Lead (Stage Dive, #3)(85)
“Do not hold that against me. I was trying to resist you at the time, it was a survival thing,” I groaned in desperation, my mouth watering for the taste of him.
Then my cell started ringing over on the other side of the room. Jimmy jogged over and grabbed it, checking out the screen. “Who’s Alyce?”
“My sister.” I waved a hand dismissively. We’d barely talked in the last year or so, whatever she wanted could wait. Me kissing Jimmy, on the other hand, could not. “Let it go. I’ll call her later.”
With a sly smile he tapped the screen and put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
No f*cking way. My face fell, it plummeted.
“Yes, this is Jimmy Ferris her boss.” He paused, listening. “That’s right, I’m from Stage Dive.” Another pause accompanied by a smug grin my way. “Thanks, didn’t know you were a fan.” Again he listened. “Lena has mentioned you to me, yeah. She actually told me a bit about how you f*cked her boyfriend and now you two are getting married. How’s that working out for you?”
“Jimmy. No.” Shit, shit, shit. I put the camera aside and started the delicate process of getting my ass over to him, hobbling across the padded gym area floor. “None of your business.”
The bastard took a step back, and then another, lengthening the distance between us. His face was serious now, mouth a harsh unimpressed line. Apparently whatever he was hearing did not please him.
He snorted. “I don’t think so. Thing is Alyce, at the end of the day, you stole your sister’s man. Unless you’re calling to finally apologize to her, I don’t really see what there is to talk about. I don’t much give a shit if it was true love or whatever. You did wrong. You wanna know how I know that? Because I did a similar thing to my brother. It’s a dick move made by insecure shits, but you know what, Alyce? At least I have a dick. What’s your excuse? ”
I mimed sliding a blade across his throat, still hopping toward him as fast as panic and a med boot would allow. When I got within snatching distance, Jimmy slid an arm around my waist, stopping me from reaching up. I stretched and strained but my mediocre height was firmly against me.
“You’re not helping,” I hissed. “Stop it.”
“Yeah, I guess I am Lena’s protector. Or maybe I’m just the only person prepared to call bullshit on this whole situation.”
“Give me the phone.” I tried to climb him to get closer, but my fingers slid over his slippery sweaty shoulders. Damn his hot body.
My sister’s voice sounded small, far away. I couldn’t quite make out the words. Her tone however carried fine, all worked up and pissed beyond belief. You could just bet the perfect princess wasn’t enjoying this conversation one little bit. Part of me kind of enjoyed that, but the larger part wanted to tear Jimmy to pieces for sticking his nose in where it did not belong. Despite everything, I did not need to go to war with my sister. And war was exactly where we’d be if he kept this shit up.
“Give it to me.”
He ignored me.
“Jimmy!” Frustration bubbling over, I slapped his face (I know, I shouldn’t have, but I did). It got an immediate reaction. He scowled down at me, then he slapped me good and hard on the ass in return. I yelped, my wobbling butt cheek on fire.
“Don’t do that again, Lena,” he said.
“Give me the phone.” I grabbed at his arm, trying to force the far-too-damn-strong limb down.
“You are f*cking kidding me,” he said into the cell, voice incredulous. “Why on earth would you ever imagine your sister would be willing to step in and be one of your bridesmaids when you’re marrying her ex? Why should she save your ass, huh? This friend of yours that dropped out, you f*ck her man too?”
Much distraught shoutiness came from my cell.
“She wants me to do what?” I asked, confused. I must have heard him wrong. Alyce couldn’t possibly ask me something so horrendous and tacky. Me standing up at the altar while she married my ex, the man she done stole, just as Jimmy said. “No way.”
Rage made my blood hit boiling point. I could feel the steam pouring out my ears.
“You god damn thoughtless, insensitive, spoiled, f*cking cow!” I screeched plenty loud enough for my beloved sister to hear.
Jimmy’s brows jumped.
“I don’t believe you, Alyce.”
He handed me the phone.
I held it to my ear. “You seriously expect me to step in and be a f*cking bridesmaid? I left. I did my best not cause drama because everyone was so damn thrilled about your engagement. But how dare you think it mattered so little to me. You’re supposed to be my sister! Does that mean nothing to you?”
“Lena,” my sister said, sounding distinctly surprised. “Um …
“You never even said sorry. God, Alyce, if you’d just once admitted that what you did was wrong I would have gotten over it, you know? I would have forgiven you.” I leaned against Jimmy, borrowing his strength. “But you acted like he was your god-given right and f*ck anyone who got cut in the process.”
“I-I love him.”
“Yeah? Well I loved him too. And it hurt. It really hurt, what you did to me. What you both did to me.”
Jimmy’s hand stroked up and down my back, his other arm holding me tight. I rested my cheek against his chest, feeling him breathe, hearing his heartbeat.