Kenzie
My knees were knocking together the closer I got to Jonas. Just as in high school, he drew quite the crowd. Other female chefs I knew from regional competitions were hanging on to his every word, and I remembered seeing that all too well many years ago. Once we’d started dating, he’d stop everything when I was around. It’d helped me buy his lies even easier because he seemed to have eyes only for me.
“I see no one else when you’re around, Kenzie,” he used to say, and now all I could do is roll my eyes in remembrance. For all I knew, he was telling any one of them the same thing.
This whole preposterous idea was quite laughable. If only I knew then what I knew now. Hell, I might’ve never known to begin with if others hadn’t gotten a hold of that video. If they hadn’t, there was no telling how long he would’ve strung me along afterward.
“Oh my God, she’s so pathetic,” was what I’d heard from others as I’d walked down the hallway that fateful day. I hadn’t known who they were talking about or what, until two of the cheerleaders stopped at my locker as I exchanged my Physics book for an English III one.
“Did you have a nice prom?”the ringleader of the two had asked me. The question had been so random. I wasn’t sure what was going on since the two had never really talked to me before. Maybe, they had seen Jonas and me at the prom, and they were finally coming around. After all, he had been telling me that others would eventually see me the same way he did.
“Yes,”I’d answered. “It was a great night.”
Before I could ask either if they did, Paula, the other cheerleader, snickered. “I bet she had an even better night afterward.” Mallory had nudged her arm, but it didn’t stop the blonde. “Oh, Jonas. Right there! Again!” She emphasized it with smacking sounds one would make when they were kissing.
“What are you talking about?”I’d asked, turning what had to have been a bright shade of crimson.
“You’re so big, Jonas.” Paula kept on.
“I don’t know how you’ll ever fit inside,” Mallory added before both women erupted into a fit of giggles.
I had known in that moment that they knew, but how? That seemed to be the million-dollar question. I’d pushed past the cheer bitches and stormed down the hallway toward Jonas’s locker. On the way there, others pointed, laughed, and I saw another boy looking down at his phone as he showed someone what was on it. His guilty expression the second he looked up and saw me made me stop, and I grabbed it from his hand. When I stared down at the video playing, the entire hallway seemed to start spinning. There, for everyone to see, was me naked on the bed with Jonas, at the hotel we’d gone to after the prom had wrapped up. He’d taken my virginity that night, but I also realized in that moment that he’d taken so much more.
I’d love to say everything was a blur afterward, but I couldn’t because I remembered every agonizing detail of that day because for years, it’d replay over and over in my head like a record on a turntable. I’d dropped the phone and started to run through the maze of whispers and laughter. I didn’t even want to see Jonas at that point. I’d needed air because my chest had constricted so tightly I found it hard to breathe. I ended up on the roof where the humiliation had only just begun.
Someone had told the principal I was not only upset, but potentially up there to hurt myself. I wouldn’t have put it past either Paula or Mallory to have done it. I’d never found out who it was, but it didn’t matter. I’d never see any of them again. My last journey of shame through those halls had been when the EMT rolled me out to the waiting ambulance, this time leaving them with even more to talk about.
Now, I watched as Jonas smiled, the pearly whites of his teeth drawing my attention to that mouth of his. By the time I’d gotten to the University of Nebraska, I’d dated a few guys, but none so memorable. Despite those relationships, I’d never forgotten my nemesis or the things he could do with those lips and tongue of his. As he’d smirk at certain things these women were saying, I could still remember the way he’d brought me to my very first orgasm. It’d been beautiful, explosive even, but it’d all been a lie. Our entire relationship had been one. I was nothing more than a pawn he used to further his reputation and cement his legend.
Why am I even here?It was a question I was now asking myself although I knew the answer. Despite that inner knowledge, Reece’s earlier words about toying with him the same way he did me, entered my mind.
Yes, I would. And, I’m going to make him regret ever using me in high school. How, I didn’t know, but I would think of something. All I had to do was remember my end goal which was to win this contract, then Reece and I would reap the benefits of this hotel. By the time the luxury rooms were all rented, and the money started flowing in, we would celebrate in Cabo, or perhaps Bora Bora would be better, especially this time of year.
I was smiling over the idea of spending an entire week partying on some tropical island with my best friend. There’d be sun, cold drinks, and enough cabana boys to fill our time. Before I could make any of that a reality, I needed to ensure I got the gig. Unfortunately, that meant I’d need to cozy up to the man who’d not only broken my heart, but forever cracked it in the process. You can do this, Kenzie. Play him like a toy for a week, then walk away.
It seemed simple enough, so I stepped forward, then walked around the other women. Jonas seemed as surprised as they were, which I’d use in my favor. I might’ve overstepped my bounds when I reached out and touched his arm, but I didn’t care.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I was hoping I could have a word with you,” I told him, and when the other women just stood there, I added, “privately, Mr. Courtland.”
I heard a few sneers, but he excused himself and motioned with his hand for me to go back outside. I glanced over and could see Reece off in the corner giving me a thumbs up. I was so thankful to have my bestie there, even though I knew I’d likely need a whole army in order to pull this off. I wasn’t always the most outgoing of people, and I wasn’t even sure how seductive I could be, but I had seen enough with Reece, so I was willing to give it a try. After all, he was a notorious ladies’ man, so it couldn’t be that hard.
“You wanted to talk?” Jonas asked once we reached the same railing I’d been standing at earlier.
“Ahh, yes,” I replied. I remembered how much confidence other women I looked up to possessed, and I needed to channel some of it now. I had made a fool of myself more than once before in my life, but I did it with my head held high. Smiling coyly much like my friend would, I looked up at Jonas. “I wanted to apologize for earlier. I...”
I started talking and forced myself to swallow down the mouthful of bile at having to apologize to the man who’d destroyed me a decade earlier. He was still so arrogant it radiated off of him in waves. Even now, he smirked at my apology. It once again brought my attention to his lips that I needed to forget. At least for now.
“It’s surprising, to say the least,” he replied, still practically grinning from ear to ear. “But I suppose it should’ve been expected.”
I arched my brow at him. “It should’ve?” I asked in confusion.
“We haven’t seen each other in a long time and the last time we had, it was pretty intense.”
He would’ve gone there now just when I was trying to build up enough confidence to get back on his good side. The last two times we’d been together had been the best and worst times of my entire life. Granted I’d been a virgin at the time, but the sex between us that night had been mind-blowing. My entire body reacted to the memories coming back to me. If I focused on them, instead of his betrayal afterward, I might actually be able to do this.
“It was a big misunderstanding that day.” I had to swallow the half lie. Yes, my actions had been misinterpreted, but there was no mistaking the reason I ended up on that roof to begin with. “I hardly even think about it. Earlier, I was just a little surprised because I hadn’t expected to see you here is all.”
Jonas seemed to be buying what I was selling because he moved closer and I resisted the urge to flinch when he placed a hand on each arm. I did shiver, however, which made him grin harder. “And is my being here such a bad thing?”