Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(49)

"I asked him to stay. I didn't want to be alone. While you were off doing whatever you were doing with Sarah, he was nice enough to hang out.”

"Jesse, I know Caleb. He doesn't just hang out with women. Don't bullshit me right now. Is something going on with you two?"

"You know what. I'm not doing this. You need to leave," she answers, rightfully annoyed.

"Not happening. We need to talk." I look up at Caleb still protectively standing behind her. "You, however, can leave. I've got it from here."

"The hell you do! Besides, I'm not going anywhere, Jesse is cooking me lunch. You should have tasted her pancakes this morning," he pauses to wink and lick his lips before finishing, "Benissimo!" That one word all it takes for me to lose it. But for reason, known only to my dick, I lose it on the wrong person.

"You blew him? Jesus Christ Jess, what the hell?"

"And here we go," Caleb says at the same time I see Jess's eyes widen as she morphs into a mad woman.

"You did not just say that to me!" She screams as Caleb lifts her off her feet dragging her away. Him touching her, only pisses me off more.

"Put me down! Put me down, now!" She kicks her legs trying to break free of his hold. If I was an outsider looking in I would think this tiny woman was comical. I'm not an outsider though, and it's my tiny woman he's man handling.

"Get your hands off her!" I snap.

"Oh, now I know you're kidding, ass-puck! She is about to claw your eyes out, and if you keep this up I'm going to let her. You're being a dick. Both of you just need to calm down."

"You couldn't keep your hands to yourself for a few hours? I've felt something for the first time in years with her, yet you swoop in and steal it away just to get your rocks off. Shit!" I finally realize what's going on. "Oh my God, you're jealous that I'm moving on! Why did I not see this coming?"

"First off, you sound like an idiot right now. I didn't do shit to steal anything from you. You're doing a bang up job of ruining this all on your own. Secondly, I'm jealous that you're moving on? Where can I preorder tickets to your new comedy show? Because you should take this shit on the road. Moving on? If you really think you’re moving on after what went down this morning, apparently Sarah isn't the only delusional one. Nothing happened between Jess and I, so the next words out of your mouth better be a f*cking apology."

"Right, because you two clearly look like two people who were barely even friends last week." I look down to where he is still tightly holding her against his body.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here! Get out, both of you!" she yells, still trying to fight out of Caleb's grip.

This is too much. All of it. Maybe I'm just delaying the inevitable by holding on to Jess. If I was a better man I would turn and walk out the door right now. Fortunately for me, I'm an * so I'm going to fight for her only to disappoint her later down the line. Outstanding!

"I'm not leaving until we talk. I have a lot to say."

"Well I don't feel like listening anymore. You think just because we made out once, that I'm going to hook up with every guy who looks at me?" she yells, fighting Caleb's grasp around her waist.

I have no idea what has come over me. I know nothing has happened between these two. Jess isn't that type of girl, even if Caleb is that type of guy. Still, I somehow can't keep myself from being a prick.

"Oh we did far more than ‘make out’. I have the claw marks on my back to prove it." She immediately goes quiet and I know I've said too much. She's such a private person, and here I am airing her bedroom behaviors in front of other people.

"Claw marks? Really?" Caleb raises an eyebrow with a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I have no idea why I said that. I'm just pissed...I-"

She finally breaks free from Caleb and crosses the room stopping inches in front from me. Standing on her toes to make herself as tall as possible, she screams into my face, "What the hell, Brett? I'm the one that's supposed to be mad. You didn't just walk in on me hugging and defending my husband. Oh wait, that's because I don't have one!" Shit, I'm doing a really bad job at apologizing right now. None of this is going to win me any points. This is precisely why I should have had a plan when I got here. This is the shit that happens to me when I try to wing it.

"You're right, you're right. I'm sorry."

"Damn right you're sorry," Caleb pipes in from behind her, still smirking. I can't take this back and forth anymore. It's ridiculous, and I'm exhausted from all of the drama over the last few days.

"Stop. Just...stop!" I let out a loud breath. "I can't take this. I know ninety-percent of this has been brought on myself, but I need it to stop. Damn it Jess, I'm sorry! Please, don't make me let you go. This has been chaos from the first day, just give me a chance to show you it won't always be that way. I'm a good guy, at least I think I am. I'm trying, and failing, but mainly I'm trying to make something work between us. It just seems every step of the way something or someone keeps tripping me up. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

"Caleb...I wish I had something positive to say to you, but I really want to beat your ass right now. So please, just go, and let me handle this. I'll buy you a beer or something when I'm in a better mood.”