Audra thrashed. “Oh – fuck you, Jake!” she spat, instantly pissed. Jackson held her still, laughing as if she were a yappy Chihuahua.
“Hey, he didn’t mean it that way. He’s past that. Right, Jake? Aren’t you past that?” he asked, looking me dead in the eye. Christ, it was like he knew he was testing me. Staring at my brother, I tried to gauge if he knew something more than he should. But through his bleary drunkenness, I couldn’t read a thing. Turning back to Audra, I tried a softened look.
“I didn’t mean it that way, Audra. I meant to say you look goo
d.”
She glared at me, narrowing her eyes before looking to Jackson, as if she needed permission on how to react.
“Jake and I had a good talk about you the other day. He’s serious. We’re adults now so he’s burying the hatchet,” Jackson said, rubbing her arm. A gesture of affection and he had me wanting to throw up again. But I hid the impulse as Audra turned warily toward me.
“What, we’re cool now? Finally?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“We’re cool now,” I said, going as far as to offer my hand for a shake. But Jackson was incredulous.
“Are you kidding me, fucker? Give the girl a proper hug!” he laughed, shoving Audra into my arms. My body went rigid as she smashed her giant chest into my stomach, immediately squeezing me tight. I looked over her shoulders at Jackson, who grinned. “Yeah man, don’t be afraid to get all up in there,” he slurred, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
I’d never in my life touched a woman and then felt the instant need to shower. But there was a first time for everything and this was it, especially as Audra smiled up at me and shimmied, shaking her breasts for me and waiting for my approval. She was like a dog doing a trick for her owner. It made me feel suddenly and nauseatingly depressed. What the hell had Jackson done to her? How had he trained her? Mindfucked and molded her? How had he done it to Gabrielle?
Probably the same way he thought he was doing it to me.
“Come on, man. Grab some of that ass,” Jackson flat-out said, clapping his hands like a high school baseball coach. Hatred flooded through me as I reached down and cupped Audra. I couldn’t bring myself to squeeze so she reached back and did to for me, breathing out something that was half-giggle, half-moan. “She wants it harder than that, brother.”
What the fuck was my fucking world. I couldn’t process anything but disgust as I stood in a situation I could never picture in my worst, most vile and bizarre fucking nightmare. For every second that it carried on, I hated myself. The moment couldn’t end any sooner.
“Nice.” When it was over, Jackson gave Audra’s ponytail a tug before telling her to give us a minute. Once she was gone, he shook his grinning head at me for a solid ten seconds. Then he slapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Could tell you enjoyed that, you sick fuck. Been a long time coming, but welcome to my world, brother. We’re all fucking twisted. But the only way to know real pleasure is to ignore all the boundaries.”
Chapter Fourteen
Lara
I should’ve called it quits an hour ago. But even an hour ago, I was three drinks past my limit. Sliding down the leather couch, I leaned my head on the back of the seat and scanned the floor again, looking for Jake. But he was nowhere to be found and I was starting to lose all the bets I’d made with myself. I had predicted that by 10PM, he’d come over and find an excuse to pull me away from the girls. When that didn’t happen, I gave him till 11PM, then midnight, all the while telling myself that I hadn’t scared him away by saying “I love you.” They were startling words for anyone. Maybe he needed time to process it.
Or maybe you’re pathetic. Maybe he resents having to save you all the time. Maybe he came to New York to have fun and you turned his stay into a million episodes of endless drama. He’s a surfer. He’s used to the beach. You’re turning his life into a living hell.
And he’s finally realizing it.
At this point, I couldn’t tell if I was being paranoid or irrational. I’d mixed vodka with gin with tequila and something blue that Emily had pushed in my direction, and that was most definitely a recipe for emotional disaster. As I turned my heavy eyes to Sloane, I considered telling her everything – telling all the girls everything. Right there and then. I was deathly curious of what their reactions would be. So, you know Jackson? The guy your boyfriends and husbands talk about all the time? Who you all love and not-so-secretly crush on? Well, I tried to dump him for hiring a man to break into our home and assault me, so he blackmailed me for murder and I’m also sure that he killed Gabrielle, whom by the way, he cheated on me with. But I guess cheating’s the nicest thing he’s done to me lately.
“Sloane.” Her name kind of dribbled from my mouth. She turned to me with bright eyes.
“Look who’s awake!” she cheered, making Piper laugh in a way that I vaguely disliked. “How’s it hanging, baby girl?”
“I have a secret to tell you.”
“I love secrets,” she humored my drunk ass. “What’s your secret, honeybun?”
All of them were looking at me now, giggling, just waiting for me to utter some worthless drunk girl secret like, “My favorite color is blue,” or, “The waitress has a nice butt.” I stared back at all of them, wanting so badly to prove the true scandal that hid behind my lips. I barely had any clue where to start.
“So… remember the guy who broke into my house this summer?” My question was one blurred line. It was a wonder Sloane could even make it out.
“Yes, honey. That was awful, I remember.” She glanced at the rest of the girls. “We all do.” Emily nodded solemnly to confirm.
I stared down at my engagement ring, which I’d slid off my finger without realizing. “Well. He was hired,” I said, spinning my ring like a penny. Or rather, I tried. But instead, it skidded off the table with a zing! and landed somewhere on the dark floor, sending the girls into an instant frenzy. I watched hair fly as they all ducked their heads to find it, the girls at the ends sliding out of the booth to make room for the search.
As Emily got on her knees, Sloane stared at me, looking very sober for a drunk. “What are you talking about, Lara?” she asked, utterly still amid the chaotic ring search. I stared back at her.
“Jackson hired that guy. To win me back.”