Page 85 of Jake's Angel

“Look, Avery—,” He starts, but seems surprised when I cut him off.

“You owe me no explanations. I know who I am. What I mean to everyone. Especially to you.” I sweeten my tone and lower my voice to where only he can hear me. “You just be the wonderfulSOByou are, and I’ll act like the perfect littleangel. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to tell dear old dad that you’ve been the best bodyguard a girl could have. At least you’ve done a better job than either of our fathers.” I pull out of his grip and take off into the crowd toward the restrooms.

I need to get out of here. Away from him. From all of this.

I hear him calling after me, pushing his way through the crowd, but I don’t stop until I reach the bathroom door and lock myself inside.

A few minutes later, I hear voices outside the door.

“What the fuck did you do, asshole?” It’s Sadie.

“I made a mistake. She won’t come out so I can fix it. Save the fucking lecture and get her to come out here so we can talk, will you?” Jake sounds angry at me, at himself, at Sadie—I don’t know. Could be all three.

“Go back to the party, Jake. I’ll talk to Avery. For fuck’s sake, you’ve done enough,” Sadie snaps back. “I’m not going in there until you leave. Give her time to cool off. If you’ve hurt her, she won’t listen to you until she’s had a chance to calm down. Now fuck off.”

I hear what sounds like a growl and the stomping of boots, followed by a hard knock on the bathroom door.

“Aves. Open up. I know you heard us.”

I turn the lock and let her in. I hate that I’ve been crying over him. Maybe It’s not just him. Maybe everything is finally sinking in. My life is one big fucking lie and a shitshow to boot. None of it is of my making. Everyone else has been controlling every aspectof every moment in my life.

I’m so over it. All of it.

Before Sadie can start giving me some pep talk about the club and Jake, and whatever it is she was going to tell me, I grab her hand and say, “I need a drink.”

“But you don’t drink at social events.” She looks at me, puzzled.

“I don’t want to get drunk. I just wanta drink. I don’t want to feel anything for a little bit. Just relax, take the edge off, clear my thoughts, dance with my best friend, and celebrate our graduation. Everything else can wait until tomorrow. Can you help me do that?”

“Fuck, yeah. Let’s go!” Sadie squeals, dragging me by the hand out of the bathroom, through the crowd, and to the bar. “Jinx, we need two Taming of the Shrews, please.”

Jinx shifts some bottles around, then turns back with two glasses double the size of a regular shot glass, filled to the rim with the sweet, yummy, goodness. “Bottoms up!” She has to shout to be heard of the music.

We toss back our drinks and slam the glasses back onto the bar top. Sadie grabs my hand, dragging me out to the dancefloor. She spots Jayde on the way and drags her out of her conversation to join us.

The drink and the dancing work for a little while. I let my thoughts go, and allow the beat of the music and the laughter of my friends to take me away to a better place.

“You know he feels like shit. He’s been staring at you all night. Brooding.” Jayde says, snapping me out of my moment of Zen.

Bitch.

“He’s been shooting daggers at every man out there on the dance floor with you ladies, too,” Liz says, interrupting our girl talk as she steps up to join our group. She grabs Blake, who’s been standing in the same spot for the last hour just watching us. “Blake honey, would you get me a beer please, and one for the Captain?” She winks.

“Captain?” I ask, confused. Then I remember the name on Caleb’s cut. She smiles as she sees my thoughts coming into recognition.

“Your grandfather is known as Captain to some of the older men. He served in the military with some of them, and he’s served this club for many years. He pioneered it, and because of that, some of us still call him Captain.” Her smile beams with pride as she talks about her husband. “Now, what’s got you looking like you swallowed a lemon over there? You were excited and giggly before we got here.”

“Jake seems to have stuck his foot in his mouth and his head up his ass!” Jayde yells out over the music. Liz eyes me suspiciously.

“It doesn’t matter. I can be polite until Gabe decides I’m safe enough to leave, and then we can both go our merry way.” It’s not really what I want. Actually, I don’t know what I want, but it’s the way things will have to be. The longer I stay here, the less I feel I belong.

Liz puts her hand on my shoulder and gives it a little squeeze. “Oh, my little Bug, you have no idea about these men, do you?” I shake my head and look at the ground. I’ve never been on a proper date or had an actual boyfriend. Everything in my life has been forced upon me, and not in a good way.

I got to choose with Jake. Ichoseto kiss him, and Ichoseto allow myself to let go with him, and it all felt amazing. But I guess I chose wrong.

Liz moves her head until I look her in the eyes and then leans in close to whisper, “He’ll never let you go.” She must mean Gabe, but I doubt he’ll want to keep me. I pull back, giving her a look that tells her I think she’s crazy, but she just laughs. “Mark my words, baby girl. I know what I’m talking about. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this happen and it won’t be the last with all these boys, I’m sure.” I watch her walk away as she tips her beer at someone across the way.

Jake.

---