He Hates Me (Hate & Love Duet 1)

I nearly break a limb in my effort to grab it, but disappointment flashes across my face when I see it's just Dinah. "Hey, girl."

"Georgie!" She sounds excited, happy.

Why wouldn't she? I'm the miserable one waiting for a guy to return her calls.

"What's up? Are you off work today, too?"

"Yeah, I'm hanging out with some people from the hospital tonight. Got the kids’ dad to take them – I can’t even believe my luck! Anyway, one of them just asked me to invite you. Guess who?”

I groan but she ignores it, going on cheerfully.

"I told him you'd say no, but he insisted I invite you along. It’s Bill! And he looks so cute tonight.”

I don't care how cute he is. There's only one guy on my mind and cute is the last thing that can describe him.

But as I get through my second bag of gummy bears, I realize I need a distraction, so I pull my phone again and ask Dinah where they're heading. She rattles off the name and address of a popular club downtown – so not my thing, but it might make Jasper jealous, and the thought makes me inexplicably excited. I'd like to be the one to make his heart race. I want him to be possessive. I want him to get mad.

Dinah says they've got VIP tickets, and for me to give Bill’s last name at the door.

"Okay, I'll meet you there in an hour," I tell Dinah before I can change my mind. I end the call to the sound of her squealing, and it's hard for me to keep the smile off my face as I quickly get ready for my impromptu outing.

I pick out my tightest dress – a black silky number with long sleeves and a revealing neckline. Something comes over me as I stand in front of my lingerie drawer, and I shock myself by putting none on. It's daring, and going commando isn't exactly a habit of mine, but when I leave my ass and my tits bare, I feel oddly liberated.

I apply more makeup than usual and spray myself with my most expensive perfume before grabbing my jacket and giving the cats some treats before stepping out.

Despite checking my phone what feels like every minute, there's no call from Jasper. He doesn't care. The thought is now firmly lodged inside my brain, reminding me he doesn't give a shit what I'm up to or who I'm seeing. I grit my teeth together as I make my way down the block. I'll have fun and screw him.

The club is only three blocks away from my building, but I regret my decision to walk by the second one. My too-tall heels are rubbing against my soles and I'm already feeling a blister coming on. I get to the club, self-consciously wrapping my coat around my body as I feel the people standing in a line in front of the club glaring at me. Someone catcalls me, and a girl scoffs, but I ignore both and saunter right up to the entrance, where a velvet pink rope separates me from the club.

"Um, hi," I mutter, flashing a nervous smile at the enormous bouncer. "I'm with Kinsella?"

"The Kinsella party arrived twenty minutes ago," the bouncer says, smirking at me. "I welcomed them in myself and you were most definitely not with them."

I glare at him, shifting my weight from one foot to another. "Maybe you could just call one of them out? My friend, Dinah. She's very pretty. Big braided bun. Always wears pink lipstick. Remember her?"

I think the guy can tell I'm poking him, and he loses the smirk. "Sorry, Miss." He points to the end of the line. "You'll have to wait with the rest."

"Excuse me." We both look behind the bouncer, where a tall guy with slicked back black hair is grinning at me.

"Oh, Mr. Kinsella," the bouncer says sheepishly. "I'm so sorry about this commotion, I –"

"Hey, Georgie.”

"Hey, Bill," I manage. He looks so different than usual.

"She's with me." The guy removes the pink rope and motions me inside. I step forward while the rest of the line behind me groans.

I feel triumphant, shooting a look at the bouncer who steps aside to let me pass. The loud sounds and lights of the club barge in all at once.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," I tell Bill with a shy smile, keeping up with him.

"No problem, darling." He flashes me a crooked smile. He’s kind of handsome – Dinah was right.

I follow him inside the club where a group of people are waiting, my friend among them. I smile when I see her and she crashes into me, giving me a tight hug.

"So, was I right, or was I right?" she giggles. "Totally hot, isn't he?"

I shrug, but can't fight the grin off my face. "He's okay."