slipped into his sweatpants pockets, and he stood tall and stern, unlike my boyfriend.

“Oh, no, it’s fine. I figured you wouldn’t want to finish watching the movie after witnessing that situation.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“What?”

“Your boyfriend. Did he hurt you?”

I laughed slightly, confused by his comments. “What? Of course not. He’s just drunk and—”

“Belittles you.”

My body reacted to his words as chills raced down my spine. I shook my head. “I know it might seem that way, and I’m sorry for how he presented himself.”

“It’s not your job to apologize for a man.”

“Yes, no, I know, but…” Why was he being so short and snappy toward me? Why was he making this out to be something it wasn’t? “Jeff… he’s not himself when he’s drunk.”

“I’ve seen men like him,” he said. “He’s more himself now than when he’s sober.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“I know enough.”

“Listen, I don’t know what you think you know, but you don’t. You have no clue what my situation is with Jeff and—”

“I truly hope that ass backs you up behind his back the way you back him up. But I doubt it.”

He was being extremely cold to me, but I couldn’t understand why. Sure, Jeff was drunk and said a few off-kilter comments, but it was nothing that called for Damian to react in the way he had. He was taking it overboard for some reason, and I couldn’t understand why.

“Why do you care, anyway?” I asked.

“I don’t.”

“Then maybe it’s best if you mind your own business,” I said, rubbing my hand up and down my arm.

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“Good night, Damian.”

He didn’t reply, which wasn’t shocking.

After cleaning up, I headed outside toward the ocean, wanting to feel close to both Mama and Kevin. The waves crashed against the shore, and I walked out into the water, wanting to wash away all the insecurities that were filling me up.

I wanted to wash away Jeff’s outburst and drunkenness. I wanted to peel away Damian’s coldness and commentary. I wanted to be free of all outside criticism.