The Confession

“Of course. I’ll come with you,” she offered, sending Beck a pleading stare.

Yeah, Heavenly didn’t want her to be alone. There was his girl’s tender heart again.

“You’re so sweet, but… This is ridiculous. I moved away from home to escape drama. I certainly didn’t come here for more.”

“Don’t let these jerks chase you off.” Raine sent both River and Dean angry glares. “Come sit in the kitchen with us. We’ll talk this out, girl-style.”

“Later, okay? I-I just can’t be around them right now—either of them.”

Heavenly and Raine exchanged a glance, then his girl squeezed Jasmine’s hand. “We understand.”

“More than you realize,” Raine drawled.

Heavenly nodded. “And we’re here for you whenever you’re ready.”

“Exactly. Then we’ll talk, vent, scream, or cry. Trust us, Jasmine, we’ve both lost our minds over men more than once.” Raine smirked.

“As soon as I process all of this, I’ll likely take you up on that. You two are my lifelines to sanity now.”

“Good. Just…text one of us to let us know you got home okay?” Heavenly hugged her gently. “Please.”

“Sure.”

Dean ambled up with an apologetic grimace, wiping blood from his nose with the hem of his tee.

But before the cop could say a word, Pike stepped in front of Jasmine. “I know you’re upset. Let me drive you home.”

“Back off.” Dean shoved Pike aside. “I need to talk to her before she goes.”

“No, you back off—all of you,” Jasmine huffed. “I’m not talking to anyone with a penis for the rest of the day.”

“Come on, Miri, don’t be like that. We need to work this out and—”

“Unbelievable.” She turned on him. “Did you even hear a word I said?”

He sighed. “I know you want to be alone. Fine. I—”

“Yes, but I also don’t want to be called Miri anymore. I’m not a miracle; I’m just a woman who wants a normal life.”

“Fine…Jasmine.” Dean raised his hands and sighed. “Will you call me once you’ve had some time so we can talk?”

“It may take a couple days,” she warned.

“That’s fine. Just promise you’ll call?”

Jasmine nodded curtly, waved goodbye to the girls, then headed for the door.

Beck couldn’t help but admire the woman. She had spine and grit. Even after her brother had recounted her whole night with River in detail for a roomful of strangers, she still left with her head held high.

As Jasmine neared the portal, River darted around her and blocked her path. “Don’t go. Please. We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Then let me talk.” He reached out to take her arm, then seemed to think better of it. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? Thinking the only redeeming qualities I possess are my lady bits? Or for telling my brother, who in turn told everyone here, all the details of our night together? Or for thinking that once you fucked me, you owned me and could just share me with any of your pals?”

“Okay, I get that now maybe isn’t the time to sort this out. Just…give me your number.” River yanked his cell phone from his pocket. “Please. I’ll call you in a couple of days, once we’ve both had time to think. We can meet up for—”