Ask Me (Mess with Me 2)

She slaps the steering wheel. “You know what? I have held my tongue this whole time, because it’s not my place. I’m just the assistant. I’m just the person who deals with you the most and probably knows you better than your own mother. Who asks for the assistant’s advice? But you are screwing this whole thing up. That girl was perfect for you and she didn’t take any of your bullshit. You need her in your life.”

Once she runs out of air, I lean forward and tap her seat. “I know. I finally figured that out. I just figured it out too late.”

Kate blows out a breath. “Well, shit.”

“Yeah.”

Nothing about this feels right but I had no idea things were this bad. Meeting me has cost Casey her job and her home in the city. Now she’s been forced back to the very place she was desperate to escape from. I pull out my phone and think about what I’m about to do.

Then I call her one final time and leave a voicemail.

I push open the door to the penthouse and stand quietly in the entryway. After Kate dropped me off at the office, I went back to the bar where it all started, hoping I could drink until I forgot my own name. I got as far as ordering a beer when I noticed a woman reading a copy of the tabloid that started this whole mess.

It’s dark and quiet as a tomb. How could I have gotten used to her presence so quickly? Already the penthouse seems lifeless and empty, like a stainless-steel prison.

The stark décor never bothered me before but suddenly I find myself missing the pair of shoes Casey always kicked off next to the front door and the sounds of her chatter as she talked to herself while cooking. Those little touches made this cold place feel like home.

I slam the door, needing to take out my aggression on something. Anything. Two quick knocks sound on the door behind me. When I open it, Jason stands on the other side watching me with a glum expression.

That’ll do nicely.

Before I can swing, he grabs my arm and kicks the door closed with his foot. “I don’t think you need any more tabloid coverage, do you? Unless you feel taking another cheap shot at me is worth that?”

“It wasn’t a cheap shot. I didn’t hit you from behind. You had the opportunity to defend yourself.”

He grunts. “That’s true. I was actually the one who took the cheap shot. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

A long moment of silence passes as we stand staring at each other.

Finally Jason breaks the standoff. “Are you going to make me get on my knees and beg? I’m trying to say I’m sorry here. Groveling isn’t something I do well, you know. I’m usually not sorry at all when I’m an asshole.”

Just that quickly the animosity between us is gone. Either that or I’m just too tired to hold a grudge any lo

nger.

“I should still hit you again. Did you see the look on her face? Nothing should ever make her feel the way your words did. I want to protect her from all the ugly bits of life. She’s not just another girl to me, Jason. She’s the one. The only one.”

“I know. I saw you falling deeper and deeper for this girl and we don’t really know anything about her. I didn’t want you to go through what I did. Loving someone who’s only using you is the worst sort of betrayal. One you never really get over. Divorce doesn’t cure that.” Jason’s face hardens before he looks away.

I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling wall of windows. The sky mirrors my mood with dark clouds that roil in a mass over the city. Inside I’m much the same, a big ball of destructive energy waiting to strike out at the closest victim.

Because of that, I try to keep my voice calm when I reply. Jason is one of my oldest friends and there have been enough angry words between us. Especially since I understand why my friend is so deeply suspicious of women in general.

“Every woman isn’t like your ex-wife. Casey doesn’t want my money. She basically dumped me because she thinks she doesn’t fit into my lifestyle. She also doesn’t trust me now. How did this all go to hell so fast?”

Jason’s eyebrows shoot up. His mouth opens and closes a few times before he speaks again. “Wait a minute. A woman actually left you because you have too much money?”

He stares for another moment before breaking into laughter. The longer he looks at me, the harder he laughs until I feel a smile cross my face as well.

“What are you laughing at, you idiot? She left me.”

At that, my smile falls. My sweet Clumsy Girl is out there in the world somewhere alone and I’m here. Determined to stay away from her because it’s the only thing she’s ever asked of me.

I’d give her anything she asked for, anything she needed. Even if it kills me to stay away.

Jason claps me on the back. “She didn’t really leave, you big sap. If she didn’t love you, she wouldn’t care about any of this. She’d just take what she could get for as long as she could get it. She’s just afraid.”

“So, she loves me, she just doesn’t want me with her? What am I supposed to do with that?”