Broken and Screwed 2 (BS #2)(48)

Swallowing over a lump in my throat, I knew I should’ve texted. I shouldn’t let him know ahead of time. He could’ve been prepared, but then Hannah would’ve missed the vision before her. I wouldn’t have minded that. My gut clenched in knots as a sultry smile came over her. She tilted her head to the side in a sexy poise, and strode over to him with her hand outstretched. “Hello there. I’m Hannah, Tiffany’s sister. We’ve never formally met before.”

I flinched. Even her voice was husky and seductive.

Jesse was still watching me. A dark look appeared and he scowled before turning his attention to the wanton friend-of-mine in front of him. Ignoring her hand, he clipped out, “I know who you are.” Then he moved around her, back down the basement, and slammed the door behind him.

I jumped from the fierceness.

Hannah rotated back to us. “What a dick.”

Jamie shoved Tiffany off his lap, but stayed in his seat. His scowl matched the one Jesse had worn. “Maybe if you’d stop being a slut, he would’ve been polite.”

Tiffany frowned at her boyfriend but crossed her arms over her shoulder. She said to Hannah, “Jamie’s right. Don’t hit on Jesse. He’s had his share of whores trying to use him for his dad.”

Hannah snorted, “Or just for him. He might be a dick, but he’s hot. I’d forgotten from the few times I saw him in person before.”

Holding still, I was aware of the two pairs of eyes trained on me. Beth and Cord. They were both silent, just watching, just waiting, just judging. I felt ready to burst.

Everyone else was fixated on the sisters, who seemed ready to rip into each other. Kara came to the rescue as she gave Beth and me both a friendly wave from her chair. She pointed to the empty chairs around the table. “Cord and Jamie told us about the computer eating your paper. Have a seat. We figured it’d be a fun night if all of us stayed in for a study night. These are some of the best times I’ve had at the house.” She glanced at Hannah. “Don’t worry about Jesse. He’s not a fan of new people.”

Derek leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She melted into his arms but continued to smile our way.

They were out of place, happy amidst a room full of wolves. I could imagine Tiffany and Hannah sharpening their fangs as they stared ‘em down.

“Yeah.” Chandra shoved back her chair and stood awkwardly. Her entire demeanor was forced. “Sit. Get comfortable. Do you guys want some food or something to drink?”

Beth and I shared another look, but Hannah spoke up, “Are you serious? Playing hostess again, Chandra? This isn’t even your house.”

“It’s more hers than yours,” her sister snapped back.

Hannah’s eyes went feral. A snarl came to her lips and she was ready to lunge, her hands were already forming claws to go around Tiffany’s throat.

“Hey. Whoa.” Beth grabbed Hannah’s arm. She sent a warning to her other cousin. “Stop it. Both of you.”

The tension rose another level in the room, but my mind wasn’t in there. My mind was downstairs. He looked hurt. I had hurt him. How was that possible? He had told me before that he cared, that he had wanted to be with me. And I had heard testimony from Marissa too, about the fight she’d overheard from my brother and him. Slowly, it was sinking in. Maybe Jesse really did want more? But—panic flooded me.

I still wasn’t ready.

As if knowing my thoughts, my eyes jerked up and I saw the portrait of Ethan and Jesse again. I felt him beckoning to me. Purposely avoiding it when we first came inside, I couldn’t look away now. God. My throat trembled as agony spread in me.

I missed him. So damn much.

“—bathroom, Alex?”

Jolted back to the room, I looked around. Dazed. “Huh?”

Beth’s eyes darted to Cord from underneath her eyelids.

Oh. I turned to see that he had risen from the table. He knew. How did he know? But I brushed a hand over my eye and took a deep breath. I couldn’t break down in this room, not with these people. “What’d you say?”

“Do you have to use the bathroom? You can use the one downstairs.”

I caught the extra meaning and nodded, grateful now.

“What? Hell no,” Jamie growled. “Downstairs is off-limits to chicks. What are you thinking?”

Beth hastily stepped in. “I have to go to the bathroom too.”

Hannah sighed and plopped down on one of the chairs. She grumbled, “This is going to take a while. She can pee forever.”

“See. Jesse won’t care if she uses the bathroom. It’s not like she’s going to use his personal one.”

Another furtive glance. Another furtive meaning. Caught it and understood. I was bursting at the seams to get to Jesse now, but I held back. Jamie opened his mouth again, another argument on the tip of his tongue.

“I think she could wait,” Tiffany offered, frowning at me with suspicion lurking in her depths. “Or she can use the one upstairs.”

“Which is filthy.” Cord pointed to the door. “Go ahead, Alex. You’re not going to get murdered down there. I don’t know why they’re freaking so much.”

“Rules are rules, dude!”

Hannah held a hand in the air. “I’ll use the one upstairs. If they’re going, I’m going.”