This was a full party, like a real party. It wasn’t a shindig or a gathering.
I moved into the kitchen, grabbed a mini bottle of wine, and headed out to the backyard. Was Jake going to invite me to this? Was that why he’d stopped by at my job? I doubted it. I still didn’t see anyone I recognized.
I noticed Jake was in front of his garage. A basketball hoop was nailed to the top of it, and he lined up for a shot. The ball went through the net and bounced, and then it was caught by a guy and passed right back to Jake. He hadn’t texted back because he was shooting hoops.
But then I saw Tara standing on the sidelines, watching him.
I stood there, just staring.
I should leave, but he’d see my text whenever he checked his phone. He’d know that I was there—or at least that I was going to head to his house.
Seriously, what was I even doing here in the first place?
I came so I wouldn’t think about Kian, the interview, or angry Erica. That was why. I was using Jake, and remembering the last time I saw him, shame flooded me.
I needed to go. I shouldn’t be here.
Before I could though, Jake turned and spotted me. His eyes got big, and he caught the ball, freezing in position.
Another guy came up, hit the ball out of his hands, and dribbled to make a layup. He pointed at Jake. “In your face, Monroe!”
Jake wasn’t paying attention. He started for me, lifting his hand, as if to touch me. “Jo.”
Tara’s head whipped around. An instant glare formed in her eyes, and she crossed her arms over her chest. The two girls with her looked, too. They all seemed confused until she leaned over, and her lips moved. I was sure my name was uttered, and the other two adopted similar glares. All three stood as if they were facing off against me.
“Hey.” Jake raised his arms, as if to hug me. A second’s hesitation, and then he did. Stepping back, he glanced over his shoulder and then touched my arm. “Want to get a drink?”
I lifted my little wine bottle in the air.
“Ah. Uh…” He flashed me a grin, moving me back toward the house. “Want to come with me while I get a drink?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.” He chuckled near my ear as his hand fell to my back.
Reaching over me, he pulled open the door. I ducked underneath. He moved around me again. He grabbed a case of beer, hooking it with his finger, and took my hand with his free one.
Some of his friends in the kitchen said hello, calling out to him and patting him on the arm or back as he maneuvered us through the rest of the kitchen. We headed down the basement stairs. It was the same scene below. A band was setting up in a corner with couches all around. At one end, a media station was set up. A flat screen television was mounted on the wall with the shelves filled with DVDs and video games. And the same thing happened as he led me down the hallway to a back bedroom. They all shouted hello to Jake, and he lifted his hand up, the case of beer dangling from it, in greeting back to them.
We got to his room, but the door was locked. Jake let go of my hand, felt above his doorframe, and came back down with a key. He grinned at me before he inserted it into his door. Then, we were inside, and the door was locked once again.
He tossed the key onto the nightstand by his door and gestured around the room. “My casa.”
The room consisted of a desk, a large bed, built-in bookshelves, and his own bathroom through a walk-in closet.
I perched on the desk chair. “It’s a nice room.”
“Thanks.” He stood in the middle of the room, raking a hand through his hair, as he glanced back at the door. “I don’t know what to say. I guess I’m just surprised to see you here.” He looked at the door, at me, and then back to the door. “Shit. I forgot my phone up there. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere. Promise me, you won’t go anywhere.”
I laughed. “Go get your phone.”
“I will be right back. I swear.” He hurried out but popped back into the room. “Seriously, don’t leave.”
“I won’t. Get your phone before someone goes through it.”
He groaned but disappeared in a flash.
It’d been so long since I was in his room. Back then, I would’ve been so nervous, and now…Kian was in the back of my mind. This was stupid. I was using him to help get another guy out of my head. This wasn’t right. I was wasting Jake’s time, and I stood to go. I got as far as the stairs.